Visitor numbers in the Museum am Rothenbaum fall - urgent modernization necessary!

Visitor numbers in the Museum am Rothenbaum fall - urgent modernization necessary!

In Hamburg, the museum on the Rothenbaum shows worrying figures: In the past ten years, the house, which was previously known as Museum of ethnology, has lost considerably to visitors. With just around 64,000 visitors last year, compared to almost 120,000 in 2014, the development is alarming. By the end of August of this year, only around 35,000 guests were counted, which is extrapolated to around 52,000 for 2024. These numbers raise questions about the attractiveness and marketing strategies of the museum.

The renaming to "Museum on the Rothenbaum - Cultures and Arts in the World", which cost over 60,000 euros, has not yet appeared to have achieved the desired effect. A study on the awareness of the new name was not commissioned, which increases the uncertainty about the effectiveness of this measure.

Visitor loss also at other institutions

The museum on the Rothenbaum is not alone with its loss of visitors. The Archaeological Museum Hamburg also complains of new figures. In contrast, the Museum of Art and Trades enjoyed almost 213,000 guests last year. The 50th anniversary exhibition of the "Sesame Straße" in particular was a big attraction. These differences throw a light on the different approaches to the museum tour to acquire visitor.

To counteract your own visitor television, a new exhibition was launched. The Museum of Pippi Longstocking has been devoting itself since the beginning of September. Their exhibition entitled "Pippis Papa and a really true story from the Pacific" should not only entertain, but also stimulate thinking about colonial worldviews in children's literature. This shows the museum's attempt to engage in current topics and to emphasize the relevance of its exhibition content.

planned modernization with obstacles

In 2021, 123 million euros were approved for a comprehensive modernization of the museum, which the museum director Barbara Plankensteiner describes as a crucial moment for the institution. It is planned to develop the facility in a decolonial direction and to open it more to the city society. According to her conviction, the museum has achieved an excellent reputation through innovative exhibitions and digital projects in recent years.

Modernization, however, seems to go ahead. So far, no funds have been called up, and the planning seems to be longer than originally thought. The current state of the building, which has not experienced significant changes since the inauguration in 1912, is another problem for many. The entrance area in particular is a barrier for wheelchair users. There are other infrastructural challenges, such as the closure of the restaurant "Occident", which is insolvent and of which remains uncertain. The renovation of windows and roofs is also necessary, while the fire alarm system is out of date and no more spare parts are available.

While the museum officially wants to appeal to a diverse audience, there are clear rules: people who belong to right -wing extremist organizations can be referred to the house. This procedure is in line with the mission statement of the house and is intended to preserve the integrity of the institution. So far, however, there have been no cases in which this was necessary.

Overall, it remains to be seen how the Situation for the museum on the Rothenbaum will develop. The announced modernization measures, coupled with the new exhibition strategy, could help the facility to gain more attention and visitors again. The coming months will be crucial to see whether these changes will bear fruit and the museum is able to claim its relevance in Hamburg and beyond that as report from www.shz.de show .