A singing competition with a guarantee of fun: At the Opern-Slam, well-prepared candidates compete for the golden trophy. And they do so using all means of art! The singers have 90 seconds to present their aria or song. 90 seconds to win the favor of the audience. 90 seconds that determine victory or defeat. Because you choose the winner! A decibel meter measures the strength of your applause.

The fun spans several rounds. Each round has a theme, to which the singers choose a piece that is fitting.

The professional opera singers of our ensemble compete against each other for your enjoyment. All of them are young, fresh, and touching voices.

Admission 90 minutes before the performance begins.

20 years after the artist, author, and performer Vaginal Davis moved from Los Angeles to Berlin, the Gropius Bau presents the first comprehensive solo exhibition of her work in Germany. In her groundbreaking creation, punk and glamour, queer activism and Black counterculture, as well as resistance and desire, intertwine. Vaginal Davis: Fabelhaftes Produkt unites large-scale installations, paintings, video and film works, zines, texts, music, and performance, offering a comprehensive overview of Davis' multifaceted practice and her artistic collaborations. As part of the exhibition, the art collective CHEAP presents the installation Choose Mutation with photographs by Annette Frick. Fabelhaftes Produkt invites you into the universe of Vaginal Davis, populated by literary heroines, mythical figures, and real icons.
Initiated by the Moderna Museet, Stockholm, in collaboration with the Gropius Bau, Berlin, and MoMA PS1, New York
 
 
 
 

The rose is a fascinating flower. Not only is it an ornament for any garden and wonderfully fragrant – no, it has also influenced wide parts of life with its symbolic power, such as love, politics, art, mythology, religion, and much more. Furthermore, rose oil and rose water are used in the cosmetics and food industries, and 42 percent of all cut flowers sold are roses, with cultivation in non-European countries and trade being problematic.

As particularly beautiful flowering plants and an indispensable part of the ecosystem, roses can also raise awareness of the pressing issues of the present, such as biodiversity and conservation, and thus the climate problem. All of this is at the center of the exhibition on the cultural history of the rose, while of course the plant and its role in garden culture will not be overlooked.
Interesting objects from the fields of fashion, design, art, as well as everyday life, are meant to convey a sense of the allure that the rose has exerted and continues to exert – even with its dark side.

Scent stations promise an experience for the senses, and several interactive stations make the exhibition an experience for the whole family.

Sponsored by the MWK and the Lüneburg Landscape Association, the VR Foundation of the Volksbanken and Raiffeisenbanken in Northern Germany, Volksbank Celle, branch of the Hannoversche Volksbank, and the Museumsverein Celle e.V.

Tue - Sun 11 AM - 5 PM

We all access the internet daily through web browsers. The question of how browsers determine what we experience online has fascinated artists early on. Based on a research project by the KIT Institute for Art and Architectural History on browser art, the exhibition »Choose Your Filter!« provides insights into 30 years of browser development. Here, you can discover and try out browser visions through interactive installations. 

Wed to Fri from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM, Sat and Sun 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM

Die Waldbühne Bremke präsentiert 2025 erstmals ihre Comedy Schlager Show: Ein Musiktheaterstück mit viel Witz und vielen großen Schlagerhits aus den vergangenen 5 Jahrzehnten. Showbeginn: 18 Uhr, Einlass ab 17 Uhr. Wetterbedingt kann es zu Ausfällen kommen. Bitte vorab informieren, ob die Veranstaltung stattfinden kann. Essen und Trinken vor Ort erhältlich! Freie Platzwahl.

Welcome to the realm of knowledge in the Baroque era: Stepping onto creaking floorboards into the quiet grandeur of our historical library hall, one is immediately enveloped by the collective knowledge of the Early Modern period. Like stage sets in a Baroque theater, the original bookshelves jut into the space, housing around 50,000 books from all fields of knowledge. Behind unassuming book spines lie remarkable treasures, such as the first German Bible printed in America.

