(ffm) Since Thursday, May 9, the new Stoltze Museum of the Frankfurter Sparkasse has been open to all visitors in Frankfurt's Old Town. The new building at Markt 7, directly next to the "Golden Weighing House", was jointly opened by Peter Feldmann, Lord Mayor and Chairman of the Frankfurter Sparkasse Foundation, and Robert Restani, Chairman of the Board of Frankfurter Sparkasse. Now Frankfurt residents and visitors can find out about the life and work of the well-known dialect poet, satirist and democrat. Actor Michael Quast gave a foretaste of Stoltze's humorous and at the same time time time-critical texts.
Feldmann emphasized: "Back then, Friedrich Stoltze, as a convinced Frankfurter, stood up for radical democracy even in difficult times and against resistance and censorship. Stoltze is thus still a highly topical personality today." Feldmann was pleased that the Stoltze Museum will in future draw attention to this important thinker and democrat in such a central location. "This is a real attraction for us Frankfurt residents and especially for the new old town."
As Restani described, Frankfurter Sparkasse played a large part in the construction and relocation of the museum. "This is close to our hearts as a regional credit institution. With the Stoltze Museum of Frankfurter Sparkasse, we are creating a lasting, sustainable value for Frankfurt and its citizens. Friedrich Stoltze was already one of Frankfurt's best-known personalities during his lifetime. He stands for Frankfurt, its way of life, its tolerance and its democratic tradition. We want to preserve this heritage."
"Frankfurter Latern" determines the concept
The new Stoltze Museum focuses on Stoltze as a political author, freedom poet and satirist who stood up for civil rights and democracy. His main work, the satirical weekly "Frankfurter Latern", is the central theme of the museum. The architects Sandra Düsterhus and Ute Günzel from Point.Architektur in Darmstadt and the Formfellows in Frankfurt have designed and created an exhibition concept that takes up the theme of "Latern" - light - newspaper. The walls are designed in dark and light yellow tones so that the building looks like a lantern, especially in the evening. This is ensured by LED light bands that extend from the ground floor to below the roof.
A part of the permanent exhibition can be seen in the architecturally appealing elliptical staircase, which was planned by the firm Riemann Architekten. Here, guests can browse Stoltze's main work, the satirical weekly "Frankfurter Latern," on a touchscreen display. The design of the museum is in typical newspaper style.
Original exhibits from Stoltze's household and a listening station on personalities with whom Stoltze was associated have found their place in the former fireside room of the neighbouring "Goldene Waage". This room is accessible barrier-free via the staircase. A multifunctional media table on the most historically significant locations in Frankfurt supplements the permanent exhibition with images, sound and texts from Stoltze's pen.
Special exhibition open since April 25
Versatile special exhibitions find their place on the second floor of the Golden Scales. Under the title "With the most exquisite esteem", guests have already been able to find out about Stoltzes extensive correspondence with his contemporaries as part of a guided tour since April 25. Now this is also possible without a guided tour and registration.
The Stoltze Museum of the Frankfurter Sparkasse was founded in 1978 by the then Stadtsparkasse Frankfurt. Since the Frankfurter Sparkasse Foundation was established in 1997, it has financed the museum's ongoing operations. It was located in the Renaissance Stair Tower in Töngesgasse until 2014 and was then temporarily housed in the Frankfurter Sparkasse Customer Centre in Neue Mainzer Straße. Since October 2018, registered groups had the opportunity to visit the already provisionally open Stoltze Museum as part of a guided tour by Petra Breitkreuz, head of the museum.
The Stoltze Museum of the Frankfurter Sparkasse is open Monday to Sunday from 10 am to 6 pm. Admission is free of charge. Guided tours can be booked by contacting Petra Breitkreuz, phone 069/26414006, email petra.breitkreuz@frankfurter-sparkasse.de
