Home and identity in the focus of the 2029 national exhibition

The detailed concept for the fifth state exhibition in 2029 should be ready by summer 2025. The State Palaces, Castles and Gardens gGmbH (SGB) is in charge of the year-long exhibition entitled "Meissen 929 - 1100 Years of Saxony". "In turbulent times in the world, we are taking care of our home state of Saxony and Saxon identity with this state exhibition," said Minister of Culture Barbara Klepsch (CDU) at Albrechtsburg Castle in Meissen, which is considered the "cradle of Saxony" and is the original venue and exhibition location.

"Our Saxon colors of white and green symbolize home and identity for the people," said Klepsch. The show is a great opportunity for Saxony to "reflect on ourselves, to reassure ourselves of what connects us, what we share as a common history and how we can develop a future perspective from this".

Identity as the guiding theme

"It will not be a regional history exhibition, the guiding theme is identity," said Christian Striefler, Director of the State Palaces, Castles and Gardens of Saxony. "Our aim is to make what defines Saxony in the past, present and future tangible for a museum visit lasting several hours." The approach is thematic - the focus is on the individual and personal view of Saxon identity.

1100 years of Saxon history is to be conveyed in an "understandable and exciting" way - from the Middle Ages to the Baroque period, National Socialism or the GDR era to Silicon Saxony, said Striefler. To this end, unique selling points, important chapters, special features and identity-forming elements were identified.

Saxony is to be presented in its international references, its dynamics and its potential, and individual stories are to be told in a "spotlight-like" way, selected exhibits shown and topics dealt with in a playful way.

Eight million euros are available

A scientific advisory board will accompany the development of the concept in 2025, with practical implementation scheduled to begin in 2026. A total of eight million euros is available for this. With Albrechtsburg Castle and murals in its halls, there are already some exhibits that correspond with the navel show, said Dirk Welich, Head of Museums at SGB.

The 29 pictures painted on plaster in the 1870s already depict a series of historical events - starting with the founding of the castle and Mark Meissen in 929 by the German King Henry I. But the life stages of Duke Albrecht, after whom the castle was named, and the invention of European porcelain at the castle in 1709 also bear witness to Saxony's history.

Saxony invited to join in

This and the reflection from today's perspective should encourage people to go on a journey of discovery themselves, "what makes Saxony special", Welich continued. People can help shape the presentation in regional projects in 2027 and 2028.

Since 1990, four state exhibitions have been held: "Time and Eternity" on the Middle Ages, monasteries and sacred art at St. Marienstern Monastery (Panschwitz-Kuckau) in 1998, "Faith and Power" on Saxony and the Reformation in Torgau in 2004, "Via Regia" on the old trade route in Görlitz in 2011 and industrial culture in the Zwickau/Chemnitz area in 2020/2021.