At the end of the 17th century, the orphanage's library was established as one of the first public libraries in Germany. Primarily through donations, book exchanges, and their own publications, the library grew so rapidly that within a few years, it was comparable to significant German university libraries. In 1728, it received its own building, which is considered the oldest surviving secular library structure in Germany. Not only in recent times has the library been visited by guests and researchers from around the world: Albrecht von Haller, Johann Joachim Winckelmann, and Johann Wolfgang von Goethe all admired its bibliophilic treasures. We present a selection of them for you in rotating cabinet exhibitions in the former reading room of the library.

10 am - 5 pm

LAME DUCK, BLIND CHICKEN - a play for the whole family from 6 to 99 years by Ulrich Hub

Chickens and ducks love company, and chickens usually know exactly what they want. Ducks, on the other hand, can be very clingy and get sad when they are alone. Two personalities of these beautiful, feathered scratch and water creatures meet in this play by pure coincidence. But from the encounter of the two quite different nest-builders with rather contrasting characters, life attitudes, and future visions, companions emerge who discover the unexpected, together master the most difficult undertakings, overcome boundaries, and face a great adventure, greater than they could ever have dreamed: despite their differences, they have become friends!

Segway City Tour in Bad Münder with 6-Way

Experience the history and sights of Bad Münder on a Segway.
Fun is guaranteed when riding a Segway. Whether going uphill or downhill: you just let it roll.

Glide through Bad Münder accompanied by the 6-Way tour guide and cruise from the KGS Bad Münder along the golf course through the green landscape and the historic city center back to the starting point. Tour guides provide insights into the sights and background knowledge of the city’s history.

Info in brief
• 2.5 hours Segway tour including instruction and training
depending on the group, the riding time may vary, please plan for 30 minutes more just in case
• €60.00 per person including liability insurance and rental helmet upon request
• Start and endpoint: KGS Bad Münder (Deister)
• Minimum age 14 years, body weight 45-120 kg
• Limited spots: 12 participants per tour

Important additional info:

There will be a detailed instruction (about 30 minutes) on driving technique and handling of the Segway beforehand.

Riding a Segway can be learned in just a few minutes by anyone aged 14 to 84 years. No prior knowledge is required, and you don’t even need to be able to ride a bike.

The tours take place even in the rain. Please dress according to the weather (not too high shoes, possibly sunglasses due to wind when riding, and light gloves may also be useful). You can bring your own bicycle helmet. Rental helmets are available free of charge upon request.

Option (bookable on site):
Comprehensive coverage with a deductible of €3.00 per participant
Comprehensive coverage without a deductible for €5.00 per participant

The Segways are covered by statutory liability insurance for damages to third parties. In the event of self-caused accidents, you are liable for damages you cause to the Segway. If you book comprehensive coverage, 6-Way will cover the costs for these damages.

6-Way offers comprehensive coverage both with and without a deductible. With the comprehensive insurance with a deductible, you bear 10% of the damage, with a minimum deductible of €250.00. In case of a total loss of the Segway, you would therefore pay approximately €950.00.

As a "worry-free package," we recommend booking the comprehensive coverage without a deductible. Personal accident insurance is not included.

Minimum number of participants required.
If the required minimum number of participants is not reached 21 days prior to the event, the organizer reserves the right to cancel.

Da ist dieser Wald. In dem ist auch irgendwie alles ein wenig anders.
Da gibt es Feen und Elfenwesen, es geistern Tiere herum, Blumenduft macht die Menschen schläfrig und verliebt.
Und ein paar Handwerker proben für ein Theaterstück.
Dabei soll doch eine Doppel-Hochzeit gefeiert werden, doch die Paare verlieren sich auf dramatische Art und Weise im Wald und entkommen ihm nicht mehr.
Ihre Liebe wird auf die Probe gestellt.
Die meistgespielte Shakespeare-Komödie ist in diesem Jahr in einer packenden Neuinterpretation vor der Stiftskirche zu erleben.
Mit viel fantastischer Musik, akrobatischen Einlagen und starkem physischen Schauspiel brilliert das Ensemble der Gandersheimer Domfestspiele in diesem Klassiker der Weltliteratur.
Seien Sie dabei, wenn Titania und Oberon Puck nicht mehr im Zaum halten können, Menschen sich in Tiere verwandeln und die Liebe uns alle verrückt macht und uns durcheinanderbringt.

