Making Women Visible in History
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| free admission |
| Spanish |
| Mechanical Arena in the Foyer |
| Part of: SPÄTI |
Contrary to the male-dominated narratives of history, women in the past were able to exert significant political influence. At princely courts during the Middle Ages and the early modern period, women played a central role, yet their contributions remain underrepresented in museums today.
The project WIRKSAM brings together ten museums and institutions in 2025/2026 with a shared goal: to change that.
Through their networks of mothers, aunts, sisters, and nieces, princesses connected courts across Europe over vast distances. By arranging strategic marriages for their children, they forged alliances and secured claims to inheritance. Often working behind the scenes, women created options for men to act. Despite patriarchal constraints, they emerge as independent, intelligent, and tactically skilled individuals.
Dr Simona Schellenberger from the State Palaces, Castles and Gardens of Saxony and Dr Alfred Hagemann from the Stiftung Humboldt Forum’s “History of the Site” department will share insights into WIRKSAM’s mission and their projects in Meissen and Berlin.
Programme
4:30 PM
Short guided tour of the installation “Relevant to the System – Women in Ruling Families” on the 3rd floor
Meeting point: Mechanical Arena
From 5:00 PM
Discussion in the Mechanical Arena
Participants
Dr Alfred Hagemann is head of the History of the Site Department at the Stiftung Humboldt Forum. His research focuses on the architectural and cultural history of the Berlin court in the 18th century, historical women’s studies and the state self-representation of the GDR. Over the past fifteen years, the art historian has curated a series of cultural-historical exhibitions on the history of Prussia and the GDR in Berlin and Potsdam.