around and around – Turning Old into New

In its new project “around and around – Turning Old into New", the LWL Museum of Archaeology in Herne ponders how it can make its exhibitions less resource-intensive, and thus more environmentally friendly. From the concept phase to the design to its eventual implement, the project organisers plan to review, reassess and analyse all areas of exhibition practice. The aim is to initiate a sustainable transformation of this and other LWL museums.

The project particularly focuses on getting all the staff on board and reflecting on the central areas of energy, purchasing, mobility and waste. A central pillar of the sustainability concept is to create exhibition architecture based on a circular economy with re- and upcycling aesthetics. For example, the organisers aim to avoid constructing large structures which would normally have to be disposed of as problematic waste. Instead, it will develop modular exhibition architecture which utilises used and compostable materials like mycelium. It will also consider lending logistics and define criteria for contracting external service providers.

The special exhibition “Modern Times – Modern Archeological Findings and Their Stories”, which will serve as the test run for these measures, addresses the often neglected archaeological research of the 19^th and 20^th century for the first time. Based on six categories – Feeling, Destruction, Innovation, Purpose, Memory and Deviation – the exhibition sheds light on the history of the relationship between humans and objects. Following its year-long presentation in Herne, the exhibition concept and possibly some of its modules will be made available to other museums.