Rothenbaum Museum fights against visitor loss: modernization necessary!

Rothenbaum Museum fights against visitor loss: modernization necessary!

The Hamburg Museum on Rothenbaum, formerly known as the Museum of Ethnology, faces major challenges. The number of visitors has dropped dramatically in the past ten years. So only about 64,000 people came last year, while in 2014 it was almost twice as many. A worrying trend that gives rise to discussion and raises the question of whether the renaming to "Museum on the Rothenbaum - Cultures and Arts of the World" actually had a positive effect.

The renaming that cost more than 60,000 euros does not seem to have achieved the desired effect so far to increase the awareness. A study that could have proven this was not carried out. Only around 52,000 visitors are forecast for the current year, which enlarges uncertainty about the future of the museum.

Visitor loss and comparison with other museums

The museum on the Rothenbaum is not the only one that fights with a decline in visitor shot. The Archaeological Museum Hamburg also recorded a loss of visitors. In contrast, the Museum of Art and Trade with almost 213,000 guests was significantly more successful last year.

With a new approach, the museum on the Rothenbaum hopes to regain its attractiveness. A current exhibition on the popular children's figure Pippi Longstocking should encourage you to deal with colonial topics. This decision shows that the museum wants to focus on socially relevant topics.

The modernization of the museum, which has been planned for years, could also be the key to stabilizing the number of visitors. The federal government and the city of Hamburg have provided 123 million euros to make the museum future -proof. Museum director Barbara Plankensteiner described this decision as an “important moment” in the history of the museum. The aim is to open the house to a wider public and to improve accessibility. The last significant changes in the building date from 1912, and since then structural defects have become visible.

Standstill in modernization

A major change has already occurred: the "Occident" restaurant has been closed since July because it is insolvent. A reopening is not in sight, which further exacerbates the already difficult situation of the museum.