Hochschule Rhein-Waal Promotes Interdisciplinary Collaboration
Final Event of the „Forschungsvolontariats Kunstmuseen NRW“
The final event of the "Research Volunteering Programme Art Museums NRW" took place in the Aula of the Kunstakademie Düsseldorf. The event was opened with a greeting from Ina Brandes, Member of the State Parliament and Minister for Culture and Science of North Rhine-Westphalia. The programme director, Univ.-Professor Dr Ulli Seegers from Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, then guided the audience through the evening. Professor Dr-Ing. M.A. Ido A. Iurgel and Professor Christian Stindl, both from Hochschule Rhein-Waal, participated in a panel discussion, presenting their academic contributions to the interdisciplinary collaboration project "Joseph Beuys and National Socialism – A Laboratory" to the expert audience.
The project, led by Stiftung Museum Schloss Moyland, explores the life and work of Joseph Beuys during the Nazi era. The exhibition, which will open at Museum Schloss Moyland in late March 2025, aims to engage the public in a discourse surrounding this subject by presenting it in the form of a "laboratory" space.
Hochschule Rhein-Waal supported the development of the exhibition design and contributed its expertise in digital media and mediation. A highlight of this collaboration was the Summer School held in June 2024, where students from Hochschule Rhein-Waal's, Media Communication and Computer Science, B.Sc., Information and Communication Design, and Design and Interaction programmes worked alongside students from Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf and museum staff to create innovative concepts for the exhibition and explore the use of digital media.
As part of his teaching module at Hochschule Rhein-Waal, Professor Dr-Ing. Ido A. Iurgel focused on the digital mediation of content, developing a tablet app, a video kiosk, and an interactive chat feature for the exhibition. Professor Christian Stindl supported the project in an extracurricular capacity, guiding students in the areas of exhibition design and media integration.
Through this interdisciplinary approach, the "Research Volunteering Programme Art Museums NRW" effectively demonstrates how art, science, and digital media can come together to provide new insights into historical topics. Hochschule Rhein-Waal plays a vital role in fostering collaboration across different disciplines and in developing innovative strategies for art communication and mediation.