Fritz Reuter Museum: On the way to intangible cultural heritage!

Fritz Reuter Museum: On the way to intangible cultural heritage!

In an exciting twist, the Stavenhagen city council has decided to... Fritz Reuter Literature Museum to be included in the nationwide register of intangible cultural heritage. And not without reason: the museum is a central part of the cultural identity of Reuterstadt and houses the most extensive collection of Low German literary language in Germany. The application is submitted to the responsible Ministry of Culture in Schwerin in order to achieve this recognition.

Museum director Torsten Jahn emphasizes the immense importance of the museum, especially for the Low German language. With the recent opening of a new archive in May, the museum has further consolidated its position as a cultural center. The latest acquisitions include the two most extensive collections on Fritz Reuter from private ownership, which makes the offering even more attractive for visitors.

Cultural highlights and traditions

Another highlight is the annual Reuter Festival, which has been celebrated for 65 years and causes a sensation far beyond the city limits. Next year the festival will restart under the motto “Stavenhagen – A city plays Fritz Reuter”. This tradition underlines Stavenhagen's commitment to keeping the Low German language alive and relevant.

The city administration has also taken the initiative to push forward the application together with the Fritz Reuter Literature Museum and the Advisory Board for Art and Culture. This is an important step as each federal state can submit four proposals for intangible cultural heritage annually. Those responsible are all the more pleased that the museum plays such an important role in this context.

A part of the bigger picture

The intangible cultural heritage in Germany encompasses a wide range of traditions. From the customs of the Rhenish Carnival to the Oberammergau Passion Play – the heritage is diverse. The nationwide directory already includes 144 entries, and constant work is being done to preserve and pass on these cultural treasures. In the spirit of a living heritage, the criteria for inclusion are strict, with particular attention being paid to “demonstrable liveliness” and “creative transmission”, which makes the city of Stavenhagen’s commitment all the more important.

Above all, there is the commitment to the Low German language and culture, which are promoted through projects such as the “Low German Road”. This initiative sets new standards in cultural work and is supported by the ESF Plus program of the state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and the European Regional Development Fund.

With the planned application for the admission of the Fritz Reuter Literature Museum The intangible cultural heritage not only honors the culture of the city of Stavenhagen, but also sets an example for the importance of the Low German language. After all, it is such cultural traditions that shape and preserve our heritage and enrich the entire German cultural landscape - in the spirit of Germany 's efforts to keep cultural diversity alive.