Source: German Clock Museum
German Clock Museum at Furtwangen University - renovation progress and future plans
At the moment it's very quiet in the German Clock Museum at Furtwangen University (HFU). Since August, no more ticking, cuckoos or alarm clocks to be heard, as the museum is closed for extensive renovation work. Before the renovation phase can begin, however, the museum objects must first be properly stored. Work is currently in full swing to clear out the exhibition areas. This is a mammoth task, as the renowned collection has a history of almost 175 years and dates back to the first watchmaking school in Germany. “Thanks to careful planning, the move is on its last legs. Almost all of the clocks have already been packed and safely moved into storage,” explains museum director Nicole Deisenberger.
“The extensive construction work also gives the museum team the opportunity to implement projects that are often neglected during ongoing operations, such as digitalisation and the development of new educational formats. “We are redesigning the museum to meet today's expectations of a lively museum experience,” says Nicole Deisenberger.
The museum will be breaking new ground during the lockdown: At the beginning of next year, it will launch “Clock Museum on the Move”, a mobile offer with which the museum will approach kindergartens, schools or even retirement homes. Workshops such as the “Do-it-yourself cuckoo clock” can still be booked for private events. Meanwhile, the museum will not remain invisible either − for example, the “World's largest digital cuckoo clock” art installation has been on display in front of the museum for a few days now, the global dimensions of which can be admired virtually, even when the doors are closed.
When the museum reopens, planned for 2026, it will not only start with a radiantly renewed exhibition, but also with a new innovative educational programme.