Shakespeares „Sommernachtstraum“ stand zuletzt 2003 auf dem Spielplan der Gandersheimer Domfestspiele.

Regie: Sarah Speiser

The new collection presentation at the Vitra Schaudepot focuses on visions of the future in design, bridging the gap from the set designs of early science fiction films to the creation of virtual spaces. Groundbreaking furniture designs from the Vitra Design Museum collection demonstrate how technological innovations and utopian visions become part of our everyday lives, influencing our environment. Furniture from the 1960s Space Age reflects the pioneering spirit of an era shaped by the moon landing and space exploration. Since the beginning of the new century, designers have been creating "virtual" realities, blurring the boundaries between physical and analog design. The artistic concept for the exhibition design comes from Andrés Reisinger, a digital artist known for his work in NFT design.

Designers have always been fascinated by visions of the future. The Vitra Schaudepot presentation spotlights ideas of a future world, manifested in design creations ranging from early science fiction film sets to the design of virtual spaces. Pioneering objects from the Vitra Design Museum collection show, how technological innovation and utopian concepts find their way into our everyday environment. The Space Age furniture of the 1960s, for example, bears witness to the spirit of progress in an era shaped by extraterrestrial exploration. Since the turn of the millennium, the boundaries between analog and digital realms have become increasingly relevant as physical limitations dissolve in cyberspace, altering the laws of design. The artistic idea for the exhibition design was developed by Andrés Reisinger, a figure at the vanguard of NFT design.

Designers have always been fascinated by visions of the future. The new presentation of the Vitra Schaudepot collection titled "Science Fiction Design" highlights ideas of a future world manifested in design creations ranging from early science fiction film sets to the design of virtual spaces. Innovative objects from the Vitra Design Museum collection show how technological innovation and utopian concepts find their place in our daily environment. For example, the "Space Age" furniture from the 1960s bears witness to the spirit of progress in an era marked by space exploration. Since the turn of the millennium, the boundaries between the analog and digital realms have become increasingly blurred as physical limits dissipate in cyberspace, changing the laws of design. The artistic design of the exhibition will be created by digital artist Andrés Reisinger, a leading figure in NFT design.

Image: Andrés Reisinger, The Shipping, 2021 © Reisinger Studio.

Musical von Joe Masteroff (Buch), John Kander (Musik) und Fred Ebb (Gesangstexte) nach den „Berlin Stories“ von Christopher Isherwood

Berlin 1931:
Willkommen im Cabaret, singt der Conferencier im „Kit Kat Klub“, wo man mit grell aufreizenden Darbietungen zu verdrängen versucht, was sich in Deutschland politisch zusammenbraut.
Im verrucht-verrauchten Nachtlokal ist die dekadente Welt noch in Ordnung, während die Berliner Straßen schon von den Märschen der Braunhemden und deren Parolen erfüllt sind.
Der Amerikaner Cliff erlebt hautnah die Veränderungen in der Gesellschaft und verliebt sich in die Tänzerin Sally Bowles, die Hauptattraktion im Cabaret.
Die Gandersheimer Domfestspiele zeigen das hochaktuelle Musical mit großartigen Choreographien und unvergesslichen Songs wie „Mein Herr“, „Maybe This Time“ oder „Willkommen, Bienvenue, Welcome“.
Wir entführen Sie in die Welt des Cabarets, während draußen die Welt unterzugehen scheint.

Der Musical-Klassiker um Sally Bowles wurde zuletzt 2013 vor der Gandersheimer Stiftskirche aufgeführt.

