Global Perspectives
A Museum Lab for Stories, Objects and Perspectives
For over 300 years, the Cabinet of Art and Curiosities of the Francke Foundations has displayed objects from all over the world. The Pietists of Halle, led by August Hermann Francke (1663–1727) and his successors, presented in a very limited space a universal collection of natural specimens and artifacts—showcasing the richness of creation, the global network of connections, and their contemporary scientific worldview.
Each object could tell us about the people who created, collected, discovered, or passed it on. But often, we do not know their names, their motivations, or their stories. This exhibition invites you to see the collection with new eyes. Together with neighbors, colleagues, and friends from diverse geographic backgrounds, we developed a transcultural exhibition lab in four workshops that explores cultural encounters and coexistence.
We are bringing experiences from intercultural communication into the museum and testing ways of fostering respectful, equal exchange. You are invited to think along, take part, and contribute. Add your own stories—turning this museum space into a place that reflects the diversity of our city and opens up new paths for dialogue.
- Share your perspective.
- Discover new ways of dialogue.
- Join us in shaping a vibrant museum lab – with your stories, creative objects, and personal experiences!
Workshop spaces are limited, so please register in advance.
Saturday, 09/27/2025
Discovering Materials
What materials make up the objects in the baroque Cabinet of Artefacts and Natural Curiosities? Are they valuable or worthless, emotional or rational, natural or artificial? What do they remind us of, and where would we place our favorite material? The first workshop revealed how differently materials affect us and how uniquely personal each story can be. The results are now on display in the exhibition.
Wednesday, 10/15/2025
Understanding Colors
Colors carry many meanings — and these are not the same everywhere. In the second workshop of the series, we explored the colors of the objects in the art and natural history cabinet, shared our preferences, experiences, and knowledge, and experimented ourselves: What is my sky blue, and which sky do I think of?
Wednesday, 11/05/2025
Shifting Perspectives
Do all objects mean the same thing to everyone? We take time to choose our favorite object from the collection. In the workshop, we exchange ideas and explore different perspectives: What do we see, think, and feel – and what do others?
Saturday, 11/22/2025
Symbols and Stories
A talisman, a good luck charm, a rainmaker, or a souvenir – what kinds of symbols do we associate with the objects in the Cabinet of Art and Curiosities? In the creative workshop, we craft a personal companion with its own meaning and story.
