Museum Utopie und Alltag - Documentation centre everyday culture of the GDR in Eisenhüttenstadt

The Utopia and Everyday Life Museum combines the Documentation Center for Everyday Culture of the GDR in Eisenhüttenstadt and the Beeskow Art Archive. With 170,000 objects of everyday culture and 18,500 works of fine and applied art as well as amateur creativity, it preserves a collection of cultural history of the GDR that is exceptional in its scope and composition.

Here, everyday culture, art and architecture are shown in the field of tension between aspiration and reality, between the socialist concept of society and real everyday life. In the GDR, the promise of a better society stood in contrast to the reality of life for many people. The ideal was ideologically appropriated and discredited as a state utopia. The Museum Utopia and Everyday Life is dedicated to this contradiction. It illustrates the interaction between everyday culture, art, architecture and the social system.

At the Eisenhüttenstadt site, architectural and urban heritage can also be experienced. The planned city, conceived as the "first socialist city" of the GDR, is today the largest contiguous area monument in Germany.

The museum is located in a listed crib building designed in the style of the "National Tradition". A lavishly restored stained glass window with scenic depictions by artist Walter Womacka adorns the entrance hall.
Located in the middle of the historic planned city of Eisenhüttenstadt, the museum is an ideal starting point for exploring the city. A virtual model of the city can be used to prepare a tour.

In addition to the permanent exhibition "Everyday Life: GDR", changing special exhibitions are presented in the Eisenhüttenstadt exhibition house.

You can find out more about what is on offer, such as readings and events, on the homepage.