Exhibition concept

The LWL Museum for Archaeology is the central showcase for the preservation of monuments in Westphalia and a material reflection of human history in this region. In order to generate enthusiasm in a wide audience for our "buried treasures", we select unusual topics and realize bold and extraordinary exhibition concepts. The focus is on excavated finds from which we coax exciting stories. Appropriate staging and dramaturgy makes it possible for visitors to grasp the content with all their senses. Joining in, touching and trying out are expressly encouraged!

Special exhibitions

At least once a year, we scientifically and thematically examine selected subjects in our special exhibitions. Our focus is not only on significant topics and events of regional history, which we appraise and present in an interdisciplinary way, but also on archaeological excavations and treasures of international significance and cultural-historical topics of global importance.

Reconciling the present and the past

One thing we are definitely not is a dusty cultural bunker. We combine thousands of years of history with the most modern technology and methodology - in our exhibition technology, the museum's educational programs and communication. Not only do we have multimedial information stations, but we are also present on the social media platforms of Web 2.0.

Because, if history has shown anything, it is that progress and good ideas prevail.

Digital strategy

We see our current and future visitors not as consumers, but as prosumers. Thus, one of our goals is to develop visitor-oriented and participatory offers and to be open to suggestions from outside.
For this it is necessary:

1. that we allow change and also regard our strategies as changeable;
2. that we digitalise and digitally document our collection;
3. that we establish a sustainable knowledge management;
4. that we guarantee quality and sustainability;
5. that we disclose our strategies and concepts for action internally and externally and  offerthem up to discussion
6. that we make our content freely available within the framework of legal regulations for open licenses (open data) and in accordance with LWL standards.

We are committed to striving for and making decisions on this basis in the future. At the same time we ask ourselves what form our digital content needs to take so that it is perceived as relevant and customisable in today's information society.

Our doors are open - for everyone

For us there isn't a typical museum visitor. We want every visitor to feel welcome: children and seniors, professionals and those interested in archaeology, individual visitors and groups.

That is why we make sure that all the texts in our exhibitions are comprehensible for all visitors from primary school age upwards, while being precise and informative.

We are particularly pleased to welcome families with children. We want your museum visit to be an unforgettable family experience.

We have a wide range of offers for people with disabilities – and, of course, our museum and
exhibitions are designed to be barrier-free.

It is important to us that foreign visitors also feel welcome in our museum - and that we make a contribution to integration. That is why we not only provide guided tours in English, French and Turkish, but also actively take part in activities for people with a migration background.

Sustainability

For us as a museum entrusted with finds that are 250,000 years old, sustainability is naturally a top issue. Environmental protection also plays a very important role in this. Our building was constructed according to the most advanced guidelines for energy-saving and air-conditioning technology. The roofs of our exhibition halls are covered by over 1,000 square meters of photovoltaic panels that produce enough electricity to supply 20 four-person households.