A smooth transition
What do museum professionals think should be in every job description in the cultural sector? “Steady nerves and a lot of patience,” agree Dr Helge Nieswandt and Dr Torben Schreiber. Helge Nieswandt, curator of the Archaeological Museum since 2002, passed the baton to Torben Schreiber in November. The two also agree on what makes the museum special: the extraordinary exhibits, the ever-interested public, the “sensational” location of the museum in the heart of the city and, last but not least, the opening hours, which have been extended from two hours a day to the all-day opening that is now standard in the museum world.
Torben Schreiber benefits from having known the museum since his days as a student assistant. But he also appreciates the intensive support he received from Helge Nieswandt during the five-month transition period. This applies not only to technical matters, but also to day-to-day processes that are too small for a written procedure, but can be very important for operations. Another aspect is that Helge Nieswandt has good contacts and is now introducing his successor to the museum’s surroundings. Not to mention what has been done in terms of construction and museum didactics during his tenure. “2019 saw a doubling of exhibition space, and we now have our own budget – a lot has been achieved,” says Torben Schreiber.
Helge Nieswandt remembers, for example, the old display cases: “They may have looked good, but they were impractical.” He uses his hands to illustrate how you had to carefully lift the heavy glass partitions, balancing them on your knuckles. Nowadays, it is much easier to change exhibits in the display cases. The permanent collection of around 2,000 objects is supplemented by special exhibitions. The next one, which opens in November, is dedicated to “Sicily”. The University has just received “two very special donations” of coins from the region. “They will help us to bring a little sunshine into the coming winter months,” hopes Torben Schreiber.
Every exhibition requires painstaking preparation. But there are days when all the planning in the world is useless and you have to abandon your original to-do list. “We come into the office with a very clear agenda,” explains Helge Nieswandt, and Torben Schreiber nods in agreement, “but in the end, other tasks pile up, often little things.” These things, and especially the surprises that arise in the run-up to a new exhibition, require one thing above all else: a cool head.