Regie: Achim Lenz

Not only Mozart enthusiasts will be able to whistle along: The aria of Papageno "The bird-catcher am I, always cheerful heissa hopsasa." The aria of the Queen of the Night – "The wrath of hell boils in my heart" – is less suitable for singing along: it is considered one of the most difficult pieces to sing in the world. And that is just one of the superlatives that "Die Zauberflöte" has in its repertoire. From the velvety overture to the powerful final chorus in E-flat major, "Die Zauberflöte" is the most performed opera in the German-speaking world. A musical masterpiece, composed by a genius music comet, who wrote his first stage pieces at the age of 11 – and left this world just 9 months after the premiere of "Die Zauberflöte," at not even 36 years old.

Whether "Die Zauberflöte" captured the hearts of people even at its premiere in 1791 is disputed. What is certain, however, is that the composer and his librettist Emanuel Schikaneder were able to build a new theater with the monumental proceeds from the piece: the renowned "Theater an der Wien."

Tickets coming soon at Reservix!

Palace-like, the orphanage rises on Franckeplatz. Then as now, it is the centerpiece of the Francke Foundations. Erected in 1698 as the first building of the school city, it represents a new facet of European Baroque, combining confident representation without extravagant ornamentation and setting the tone for orphanage architecture.

Today, the orphanage is our museum and cultural center. Right from the start, two permanent exhibitions guide you through the history of the foundation and the global impact of Pietism. On the first floor, the former prayer and singing hall surprises with its bright architecture. Today, it enjoys an excellent reputation as a concert hall due to its fantastic acoustics. In the adjacent conference rooms, a photo exhibition showcases the impressive renovation work since the foundations were reestablished in 1991. The second floor is reserved for our changing special exhibitions, which provide insight into important themes of the foundation's history from both a historical and contemporary perspective. Passing through the art and natural history collections in the attic, you reach the balcony via a narrow wooden staircase. Here, a wide view opens up over the impressive ensemble with school buildings from three centuries. There is also a splendid panorama of the Old Town of Halle from here. In the basement, children can explore their own paths in the Krokoseum.

10:00 AM - 5:00 PM

The kind-hearted Princess Amelia is to save her impoverished kingdom by marrying a foreign prince from afar. Anxious but determined, she sets off into an unknown world. She is accompanied by her loyal friend, the horse Faladah, and the maid Tiana - who, however, is scheming dark plans. With a treacherous trick, she forces Amelia into a role swap and pretends to be the princess herself. Amelia is abruptly turned into a goose girl. Can she bring the truth to light and prove who she really is?

A story about friendship, envy, betrayal, and the courage to find oneself!
Under the overall direction and staging of Mimi Jörg, the Schützentheater 2025 presents the fairy tale 'Die Gänsemagd' by the Brothers Grimm, written by Sandra Binder, with music by Andreas Winger and costumes by Petra Weiß.

Doors open: 16:30

With the redesign of the archaeological department, the third part of the museum's re-conception is completed. The exhibition "Verdammt lang her!" shows the archaeology of the region from the Stone Age to the time of the Alamanni, taking into account the latest research aspects.

Around 100 new loans from the Archaeological Fund Archive of Baden-Württemberg enrich the exhibition and illustrate important individual themes. For example, the gravestone of a Suebian prince found in Bühl in 2011 is shown for the first time. The stone bears the only inscription discovered so far in Baden-Württemberg, providing information about early Roman administration. Important finds from Offenburg and the surrounding area - bronzes, ceramics, jewelry - document the excavation activities of recent decades. But research gaps are also addressed.

The new presentation focuses on archaeological work: How do archaeologists work, how do they determine the age of something, and since when have archaeological finds been of interest to museums?

Hands-On stations, vivid life depictions, and a media station address various aspects of the exhibition and invite visitors to participate and try out.

Closed on Mondays
Tue-Sun 10 am - 5 pm

Die Augen des Krieges

26.03.2025 – 26.09.2025

Polish Institute Düsseldorf, Citadellstr. 7, 40213 Düsseldorf

On February 24, 2022, history was rewritten. For three years, we have been observing events that are changing not only the history of Ukraine and Russia, but also Poland, Europe, and the world.

