Core Exhibition Team
Selfie Project for International Museum Day on 17 May 2020
Today was supposed to be the day when we would present the new core exhibition to the public for the first time. Everything is different now because of the corona pandemic. But we’re already looking forward to the day when we can present the results of our years-long work to our visitors!
Implementing such a large project requires the energies of many individuals, and together they make a large team: project leadership, curators, project assistants, trainees, student assistants, collection management, construction coordination, digital & publishing, archives, library, IT, collections, education, financing, visitor experience & research, marketing & communication, building management, photo documentation, rights management and permissions.
We’ve asked our colleagues from various domains to send us a selfie and answer the question: What are you most looking forward to in the new core exhibition?
-
“I’m looking forward to finally walking through the exhibition with the audioguide playing, and I’m very excited to see the interplay between our content and the spaces and objects.” – Lisa Albrecht, JMB App project leader; photo: personal collection.
-
“I’m looking forward to a very approachable exhibition experience, with interactive stations for touching and listening, and I’m hoping for a diverse group of visitors.” – Immanuel Ayx, responsible for content on the website and one media station; photo: personal collection.
-
“I’m excited to hear what our visitors will say about the new exhibition!” – Christiane Birkert, tested concepts, interactions, and texts with visitors for the core exhibition; photo: personal collection.
-
“I’m looking forward to being able to take in the exciting themes in the exhibition rooms using all of my senses.” – Mirjam Bitter, online editor; photo: personal collection.
-
“The important thing is that it works!” – Felix Blank, contact person for ventilation and air-conditioning; photo: personal collection.
-
“Paper, silver, metal, or wood: Every object tells us a bit of a life story” – Franziska Bogdanov, project management and curation for the Family Album; photo: personal collection.
-
Statement from the Finance Department: “After so many invoices, we are very excited about the new core exhibition.” – Odette Bütow, Finance Department; photo: personal collection.
-
Statement from the Finance Department: “After so many invoices, we are very excited about the new core exhibition.” – Rainer Christoffers, Finance Department; photo: personal collection.
-
“I’m looking forward to the day when EVERYTHING is ready!” – Michael Dorrmann, project leader for the new core exhibition; photo: personal collection.
-
“I’m looking forward to discussions with our visitors!” – Diana Dressel, responsible for educational and communications offerings; photo: personal collection.
-
“Museums are mirrors. I hope that all of the visitors see themselves reflected in the stories that we tell in the new core exhibition.” – Monika Flores, 19th and 20th century exhibition curator; photo: personal collection.
-
“I am locked down in London and anxious to get back to Berlin. I can’t wait to walk through the gallery spaces and to see how the exhibition design functions!” – Michal S. Friedlander, curator of the rooms Prayer and Practice and The Jewish Object; photo: personal collection.
-
“Soon all of the fragments will come together to form a whole! We are looking forward to the opening and to the visitors.” – Miriam Goldmann, curator for the Ashkenaz time period; photo: personal collection.
-
“I’m looking forward to dancing back to the future with the visitors.” – Shelley Harten, former specialist trainee, 19th century; photo: personal collection.
-
“I’m excited for conversations and discussions with our visitors in and about the exhibition.” – Sarah Hiron, education (design/outreach/programs against anti-Semitism); photo: personal collection.
-
“Objects, art, media, texts, scenography—I’m looking forward to seeing all of these parts finally coming together to form an exhibition. And then we’ll open the doors.” – Henriette Kolb, project management for the new core exhibition; photo: personal collection.
-
“Freely quoted from Karl Kraus: ...the exhibition curator is a backwards-facing prophet who knew everything beforehand in retrospect. In any case, the vodka for celebrating this amazing exhibition is already standing at the ready.” – Cilly Kugelmann, executive curator of the new core exhibition; photo: personal collection.
-
“Discovering the exciting stories in the exhibition that didn’t make it into the app –that’s what I’m looking forward to the most.” – Constantin Köhler, JMB App student assistant; photo: personal collection.
-
“I’m looking forward to presenting our visitors with Jewish history, culture, and religion, all with strong ties to the present.” – Tamar Lewinsky, curator for the time period After 1945 and the Torah thematic room; photo: personal collection.
-
“I’m looking forward to opening the exhibition spaces to our visitors. I’m excited to see their reactions and impressions.” – Martina Lüdicke, curator for the Torah thematic room and the After 1945 time period; photo: personal collection.
-
“I’m looking forward to seeing how the many puzzle pieces of sounds and images fit together to form an exhibition.” – Leonore Maier, curator for the time-period rooms When Jews become Germans and Catastrophe; photo: personal collection.
-
“Our highlight is the family wall. Photos that tell stories and explain history.” – Birgit Maurer-Porat und Valeska Wolfgram, photography collection / photo documentation; photo: personal collection.
-
“The thing I’m looking forward to the most is seeing the law installation in person, because it presents a difficult topic in a vivid and striking way. And I’m looking forward to the final chorus with its many individual voices!” – Marie Naumann, responsible for the new souvenir book; photo: personal collection.
-
“I’m looking forward to being able to fully experience the diversity of voices in the exhibition – listening to them and seeing them on screens and in the vitrines.” – Heiko Niebur, JMB App research trainee; photo: personal collection.
-
“Innovative exhibition design paired with modern architecture – it’s simply perfect. The final chorus installation Mesubin is utterly staggering though.” – Anika Nowak-Wetterau, collaborated on the Jewish Places media station and the emigration globe; photo: personal collection.
-
Statement from the Finance Department: “After so many invoices, we are very excited about the new core exhibition.” – Stefan Rosin, administrator for external funds; photo: personal collection.
-
“I’m looking forward to: our visitors! And the many opportunities for exchanging ideas, as well as new and exciting perspectives.” – Signe Rossbach, curator for the supplementary program; photo: personal collection.
-
“I’m looking forward to many new pairs of eyes on the exhibition – and in the not-so-distant future, I’m hoping that this experience can take place without masks and distancing!” – Iris Saeger, curator for Ashkenaz and The Early Modern Period in the new core exhibition); photo: private collection.
-
Statement from the Finance Department: “After so many invoices, we are very excited about the new core exhibition.” – Grit Schleheider, Director of the Finance Department; photo: personal collection.
-
“As a media designer, I am particularly looking forward to finally being able to see all of the media stations in action.” – Florian Schmeling, edited a few images; illustration: Florian Schmeling.
-
Statement from the Finance Department: “After so many invoices, we are very excited about the new core exhibition.” – Katja Schwarzer, Finance Department; photo: personal collection.
-
“There have to be books. And that’s a good thing! You can find some of them in the new core exhibition.” – Ulrike Sonnemann, library director; photo: personal collection.
-
“I’m looking forward to the music and to discussions with our visitors.” – David Studniberg, curator of the Music room; photo: personal collection.
-
“I’m especially looking forward to the feedback our visitors leave about our interactive media stations and our new JMB App.” – Barbara Thiele, responsible for digital strategy; photo: personal collection.
-
“I’m very excited to see how visitors experience the exhibition, which thoughts and associations they have. They give us new perspectives.” – Lena Wanner, responsible for communication with journalists and media representatives; photo: personal collection.
-
“The thing I’m looking forward to the most are the visitors and talking with them – in person and online.” – Judith Westphal, responsible for social media and [together with colleagues] the campaign; photo: personal collection.
-
“The many objects that we describe in our souvenir book, that our Family Album collected digitally, or that we saw in the workshops – finally we’ll get to admire them in the exhibition!” – Katharina Wulffius, responsible for the JMB souvenir book, text editor for the Family Album media wall; photo: personal collection.
-
“I’m looking forward to more of the present!” – Theresia Ziehe, curator for the From 1945 time period; photo: personal collection.

