Futurium celebrates fifth anniversary

Five years of Futurium

In the five years since ist opening, Futurium has firmly established itself as a central forum for public engagement with issues of the future, right in the heart of the capital city. Futurium Director Dr. Stefan Brandt: “We are delighted to be able to celebrate this milestone together with our audience. In 2019, we would not have dared to hope that Futurium would go on to become one of Berlin’s five most visited museums by 2024, while particularly resonating with young people. Our anniversary celebration on 1 September will offer visitors a diverse program of discussions, workshops, games, musical performances and activities for the whole family.” Nicole Schneider, Commercial Managing Director: “2.5 million visitors have engaged with visions of possible futures at Futurium since 2019. One could not wish for a better birthday present. We take this as a validation of our approach: to present thought-provoking ideas and to encourage people to develop and realise their own visions of the future. We look forward to the next five years and to welcoming many more visitors.”

Highlights of the anniversary celebration on 1 September

On 1 September from 10:00 to 18:00, Futurium invites visitors of all ages to join in celebrating its five-year anniversary with a grand festival:
In the panel discussion “How Do We Want to Live?”, visitors can explore desirable and possible futures in dialogue with ZEIT journalist Petra Pinzler, political scientist Diana Kinnert and Futurium Director Stefan Brandt. Both young and old are invited to put their knowledge of the future to the test in our Family Quiz. Teenagers and adults who enjoy a challenge can prove their mettle in an exciting Escape Rally through the Futurium. And in special workshops, children and families will delve into the fascinating topic of urban mining. Live music and culinary offerings will ensure a relaxed atmosphere throughout the day. In addition, the Rundfunkchor Berlin will visit Futurium, transforming it into a very special soundscape.

Admission to Futurium is free and all anniversary events are free of charge. The full anniversary programme can be found here.

Additional Futurium Highlights:

Podcast release starting at 18:00:

Futurium and Undone launch their first podcast

Marking the fifth anniversary, Futurium and Undone are launching their joint podcast on 1 September 2024. Undone has made a name for itself with hit productions like “SchwarzRotGold”, “Legion” and “Cui Bono”. Fitting the current annual theme “Treasures of the Future”, the podcast will shed light on our often wasteful use of raw materials, possible alternatives and forward-thinking ideas. The podcast’s creators will be present at the launch event to listen to the first episode together with the guests. They will also share how they do research, craft a captivating story from their ideas and, finally, turn it into a podcast. Along the way, guests will learn all kinds of interesting facts relating to the annual theme “Treasures of the Future”. Tickets for the event are available free of charge.

Here's what the podcast is about:

Podcast title: Endings

Season 1: Pleasant Island
They used to have it all – modern cars, mountains of cash and not a worry in the world. The few thousand residents of Nauru Island were the richest people on the planet, thanks to a raw material the entire world still depends on today: phosphate. Undone authors Marlen Klaws and Patrick Stegemann travelled to Nauru, where luxury is now only found in stories of the past. In a four-part series, they’ll recount the tale of a time of abundance, ill-advised investments, the endless pursuit of lost riches and the attempt to envision new futures.

Lilly’s Party – or The Hidden World of Rohtopia

A children’s science comic on sustainability

Lilly is planning a party for her 16th birthday. The big day is just around the corner and Lilly is stressed. The visit to Futurium doesn’t fit into her schedule at all – there is still so much to organise! When she accidentally drops her phone in the exhibition, she is distraught. Will her parents quickly get her a new one? The comic by Futurium and illustrator Chris Hees will be available free of charge exclusively at Futurium starting 1 September.

A new digital audio guide for kids

Nubi, our digital spirit guide, now takes children on a tour through the exhibition in a new audio guide. Along the way, Nubi poses engaging puzzles and imparts knowledge about potential futures in a fun, interactive way. Kids who answer the quiz questions correctly will get a special surprise at the end of the tour. The audio guide is free of charge and can be accessed via a web app on your own smartphone.