Special exhibitions

"Radio Free Europe. Voices from Munich during the Cold War“ tracks the eventful lives of five people who worked for the radio and provides an insight into what it was like to work for "Radio Free Europe" and "Radio Liberty". Its multifaceted accounts of the lives of these people both in front of the microphone and behind the scenes allow us to see the two radio stations from different perspectives, from their beginnings in the 1950s right through to the 1990s.

The Münchner Stadtmuseum has chosen to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Munich Summer Olympics by seeking out the hidden traces left by the Games. “Munich 72” brings together several exhibitions and projects, including a citywide exhibition entitled “In Search of Traces of the Olympic Games”.

“Munich 72” is accompanied by “FORUM 054: INA KWON. Piles of Earth and Rubble”, a contemporary gallery exhibition. The works of Berlin artist and graphic designer Ina Kwon explore Munich’s Olympiaberg (Olympic Hill). Kwon juxtaposes images of Munich and Gyeongju, South Korea, where tumuli dating back to the Kingdom of Silla are found scattered throughout the city.

On April 26, 1966, the International Olympic Committee chose Munich as its venue for the 20th Olympic Games in 1972. This proved to be a pivotal moment in the city’s history – its surrounding events and developments have left indelible traces in the very fabric of Munich. To mark its 50th anniversary, the Münchner Stadtmuseum has organized a special discovery tour stopping at different locations throughout the city to cast a spotlight on the traces that remain today. For the first time, the Museum will visit the actual historic locations which were a stage to these events. Our selection of 20 stops clearly illuminates the backdrop to the Games.

“Here Comes the Night”, an exploration of Munich’s cultural history, takes a nocturnal journey through the city and its club culture from the post-war period to the present day. It explores urban planning and economic issues and focuses on the clubbing hotspots and leading lights of Munich’s after-hours scene and nightlife both then and now. With the Atomic Café, in a sense a fata morgana, a treat to be rediscovered in all its glory at Münchner Stadtmuseum, and a host of memorabilia from venues like Ultraworld, Ultraschall, Flughafen Riem, Kunstpark Ost, Registratur – to name just a few – the exhibition offers an experience akin to a modern-day pilgrimage.