Polish photographers and journalists document this history by showing both the Russian war against Ukraine, the flow of refugees, and everyday life in the war zone. They make up the largest group among foreign correspondents and are the creators of thousands of photos. Thanks to their work, the war in Ukraine is visible to people even in the most remote parts of the world. It does not appear as a conflict at the end of the world, but as a real, deeply shared tragedy.

This history is also changing Poland on many levels – from demographics to social change and political issues. At the same time, the war is gradually becoming more familiar to us citizens of the free world, and we are getting used to it. The selected photographs – the most representative and meaningful – are compiled into an exhibition and tell a story about the war unleashed by Russia in Ukraine. As material testimonies of this conflict, they can once again stir the growing indifference of public opinion.

The authors of the 12 exhibited photographs are prominent Polish photographers who have been awarded at major photo competitions such as World Press Photo and Pictures of The Year, including Wojciech Grzędziński, Marek Berezowski, Tomasz Lazar, and many others who have dealt with the war in Ukraine. The exhibition is complemented by descriptions of the personal war experiences of the photographers written by Magdalena Rigamonti.

Curator: Ewa Meissner

Text author: Magdalena Rigamonti

Graphic design: Maciej Jabłoński

Producer: Jarosław Włodarczyk / Press Club Polska

Partner in presenting the exhibition at the Polish Institute in Düsseldorf: Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in Cologne and Consulate General of Ukraine in Düsseldorf

Photos by Patryk Jaracz, Agata Grzybowska, Jędrzej Nowicki, Tomasz Lazar, Maciek Nabrdalik, Maciej Stanik, Wojciech Grzędziński, Marek M. Berezowski

Tue, Wed and Fri 11 am - 5 pm. Thu 11 am - 7 pm

Permanent Exhibition Nature and Geology

The sensory, colorful, exciting, and informative family exhibition awakens interest in nature in our surroundings and is a space for exploration for visitors both big and small.

 

Nature

In the natural history section, questions like "Is the deer the female of the stag?", "Why do birds have beaks?", or "Do ducks get cold feet?" are answered vividly and in detail. The exhibition welcomes its visitors in the large, atmospheric attic with open landscape scenarios on the themes of forest, land, and river.

A huge maple tree in autumn colors seems to grow out of the wall and overlooks the detailed forest landscape. Here, you can find animals such as badgers, deer, the shy wildcat, and a variety of forest birds.

The meadow also offers numerous discoveries: the hawk peeks through the grass, you can find crawling creatures under the stone, and even the mole has found its spot.

The river landscape is populated by local fish, mussels, and crabs, with ducks and other birds comfortably settled along the shore.

A large number of hands-on stations, games, and experiments invite participation: for instance, you can listen to bird songs, feel fur, or examine snail shells under a magnifying glass. If you're curious about how stuffed animals are made, you can learn about it at the taxidermist's worktable. You can relax and browse through a colorful selection of children's books in the cozy moss bed while listening to various forest sounds or just unwind.

 

Geology

In the geological section at the very top under the museum's roof, questions like "Can rocks glow?", "Is a pencil made of lead?", or "Is there a silver treasure in the Black Forest?" are answered vividly and in detail here as well.

Is time travel even possible? Yes, with us! With the time machine, you can journey to different geological eras. You step in, choose an era, and zoom off, for example, to the Carboniferous period. Upon arrival, you learn about the landscape, climate, and flora and fauna of that time.

Next up is the reconstructed gallery: here you'll learn that coal, iron ore, and even silver were mined in numerous pits near Offenburg.

Finally, you enter the exhibition's treasure trove, the mineral cabinet. Here, you can admire beautiful minerals with melodious names like agate, limonite, or psilomelane, shimmering in all colors and occurring in bizarre forms. Some of these minerals even glow under blacklight.

