DURCH_EINANDER – Neuruppin City Dialogue

With its project “DURCH_EINANDER” (Mixing It Up), the Museum Neuruppin wishes to investigate how new and long-established residents of Neuruppin perceive and use urban space. In order to anchor the project as broadly as possible in urban society, the museum has established a partnership with the ESTAruppin Association of Social and Educational Affairs which maintains close relations with several local social organisations. Together they formed a project team of long-standing inhabitants of Neuruppin and newly arrived refugees who will jointly explore various locations and frequently travelled routes in and through the city. Based on their findings, the tandem partners will create cognitive maps that reveal how the city is actually being used and where there is potential for more personal encounter. For example, locations that don’t appear to have any inviting qualities but are heavily frequented, can be transformed into places of contact and exchange by means of temporary exhibitions, festivals or “conversation cafés”. Conversely, locations which are hardly used can be revived with events and new types of outdoor fixtures. The project aims to overhaul the design of six locations on the basis of the prior field research.

An exhibition at the museum will document the process of urban discovery and present photos and interviews with old and new residents of Neuruppin expressing their views of the city. Interactive modules will invite visitors to consider and expand their own views on urban life and movement in their city. The results will be incorporated into the museum’s multimedia services which will be made accessible to the public in the long term.

Partners: ESTAruppin e.V. (main partner), Ostprignitz-Ruppin District Sports Association, Fontane Festspiele Neuruppin, the association "Wir die InnenStadt", Ruppin General Association of Protestant Churches and others