On the Hunt for a New Home: Coburg's 2,000 Dolls Seek a Fresh Exhibition Space
Seeking a new venue to host around two thousand dolls in an upcoming exhibition. - Thousands of dolls to be displayed in new exhibition space
Spokeperson Louay Yassin of the city of Coburg reveals the ongoing search for a new exhibition space for the approximate 2,000 dolls from the former Coburg Puppet Museum.
A brand-new exhibit concept is being developed for the approximately 2,000 dolls from the former Coburg Puppet Museum, with a new home still to be discovered. A fraction of the exhibits has been lent to other museums in Sonneberg and Bamberg, according to Spokesperson Louay Yassin of the city of Coburg, as reported by the German Press Agency. Discussions are underway with additional museums.
The majority of the collection of the puppet museum, closed at the end of 2022, will continue to be stored in the Kulturfabrik Cortendorf, on the outskirts of Coburg, says Yassin. The municipal cultural department is exploring ways to share the approximately 4,000 exhibits, if not all, with the public again. "However, it's challenging since dolls are no longer as relevant as they were in the '90s."
The idea of dispersing parts of the exhibition across various locations has been in the works for some time, reveals Yassin. Unfortunately, the city no longer has any museum educators with the expertise needed to prepare and present the collection in a professional manner. The former director of the Coburg Puppet Museum is now working at the German Toy Museum in Sonneberg, Thuringia.
A Decline over the Decades
The Coburg Puppet Museum first opened as a private institution in 1987 and was taken over by the city in 2007. Despite the passage of time, visitor numbers gradually decreased. In November 2022, the city council made the decision to close the museum in the old town by year's end.
The decrease in visitor interest and the fact that the museum building in the old town was not accessible to all contributed to the decision, along with the exhibition's layout in more than 30 small rooms, which made it impossible for a school class to gather. However, students made up a large portion of the visitors.
Foundation from Rodental Abandons Offer
After the closure, a private foundation initially aspired to take over the collection and exhibit it in Rodental near Coburg. However, the project fell through in 2023 due to funding issues, as reported by the foundation itself. Since May 2024, the dolls, dollhouses, accessories, and other objects have been temporarily housed in the Kulturfabrik Cortendorf in the northeast of Coburg.
The dolls and accessories in the collection span roughly from 1800 to 1960. The museum showcased how the bourgeoisie used toys for child education. In 1987, the couple Carin and Hans Lossnitzer from Ettlingen near Karlsruhe founded the puppet museum and exhibited their private collection there. As over two-thirds of the exhibits came from North Franconia or South Thuringia, the museum founders chose Coburg as its location. The city subsequently purchased the collection and continued to manage the museum.
Coburg, Sonneberg, Bamberg, German Press Agency, '90s
Museum Perspectives
- Existing Museums in Bavaria: Given the broad range of museums in Bavaria, existing facilities could be suitable candidates for accommodating the collection.
- Cultural Centers or Historical Sites: Bavaria's rich heritage locations, including castles and palaces, provide potential venues for exhibition.
- Temporary or Traveling Exhibitions: The collection could be showcased across different cities, enabling broader exposure.
- New Dedicated Facilities: If resources and local support are available, a new museum or exhibition space specifically for the dolls is an achievable goal.
[Sources and Enrichment Data:]
- Public exhibitions schedule reviews for Bavarian museums (n.d.). [Online]. [Not Available]
- Bavaria Tourism (2021). Bavarian Museums and Exhibitions. Retrieved from https://www.bavaria.by/en/attractions/museums
- TripAdvisor (2023). Museums in Bavaria and Lower Saxony. Retrieved from https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attractions-g1416537-Activities-c37-t47-Bavaria-Lower_Saxony.html
- Bavarian Castles (2023). Museums in Castles. Retrieved from https://www.bavariancastles.com/museums.php
- Becken, J. (2023). Beyond Puppets: Exploring the Doll museums of Bavaria. Retrieved from https://www.bavarianodyssey.com/beyond-puppets-exploring-the-doll-museums-of-bavaria/
- The emerging exhibit concept for the dolls from the former Coburg Puppet Museum may find a home in one of Bavaria's existing museums, given the wealth of institutions available.
- As an alternative, the collection could be integrated into cultural centers or historical sites across Bavaria, offering unique exhibition opportunities due to the region's rich heritage.
