Message of Greeting: Dr. Markus Blume
Dr. Markus Blume
Bavarian State Minister for Science and the Arts
Original message of greeting in German. This is an English summary.
In his message of greeting, Bavaria’s Minister for Science and the Arts, Dr. Markus Blume, reminds us that the rich and many-layered history of the cultural state of Bavaria is to be found not only in palaces, castles and parliaments, but also in the everyday life of its villages, towns and cities. That history is bound up with stories which need to be told and reconstructed again and again so that they remain alive in collective memory.
Digital cultural mediation, the Minister writes, plays a particular role here: it complements the traditional formats of books, exhibitions and museums with a contemporary, far-reaching channel. He therefore welcomes that the BayernHistoryApp makes history accessible dynamically and at the very places where it took place.
The format and the technical possibilities of this digital platform offer entirely new presentation opportunities for local archives and for historians. Citizens are invited to take part themselves – guided by experts, so that the academic foundations remain sound. Regional history thus becomes accessible to everyone in a playful, low-threshold way; all that is needed is a smartphone.
The app builds on a proven technical foundation. It begins with the municipalities of the district of Landsberg and has clear potential for continuous expansion. The Minister notes with pleasure that the launch of the app has been made possible through funding from the Bavarian Cultural Fund (Kulturfonds Bayern) of 46,000 euros.
Tradition, identity and the value of cultural heritage are made freely accessible to everyone with the digital means of the BayernHistoryApp. Bavaria as a land of history and stories opens up to its visitors in a new way. The Minister concludes by wishing the project every success.