Über uns
Stiftung Exilmuseum is a non-profit foundation that is developing the project through civic engagement. How did it come about? Who are the people behind the initiative?
2011
How it all began ...
Nobel Prize winner Herta Müller writes an open letter to Chancellor Angela Merkel, calling for the establishment of a museum on the subject of exile.
2017–2018
Establishing the foundation
Art dealer Bernd Schultz embraces the idea of a museum dedicated to the subject of exile and finds numerous supporters. The photograph (from 2019), from left to right, shows board members Kai Drabe, Ruth Ur, and André Schmitz, the founding director Christoph Stölzl, managing director Meike-Marie Thiele, board member and initiator Bernd Schultz, and curator Cornelia Vossen.
2018
Work begins
The foundation moves into its first office at Ludwigkirchplatz.
The team, from left to right: Meike-Marie Thiele, Philipp Sukstorf, Cornelia Vossen, Prof. Dr. Christoph Stölzl, Dana Müller, Sarah Blendin, Janet Alvarado
2018
Bernd Schultz auctions his art collection
... to benefit Exilmuseum. The 6 million euros raised from the auction secure the start-up funding for the project. He also takes care of raising further donations.
2019
A new prominent supporter
Germany’s former president Joachim Gauck becomes a patron of the project, alongside Herta Müller.
2020
The idea takes on shape
The foundation invites ten renowned firms to take part in an international architectural competition for the new Exilmuseum building. The jury, including the then Senate Building Director Regula Lüscher and District Councillor Clara Herrmann as well as numerous architects, decided in favor of the design by Danish architect Dorte Mandrup.
In the picture: Initiator Bernd Schultz and founding director Christoph Stölzl
2021
For the first time at Anhalter Bahnhof
With the open-air exhibition ZU/FLUCHT, the foundation presents the project for the first time at its future location, Anhalter Bahnhof.
2022
Securing the location
With the final notarization of the leasehold contract with the district Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg, Stiftung Exilmuseum secures the site at Anhalter Bahnhof.
In the picture: Board members Kai Drabe and Johannes Wien
2023
Werkstatt Exilmuseum opens
The new foundation headquarters and interim location for the project is Werkstatt Exilmuseum, located at Fasanenstraße 24 in Berlin-Charlottenburg: a venue for events, a lab, and an exhibition site about the
Exilmuseum project.
2023
Visible sign
At Anhalter Bahnhof, a tower illustrates the plans for Exilmuseum. At the dedication ceremony, new board members Heike Catherina Mertens and Kader Konuk were presented. Curator Cornelia Vossen takes over as Artistic Director following the unexpected death of founding director Prof. Dr. Christoph Stölzl.
Pictured from left to right: board members Kai Drabe, Kader Konuk, André Schmitz, and Heike Catherina Mertens as well as Cornelia Vossen and Meike-Marie Thiele; not in the picture: board member Johannes Wien.
"As a civic initiative, we have already accomplished and initiated a lot on the path to creating this museum. Exilmuseum is meant to fill a gap in the landscape of German museums and memorial sites—a gap that, in our view, must also be addressed by the federal government. We see ourselves as trailblazers in this effort. With broad support, we can achieve our goal of opening the museum in 2028."
André Schmitz, chairman of the board of Stiftung Exilmuseum Berlin
As of summer 2023