New Museum of University History
New museum at the Old University is looking for sponsors!
Donations have broken the 30,000-euro mark!
“Forward-looking and cosmopolitan, rooted in a long tradition” – since its foundation in 1402, our Julius Maximilian University (JMU) of Würzburg has been a constant force in a world of constant change. Its history points the way forward: Over the centuries, it has demonstrated that its research and teaching shape our present and future. To mark the 625th anniversary of its foundation in 2027, the university aims to pay fitting tribute to its history and bring it to life in a new university museum.
The Museum of University History (MUG) at the University of Würzburg will bring the history of JMU – a ‘universitas’, a diverse whole – to life under the motto ‘Knowledge, Change, Truths’: it will create a space for encounter that brings the university community to life. Here, visitors will have the opportunity to discover familiar figures, such as Wilhelm C. Röntgen, in a whole new light, as well as encounter as yet unknown personalities and astonishing stories. Through the interplay of old and new, the vaulted cellar of the Old University, dating from 1582, will be revealed and brought to life. Modern museum presentation techniques will be employed, alongside a varied range of exhibits, from medieval ‘pets’ to the very latest insights into research.
The new museum has been initiated and is supported by the University. A large part of the budget is being channelled into the refurbishment of the historic vaulted cellar (one of the University’s oldest surviving original rooms) to create a unique, historic exhibition space. However, to create a sustainable, prestigious and interactive exhibition covering around 400m², the museum – which will in future also be available as a venue for alumni reunions and other events – is reliant on financial support. The university cannot manage urgent restoration work on its own – for example, to preserve an old altar from the collapsed university church, digital modelling to protect original historical artefacts, and the museum’s multimedia and technical equipment.
We therefore extend our heartfelt appeal to you: help us shape our museum and contribute to creating a place that vividly illustrates how our Alma Julia has shaped history and continues to influence society and city life in Würzburg to this day!
Would you like to support the project too? We’d be delighted!
We would be extremely grateful for your support. We welcome any amount that helps to transform the new museum into a unique place that brings together tradition, the present and the future!
For donations of 25 euros or more, you will receive a donation receipt which you can use to claim your donation against tax. All supporters will receive a small surprise. For donations of 250€ or more, you will also be named as a supporter in the museum, if you wish. For donations of €1,000 or more, the curators look forward to welcoming you to a sneak-preview event at the museum before it opens – and for donations of €2,000 or more, the university management will welcome you here in an exclusive setting.
You can find the sponsorship form to complete and return here.
