Freedom in focus: New exhibition opens in the Dresden Hygiene Museum!

Freedom in focus: New exhibition opens in the Dresden Hygiene Museum!

A very special event is on the program from June 20, 2025 at the German Hygiene Museum in Dresden. The new exhibition entitled “Freedom – an unfinished story" opens its doors and invites visitors to explore in depth the complex topic of freedom in authoritarian regimes. The **museum director Iris Edenheiser** emphasizes how important it is to address the achievements of political freedom and recalls the historical freedom movements of the 1970s and 1980s in the CSSR, Poland and the GDR.

Like the report from MDR shows, the exhibition will look at individual freedom in times of climate change and sustainability. Two narrative strands are in the foreground: on the one hand, the historical onesSymbols of freedom, beginning with a 1789 etching illustrating the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen. On the other hand, an archive of freedom movements is presented that honors important documents and events, in particular the citizens' movement **Charter 77**, which was strongly committed to human rights in Czechoslovakia.

Freedom in focus

Charter 77, an open petition published in January 1977, calls on the pro-Soviet government of Czechoslovakia to respect and defend civil and human rights. This information comes from AlphaHistory, which explains the far-reaching implications of the Charter. Signed by 242 people from different walks of life, the charter addresses the reality that human rights often only exist on paper and freedom of expression is subject to strict controls. Many citizens suffered persecution and arrest because of their activism.

The exhibition will also highlight modern protest movements and use oversized turnstiles to stage their chapters. These chapters cover themes such as community, escape, action, negotiation and prosperity. Artistic positions by well-known names such as **Wolfgang Mattheuer**, **Gabriele Stötzer**, and **Josef Čapek** enrich the visual experience.

A look at the history of human rights

The fight for human rights is a long and complex story that spans centuries. In this topic, the **Magna Carta** of 1215 is a nice starting point, followed by significant documents such as the US Declaration of Independence of 1776 and the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen of 1789. These historical documents and developments illustrate how the demand for freedom and equality has grown over time. You can find out more about this at the **Federal Agency for Civic Education**: bpb.

The exhibition in the Hygiene Museum runs until May 31, 2026 and is open Tuesday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. A visit is worthwhile not only for those interested in history, but for anyone who wants to develop a sense of the meaning of freedom and human rights. The museum is located at **Lingnerplatz 10, 01069 Dresden**. The focus here is on promoting understanding and solidarity for freedom - a topic that is more relevant than ever.