Scouting a Fresh Canvas for a 2,000 Doll Exhibition: A New Chapter for Coburg's Ex-Puppet Museum
Seeking a spacious venue for housing around 2,000 dolls, aiming for a display. - Display space established for around 2,000 doll figures
Listen up, folks! The former Coburg Puppet Museum, sporting around 2,000 dolls, is on the hunt for a fresh, exciting venue to showcase its enchanting collection. As noted by Louay Yassin, the city of Coburg spokesman in a chat with the German Press Agency, discussions are in the works with several museums to find the perfect fit.
So far, a substantial chunk of the exhibits has been given a temporary home at museums in Sonneberg and Bamberg. The remaining treasure trove is being kept in the Kulturfabrik Cortendorf on the outskirts of Coburg. The City Cultural Department is brainstorming ways to reintroduce the approximately 4,000 exhibits to the public once more, although Yassin shares that dolls may not steal the limelight as they did back in the 1990s.
The idea of spreading bits of the exhibition across various locations has been on the table for some time. However, the city hasn't got any museum educators on board who could professionally curate and present the collection. The ex-director of the Coburg Puppet Museum is now using their expertise at the German Toy Museum in Sonneberg, Thuringia.
Visitors to the Coburg Puppet Museum gradually dropped in numbers over the years. The museum, which opened as a private institution in 1987 and came under the city's control in 2007, eventually shut down by the end of 2022 due to dwindling interest and the museum building's lack of accessibility for disabled visitors.
Initially, a private foundation was eager to take over the collection and display it in Rodental near Coburg. However, the plan fell through in 2023 due to funding issues. Since May 2024, the dolls, dollhouses, accessories, and other objects have been safely tucked away in the Kulturfabrik Cortendorf in Coburg's northeast region.
These dolls and accessories trace their origins back to around 1800 to 1960. The museum once showcased how the bourgeoisie used toys for child-rearing purposes. The couple Carin and Hans Lossnitzer from Ettlingen near Karlsruhe founded the puppet museum and featured their private collection. Since two-thirds of the exhibits came from North Franconia or South Thuringia, the museum founders chose Coburg as its location.
As of now, there's no concrete information about Coburg, Sonneberg, or Bamberg's museums being involved in a new collaboration for the doll exhibition. However, cultural institutions in Coburg, Sonneberg's toy industry background, and Bamberg's rich cultural scene could potentially help bring this exhibition to life. Let's keep our fingers crossed and stay tuned for official announcements regarding this fascinating venture!
Coburg, Sonneberg, and Bamberg: Cultural Hubs with Potential Exhibition Partners
In the meantime, here's some background info on these regions:
- Coburg: Known for its cultural and historical significance, Coburg could partner with local cultural institutions to host the doll exhibition.
- Sonneberg: With its toy industry heritage, Sonneberg might emerge as an interesting contender for the doll exhibition, despite there being no current puppet museum on record. Sonneberg's toy industry background could make a difference in future collaborations.
- Bamberg: Bamberg boasts a rich cultural and historical tapestry, with potential for museums or cultural centers to partner with doll-focused exhibitions.
Stay tuned for more updates on this story, and let's hope the little darlings finally have their big break!
- As Coburg, Sonneberg, and Bamberg collaborate to revitalize the 2,000 doll exhibition, community policy discussions may involve vocational training for museum educators, to professionally curate and present the collection.
- In the midst of fashion-and-beauty and home-and-garden lifestyle trends, repurposing parts of the puppet museum exhibits could open avenues for unique displays, showcasing antique dolls from the 1800s to 1960, educating the public on child-rearing practices during that era.
