As part of the “Übermorgen” programme, research trips to five different European cultural hubs are planned. In the quest for sustainable strategies and imaginative solutions, it’s well worth casting our gaze beyond Germany’s borders: several cultural institutions in neighbouring countries have long been pioneers in transformation and innovation. These visits offer a valuable opportunity to explore alternative models for cultural institutions and distinctive approaches to community engagement.
 
On these trips, we’ll arrange for grant recipients to engage in personal conversations with directors of international museums, libraries, theatres, orchestras, and cultural centres. This not only opens the door to international networking, but also provides deep insight into different perspectives, values, working practices, and organisational structures.
 
The Belgian city of Ghent, well regarded in theatre circles for the innovative organisational models of Viernulvier and NTGent, will launch the travel programme in autumn 2025. Museums such as the GUM – Ghent University Museum – with its unique take on themes like truth and doubt, and the newly constructed Design Museum Ghent, created from waste materials in line with circular economy principles, also offer exciting perspectives on contemporary museum work.
 
And Ghent is just the beginning: further trips are being planned to Manchester, Aarhus, Marseille and Gdańsk. Each funded institution will have the chance to participate in two of these international research journeys. Soon, you’ll be able to read here about what we discover on our travels – and which inspiring cultural destinations we encounter along the way.