Global 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.