Historisches Museum Bern, Helvetiaplatz 5, 3005 Bern
Basic rate: CHF 16.00
Switzerland's relationship with the polar regions has long been characterized by a strong attraction. Whether in science, literature or the travel industry - fascination and longing are the driving emotions behind the view of the "eternal ice". This can also be seen in the museum collection: at the beginning of the 20th century, Swiss expeditions also led to Danish-colonial Greenland. They brought back numerous items that are now kept in the Bernisches Historisches Museum as the "Greenland Collection". This collection raises questions.
Where does the fascination for polar worlds come from? Why does the Bernisches Historisches Museum have a Greenland collection? What can we really learn about Greenland from this collection? What is the future of ethnographic museums and collections? What does "indigeneity" mean today?
These questions accompany the public through the exhibition and are the focus of the accompanying events. In exchange with experts and the public, we are looking for new, multi-layered perspectives on the colonial heritage of this collection. The content and findings from these events flow back into the exhibition. It is thus in a state of flux, enabling new insights and questioning the view of Greenland from Switzerland.
Greenland x Greenland
With your free admission ticket, you can also discover the exhibition "Greenland. Everything will be different" at the ALPS Alpine Museum of Switzerland!
As part of the event series "An evening at the museum - Greenland", five events will be held on the theme:
15.10.2025
An evening at the museum: Where does the fascination for polar worlds come from?
29.10.2025
An evening at the museum: Why does the museum have a Greenland collection?
12.11.2025
An evening at the museum: What is the future of ethnographic museums?
26.11.2025
An evening at the museum: What does the Greenland collection (not) tell us?
10.12.2025
An evening at the museum: What does "indigeneity" mean today?
Note: This text was translated by machine translation software and not by a human translator. It may contain translation errors.
Where does the fascination for polar worlds come from? Why does the Bernisches Historisches Museum have a Greenland collection? What can we really learn about Greenland from this collection? What is the future of ethnographic museums and collections? What does "indigeneity" mean today?
These questions accompany the public through the exhibition and are the focus of the accompanying events. In exchange with experts and the public, we are looking for new, multi-layered perspectives on the colonial heritage of this collection. The content and findings from these events flow back into the exhibition. It is thus in a state of flux, enabling new insights and questioning the view of Greenland from Switzerland.
Greenland x Greenland
With your free admission ticket, you can also discover the exhibition "Greenland. Everything will be different" at the ALPS Alpine Museum of Switzerland!
As part of the event series "An evening at the museum - Greenland", five events will be held on the theme:
15.10.2025
An evening at the museum: Where does the fascination for polar worlds come from?
29.10.2025
12.11.2025
An evening at the museum: What is the future of ethnographic museums?
26.11.2025
An evening at the museum: What does the Greenland collection (not) tell us?
10.12.2025
An evening at the museum: What does "indigeneity" mean today?
Note: This text was translated by machine translation software and not by a human translator. It may contain translation errors.