The Corona Virus (Covid-19) pandemic has not ended yet, and it seems to be far from this, but museums in Germany are already collecting modern daily life-related artifacts in the shadow of the closure for upcoming exhibitions.
Handmade gags, empty store shelves and people clapping their balconies, "History is being written now," according to the curators at the Wolfsburg City Museum, and is among many museums across Germany that seek to collect daily vocabulary related to the closure, and things that signify special moments. That may soon be forgotten.
"The museums have a very important source and they are their own collections," said Thomas Schwark, director of historical culture museums in Hanover, adding that this is what people will return to when we want to state what happened during the pandemic. The Frankfurt Historical Museum, among other museums across Germany, also requires people to send anything from audios, videos, photos, vocabulary and stories to the museum.
Museums in Berlin and Cologne also search for images, vocabulary and stories related to urban life to preserve memories. "We want to record life with Corona for future generations," the Cologne city museum said in a tweet. On the other hand, the East Frisia Museum in northern Germany wants to answer questions: What does everyday school life look like from home? Do children have many play times and any games that are redesigned for them in the current position? There is an important focus on the digital region. And the museum says: "Musicians record concerts from the living room and post them on the Internet, and dancers dance in front of mobile phone cameras."
"History is being written now," according to the curators.
• Museums search for images, vocabulary and life-related stories.