In 2022 lud das Thomas Mann House Fellows aus verschiedenen Disziplinen ein, darüber zu diskutieren, wie öffentliches Vertrauen wiederhergestellt werden kann. Das Projekt Trust in Museums der Historikerin, Archäologin und 2022 Thomas Mann Fellow Sunhild Kleingärtner beschäftigte sich mit der Rolle des öffentlichen Vertrauens in Museen: Wie kann Vertrauen in Museen aufgebaut werden und wie geht es verloren? Was macht Museen in Zeiten polarisierter Gesellschaften in westlichen Demokratien glaubwürdig? Wer hat Vertrauen in Museen und mit welchen Erwartungen? Gemeinsam mit Expert:innen und Studierenden aus den USA wird Kleingärtner die Ergebnisse ihrer transatlantischen Studie diskutieren.

*Diese Veranstaltung findet auf englischer Sprache statt*

Museums as public institutions play an important role in the presenting, conserving, and shaping of cultural narratives. In today’s politically charged times, it is not easy for museums to navigate the political discourses that are quickly and constantly changing. At the same time, due to a focus on transparent provenance, research and educational programs, museums still enjoy a great deal of public trust today according to a recent study by the American Alliance of Museums. During her Fellowship, Sunhild Kleingärtner, an archaeologist with museum-based expertise, conducted interviews with experts in the USA and Germany, exploring political issues pertinent to the question of museums as trusted institutions. Is it even possible to think of museums as inherently nonpolitical? What are key factors that foster trust in museums?

On February 1, Kleingärtner will visit Los Angeles again to present and discuss the results of her project, followed by a conversation with colleagues and students at the Thomas Mann House.

By Invitation Only.

Sunhild Kleingärtner is a German historian and archaeologist. From 2013 to 2021 she was Director of the German Maritime Museum Bremerhaven and Professor of Maritime History and Maritime Archaeology at the University of Bremen. In 2022, she was a Fellow at the Thomas Mann House in Los Angeles, working on trust in museums and how museums can actively contribute to a resilient society. Since 2022 she is the Director of the Deutsches Bergbau-Museum Bochum and holds a professorship in archaeology with a focus on museum-related transfer.

Eine Veranstaltung des Thomas Mann House, Los Angeles.