The permanent exhibition Forest - Land - River encourages exploring interesting connections and asking new questions. Sensory, colorful, exciting, and informative, the presentation offers a suitable platform for youthful curiosity and creates a stimulating and child-friendly space that adults will also enjoy. The exhibition answers all questions vividly and with lively texts, many of which can be heard on the audioguide, available for free at the information desk.

The exhibition is bilingual in German and French.

 

Closed on Mondays
Tue-Sun 10 am - 5 pm

Permanent Exhibition Urban History

The urban history exhibition showcases the political and economic path of Offenburg from the 1848 Revolution to the economic miracle of the 1950s and 60s.

With the beginning of the 1848 Revolution, the urban history exhibition also starts, taking the visitor through the times of upheaval and change in Offenburg and the region.

At the beginning of the 19th century, Offenburg is a small town with just under 2,400 inhabitants. 170 years later, there are already 33,000 citizens. During this period, the city experiences industrialization, two revolutions, three wars, two inflations, emigration and immigration, dictatorship, and democratic new beginnings.

Four main themes are focused on:

• History of democracy

• Migration

• Mobility

• Economic history

The exhibition showcases the political and economic path of Offenburg into modernity, from the 1848 Revolution to the economic miracle of the 1950s and 60s. It combines treasures from the collections with modern media and playful elements, such as an animation on emigration to North America, audio stations, and film sequences.



Photo: Karl Schlessmann

Closed on Mondays
Tue-Sun 10 am - 5 pm

Playing, laughing, being loud, romping, doing nothing – and that in an exhibition house! From September 4, 2024, BAUBAU invites exactly that. In the play space for children designed by artist Kerstin Brätsch, more is allowed than forbidden. Colorful wallpapers, structures, objects, and a range of “Loose Parts” form spaces on the ground floor of the Gropius Bau that do not impose fixed guidelines but are determined by the activities of the children. They dictate the direction and form of what happens here. Thus, this place becomes a space of possibilities that can change day by day.

BAUBAU will launch in September 2024 in a prototype version and will continue to develop and grow over the coming years both inside and outside the Gropius Bau – in close exchange with the children and their wishes, as this is their place.

The Play
All children have the urge to play. This is how they learn to understand themselves and the world. Especially open, self-determined play is of great significance for emotional and social development. The educational concept for BAUBAU is therefore based on the principles of free play: Here, there is time, space, and permission for children to follow their own needs and interests. They are accompanied by playworkers – trained staff who create a safe and supportive environment where children can play freely.

 
The Art
BAUBAU playfully questions what a museum or an art institution should be. The comprehensive spatial design developed by Kerstin Brätsch is full of references and inspirations: elements from her previous works, such as marbling, paintings, or stucco marble work, reappear here in altered forms and materialities. The wallpapers, curtains, fabrics, seating furniture, and climbing structures are inhabited by dinosaurs, fantastical beings, termite mounds, and abstract elements. With their strange, funny, and perhaps a bit eerie shapes, they create an open framework for free play.

Kerstin Brätsch's practice is designed to allow and incorporate influences from outside. While she has previously collaborated with artists or artisans, she now does so in a completely different way with children: She invites the children to reshape and further develop the space according to their own ideas and visions, without the influence of the artist in unpredictable ways.

Mon, Wed, Thu, Fri 12:00–18:00
Sat, Sun 11:00–18:00
Tue closed

The main building of the State Kunsthalle Karlsruhe is closed for extensive renovation. However, significant parts of the collection are now visible to the public again – as guests at the ZKM | Karlsruhe.

The Kunsthalle showcases paintings and sculptures spanning from the late Middle Ages to the present on around 2000 sqm – a cross-section of the collection featuring popular masterpieces by Matthias Grünewald and Hans Baldung Grien, by Rembrandt, Rubens, and Chardin, by Cézanne, Gauguin, and Beckmann, Max Ernst, René Magritte, and Joan Miró, as well as works by Gerhard Richter, Pia Fries, and Karin Sander.