“I’m looking forward to finally walking through the exhibition with the audioguide playing, and I’m very excited to see the interplay between our content and the spaces and objects.” – Lisa Albrecht, JMB App project leader; photo: personal collection.

“I’m looking forward to a very approachable exhibition experience, with interactive stations for touching and listening, and I’m hoping for a diverse group of visitors.” – Immanuel Ayx, responsible for content on the website and one media station; photo: personal collection.

“I’m excited to hear what our visitors will say about the new exhibition!” – Christiane Birkert, tested concepts, interactions, and texts with visitors for the core exhibition; photo: personal collection.

“I’m looking forward to being able to take in the exciting themes in the exhibition rooms using all of my senses.” – Mirjam Bitter, online editor; photo: personal collection.

“The important thing is that it works!” – Felix Blank, contact person for ventilation and air-conditioning; photo: personal collection.

“Paper, silver, metal, or wood: Every object tells us a bit of a life story” – Franziska Bogdanov, project management and curation for the Family Album; photo: personal collection.

Statement from the Finance Department: “After so many invoices, we are very excited about the new core exhibition.” – Odette Bütow, Finance Department; photo: personal collection.

Statement from the Finance Department: “After so many invoices, we are very excited about the new core exhibition.” – Rainer Christoffers, Finance Department; photo: personal collection.

“I’m looking forward to the day when EVERYTHING is ready!” – Michael Dorrmann, project leader for the new core exhibition; photo: personal collection.

“I’m looking forward to discussions with our visitors!” – Diana Dressel, responsible for educational and communications offerings; photo: personal collection.

“Museums are mirrors. I hope that all of the visitors see themselves reflected in the stories that we tell in the new core exhibition.” – Monika Flores, 19th and 20th century exhibition curator; photo: personal collection.

“I am locked down in London and anxious to get back to Berlin. I can’t wait to walk through the gallery spaces and to see how the exhibition design functions!” – Michal S. Friedlander, curator of the rooms Prayer and Practice and The Jewish Object; photo: personal collection.

