City of culture
Münster takes centre stage in the international art scene over a period of 100 days each decade. The city plays host to the "Sculpture Projects", which number among the most important international exhibitions of contemporary art displayed in the public sphere. The first Sculpture Projects took place in 1977. The next will be from June to Octobre 2017, addressing topics of relevance to the global present. At the event’s fourth anniversary in 2007, the 34 art works by 36 artists from 14 countries attracted around 550,000 visitors from all over the world. The city places several sculptures on permanent display after each exhibition. Münster’s squares and parks have therefore become the largest open-air museum for contemporary sculpture in recent decades.
- www.skulptur-projekte.de
The Sculpture Projects are the jewel in Münster’s cultural crown. However, day to day cultural life in the city is also extremely diverse and attractive
Theatres
Münster is home to over 40 theatres and theatre groups, which perform on a regular basis
The municipal theatre unites five disciplines under one roof from drama to dance and youth theatre. The Wolfgang Borchert Theater is one of the oldest free theatres in Germany. Theater im Pumpenhaus stages excellent modern dance theatre, and the GOP has variety theatre - to name but a few.
Cinemas
Münster is a city of cinemas. Here, blockbuster films are viewed by up to 80,000 spectators. The smaller cinemas are regularly singled out for their courageous choice of art house movies away from the mainstream. Münster's inhabitants go to the cinema up to six times more frequently than the populations of other German cities.
- www.muenster.de/medien_film
- In 1981, the "Cinema" hosted the first ever Münster film festival, which quickly gained a national following and is organised by the Filmwerkstatt Münster on a bi-annual basis.
www.filmwerkstatt.muenster.de - Münster has witnessed major film and television productions in recent years. Two of Germany's most popular thriller series are located here: "Münster-Tatort" and "Wilsberg".
www.stadt-muenster.de/filmservice
Museums
Pablo Picasso and August Macke, two of the 20th century’s most important painters, occupy a permanent place in Münster's museumscape. Their works are leading exponents within a rich selection of exhibits in Münster's 27 museums and exhibition halls for art, art history, science and technology.
Exhibition density is at its peak along the "Museum Mile", on the Pferdegasse/Domplatz (Cathedral Square). This is the site of the LWL State Museum of Art and Culture, the Westphalian Art Association, the Bible Museum, the Archaeological Museum, the Diocesan Museum of Christian Art and the Cathedral Treasury in St. Paul’s Cathedral. The Geomuseum is currently undergoing reconstruction.
Music
Münster's music scene is composed of an immense number of orchestras, groups, choirs and bands. The city’s press office provides an initial overview of Münster’s musical spectrum, including performance locations and music lessons online at
Literature
Münster's literary landscape is divers and vivid. The "Literaturline" on the internet provides interested parties with an overview of the various famous and undiscovered authors living and working in Münster. The site features both a literary events calendar and lists of links to literary event organisers and patrons.
Event and concert locations
The city’s club scene offers a selection of pop, rock and jazz events which delight musical enthusiasts as much as the major classical concerts at the Münster Theatre or the shows featuring international stars, which are held at the Halle Münsterland. Consumer fairs take place in the region's major event centre on a regular basis, such as the Garden and Wellness Fair "Spring – Flowers – Leisure" or the "Fine Arts and Antiques Fair". The Stadthalle Hiltrup offers visitors a diverse programme featuring craft events, concerts and cabaret. With its concerts and parties, the "Gleis 22" club on the Hafenstraße has been crowned "club of the year" on the German club scene several times to date.