Over eleven years ago, a museum was opened in Frankfurt that shows visitors nothing, but that offers an incredible experience for the senses precisely because of this: The Dialogue Museum. It is based on the concept of "Dialogue in the Dark". This stems from an idea developed in 1988 by Prof. Dr. Andreas Heinecke during his work for the Foundation for the Blind in Frankfurt: An exhibition in complete darkness that places the visitor in various everyday situations, such as a walk in the park or a stroll through the city. Guided by a blind guide, visitors must rely entirely on their other senses in the experience rooms, which are made tangible through scents, sounds, textures and authentic props. This can be confusing or even frightening for some visitors at first. But at the latest when the other senses are a little sharpened, this journey through the darkness is a surprising, impressive and fascinating experience.
The Dialogue Museum offers its visitors two different tours. On the one hand the 60-minute standard tour, which leads through four experience rooms, or on the other hand the 90-minute special tour, which contains six experience rooms, including a boat trip through the museum experience room, where changing installations are set up again and again. The visitor gets to see the rooms just as little in the light as the guide. This ensures the consistent implementation of the concept that has made the "Dialogue in the Dark" a worldwide success. A total of 6.5 million people in various cities around the globe have already engaged in this special sensory experience.
The name "Dialogue in the Dark" comes from the fact that here you inevitably enter into dialogue with other visitors - and not just because it is unavoidable in complete darkness that you sometimes run into each other. Rather, the participants are encouraged to find their way through the experience spaces together - and without being able to see anything, this is only possible through joint dialogue. The tours end in the DunkelBar. Here you can face another challenge: Ordering and paying for something at the bar without even seeing anything.
The museum's offer is much used by school classes, but other groups, families and individuals are of course always welcome here. However, it is necessary to book the tour in advance, as there must always be a guide available, who then leads the small groups through the lightless rooms. It is a really great concept that you really have to get involved with first. But it pays off quickly when one experiences how the other senses suddenly adjust to the fact that one cannot see anything anymore. We can therefore really recommend a visit to the Dialogue Museum to everyone!
When? Tuesday to Friday 9am-5pm, Saturday 11am-1pm, Sunday, Bank Holiday 11am-6pm
Closed Monday, Every 1st Thursday of the month Dialogue in the Dark is open until 9pm
Where? Hanauer Landstraße 145, 60314 Frankfurt am Main
For more info and to book a guided tour of Dialog im Dunkeln, please visit: <link http: dialogmuseum.de _blank>
photo: Stephanie Kessler