“Soon all of the fragments will come together to form a whole! We are looking forward to the opening and to the visitors.” – Miriam Goldmann, curator for the Ashkenaz time period; photo: personal collection.

“I’m looking forward to dancing back to the future with the visitors.” – Shelley Harten, former specialist trainee, 19th century; photo: personal collection.

“I’m excited for conversations and discussions with our visitors in and about the exhibition.” – Sarah Hiron, education (design/outreach/programs against anti-Semitism); photo: personal collection.

“Objects, art, media, texts, scenography—I’m looking forward to seeing all of these parts finally coming together to form an exhibition. And then we’ll open the doors.” – Henriette Kolb, project management for the new core exhibition; photo: personal collection.

“Freely quoted from Karl Kraus: ...the exhibition curator is a backwards-facing prophet who knew everything beforehand in retrospect. In any case, the vodka for celebrating this amazing exhibition is already standing at the ready.” – Cilly Kugelmann, executive curator of the new core exhibition; photo: personal collection.

“Discovering the exciting stories in the exhibition that didn’t make it into the app –that’s what I’m looking forward to the most.” – Constantin Köhler, JMB App student assistant; photo: personal collection.

“I’m looking forward to presenting our visitors with Jewish history, culture, and religion, all with strong ties to the present.” – Tamar Lewinsky, curator for the time period After 1945 and the Torah thematic room; photo: personal collection.

“I’m looking forward to opening the exhibition spaces to our visitors. I’m excited to see their reactions and impressions.” – Martina Lüdicke, curator for the Torah thematic room and the After 1945 time period; photo: personal collection.

“I’m looking forward to seeing how the many puzzle pieces of sounds and images fit together to form an exhibition.” – Leonore Maier, curator for the time-period rooms When Jews become Germans and Catastrophe; photo: personal collection.

“Our highlight is the family wall. Photos that tell stories and explain history.” – Birgit Maurer-Porat und Valeska Wolfgram, photography collection / photo documentation; photo: personal collection.

“The thing I’m looking forward to the most is seeing the law installation in person, because it presents a difficult topic in a vivid and striking way. And I’m looking forward to the final chorus with its many individual voices!” – Marie Naumann, responsible for the new souvenir book; photo: personal collection.

“I’m looking forward to being able to fully experience the diversity of voices in the exhibition – listening to them and seeing them on screens and in the vitrines.” – Heiko Niebur, JMB App research trainee; photo: personal collection.

“Innovative exhibition design paired with modern architecture – it’s simply perfect. The final chorus installation Mesubin is utterly staggering though.” – Anika Nowak-Wetterau, collaborated on the Jewish Places media station and the emigration globe; photo: personal collection.

Statement from the Finance Department: “After so many invoices, we are very excited about the new core exhibition.” – Stefan Rosin, administrator for external funds; photo: personal collection.

“I’m looking forward to: our visitors! And the many opportunities for exchanging ideas, as well as new and exciting perspectives.” – Signe Rossbach, curator for the supplementary program; photo: personal collection.

“I’m looking forward to many new pairs of eyes on the exhibition – and in the not-so-distant future, I’m hoping that this experience can take place without masks and distancing!” – Iris Saeger, curator for Ashkenaz and The Early Modern Period in the new core exhibition); photo: private collection.

Statement from the Finance Department: “After so many invoices, we are very excited about the new core exhibition.” – Grit Schleheider, Director of the Finance Department; photo: personal collection.

“As a media designer, I am particularly looking forward to finally being able to see all of the media stations in action.” – Florian Schmeling, edited a few images; illustration: Florian Schmeling.

Statement from the Finance Department: “After so many invoices, we are very excited about the new core exhibition.” – Katja Schwarzer, Finance Department; photo: personal collection.

“There have to be books. And that’s a good thing! You can find some of them in the new core exhibition.” – Ulrike Sonnemann, library director; photo: personal collection.

“I’m looking forward to the music and to discussions with our visitors.” – David Studniberg, curator of the Music room; photo: personal collection.

“I’m especially looking forward to the feedback our visitors leave about our interactive media stations and our new JMB App.” – Barbara Thiele, responsible for digital strategy; photo: personal collection.

“I’m very excited to see how visitors experience the exhibition, which thoughts and associations they have. They give us new perspectives.” – Lena Wanner, responsible for communication with journalists and media representatives; photo: personal collection.

“The thing I’m looking forward to the most are the visitors and talking with them – in person and online.” – Judith Westphal, responsible for social media and [together with colleagues] the campaign; photo: personal collection.

“The many objects that we describe in our souvenir book, that our Family Album collected digitally, or that we saw in the workshops – finally we’ll get to admire them in the exhibition!” – Katharina Wulffius, responsible for the JMB souvenir book, text editor for the Family Album media wall; photo: personal collection.
Though we have to keep our distance from each other at the moment, we are all continuing to work together to complete the exhibition.
We look forward to seeing you as soon as possible!