What the City. Perspectives of Munich

Ten sections or "cities" have been chosen to shine a light on different facets of the Bavarian capital. They aim to focus on key contemporary issues seen against a historical backdrop.

Munich ranks as Germany’s safest major city, and yet homeless people have been banned from public places – so how good is the city in terms of social justice? How has the huge growth in Munich’s population over the past few decades impacted on the city’s desire to preserve its distinctive character? How do artists make ends meet in an expensive city where they have to fight for the luxury of having their own studio? What influence do anti-racist movements and the queer community have on the city’s social identity? The exhibition explores contemporary challenges such as the delicate balance between meeting the needs of a modern metropolis and protecting the environment or transforming its nightlife. It also offers Munich’s residents a chance to have their own say.

The final section, "My City", focuses on people striving for a democratic, diverse, sustainable, peaceful and inspiring future for Munich. "My City. Bright Ideas for the Future of Munich" is a project designed to periodically display new objects that, at a symbolic level, represent the vision of the future entertained by our partners. We intend to keep updating this section of the exhibition – any interested groups or private individuals can apply to contribute at mitmachen.stadtmuseum(at)muenchen.de.

Our carefully chosen exhibits are accompanied by interactive participatory and multimedia displays, making for a varied and engaging visitor experience. "What the City?!" opens up a space for dialog and discussion and encourages visitors to get actively involved.

A web app provides a virtual companion to the physical exhibition space, offering visitors the chance to delve deeper into the exhibition’s themes. For the deaf and hard of hearing, the app describes individual sections of the exhibition in German sign language. It also includes a special audio track that guides blind and visually impaired people through the exhibition.