A week of research and teaching, learning and living (in the heart of) the museum: From 27 July to 1 August 2026, the Centre for Advanced Study “Access to Cultural Goods in Digital Change” and the Institute of Cultural Anthropology/European Ethnology, are organising a one-week practical course on current topics and tasks of museums, in cooperation with the LWL-Freilichtmuseum Detmold (Westphalian State Museum of Everyday Culture). Participants will gain in-depth insights into the museum as a field of practice, a place of research, a collection and educational institution, and much more.
Curating Materialities: The Summer School 2026 takes up the current focus of the cooperating museum and is interested in the work and transformations of this institution. In 2026, the new entrance and exhibition building will open in Detmold, the museum will be given a new name and will transition to year-round operation. This will change organisational and curatorial requirements. Over the course of the week, participants will develop a mediation/curatorial project in collaboration with the course instructor, the invited international guest curator and the local staff.
Registration and participation
Master’s students of cultural anthropology, history, art history and other courses in Department 8 (History/Philosophy) at the University of Münster are eligible to participate. The number of places is limited. The offer is also open to Master’s students of museum-related subjects and, where applicable, interested doctoral students from other universities. Participants will be provided with accommodation at the museum; a contribution towards the cost of jointly organised meals is to be expected. The research group also awards limited travel grants to accepted applicants.
Please send your registration, including your personal details, course of study and matriculation number, to the Institute’s office (Ms Steens) by 1 April 2026: kulturanthropologie@uni-muenster.de.
Concept and management
Prof. Dr. Lioba Keller-Drescher
Professor of European Ethnology with a focus on museums, collections and material culture at the Institute of Cultural Anthropology/European Ethnology and In-House Fellow at the Centre for Advanced Study “Access to Cultural Goods in Digital Change” at the University of Münster
International guest curator
Hon.Prof. Dr. Birgit Johler (Graz/Vienna)
Curator at the Volkskundemuseum Graz – Universalmuseum Joanneum, honorary professor of European Ethnology at the University of Vienna and Senior Fellow at the Centre for Advanced Study “Access to Cultural Goods in Digital Change” at the University of Münster
Sponsors
The event is supported by the LWL-Freilichtmuseum Detmold, the Verein der Freunde des Museums, Fachbereich 8 of the University of Münster and the Centre for Advanced Study “Access to Cultural Goods in Digital Change”.