Our Mission

After the founding and development phase in the 1990s, the museum’s opening in 2003, and five years of operational experience at the new location, this mission statement describes our self-conception, values, and vision. The awarding of the European Museum Prize in 2005 confirmed and motivated us.

The mission statement provides guidance both internally and externally. It is intended for all who work in or with the museum or who have an interest in it. All our employees participated in the discussions on the development of the mission statement. In its present form, it must now be lived out and tested in practice.

We are a public, scientifically managed cultural service institution. We fulfill the mandate to be a competence center for Saxon industrial history and industrial heritage. We preserve and utilize a significant industrial monument and, as an ERIH anchor point, are part of the European Route of Industrial Heritage. We perform central functions for the four locations of the Association Museum of Industry Saxony, including management. We offer the museums in the association support in public relations as well as in collecting, restoring, researching, and exhibiting.

Our staff, whether employed, freelance, or volunteering, bring a wide range of experience and specialized knowledge to their work. This is our strength. Our collaboration is characterized by competence, commitment, and collegiality. Respect, appreciation, and tolerance motivate us and help to prevent or resolve conflicts. We communicate promptly, work purposefully, meet deadlines, and remain flexible. We are open to new developments and committed to learning and professional development. We use the financial and material resources entrusted to us responsibly.

Our collection is our greatest treasure. It encompasses objects from the fields of technology, social history, economic history, and art history from the beginning of the industrial age in Saxony to the present day. We promptly record new acquisitions, document the collections progressively in greater detail, and make them accessible for research. We preserve entrusted cultural assets through professional conservation and restoration. Wherever conservatorily feasible, we maintain many objects in working order and demonstrate them, passing on the associated knowledge to the next generation. We are supported in this by a network of volunteer specialists and companies. For these tasks, we also utilize the modern logistics of our depot and the well-equipped workshops. A well-developed specialized library complements our holdings and supports scientific and educational work. Through our efforts, we contribute to the preservation of technological and social knowledge.

The permanent exhibition is our showcase. Conceptually, it places the human being at the center of the industrial age. Special exhibitions complement the themes of the permanent exhibition. We offer our visitors a wide range of educational and experiential opportunities. Through our offerings, we encourage discussion of ethical and social issues as well as technological progress. For Saxon visitors, we provide awareness of their ancestors’ achievements while also honoring the accomplishments of more recent times, thus contributing to the establishment of regional identity. We ensure that every museum visit is accompanied by demonstrations of functioning exhibits and interactive activities. “Konrad Rädchen” points out opportunities for sensory experiences and playful learning. Multimedia terminals provide a constantly updated knowledge pool and interactive elements.

Our tours and educational programs are action- and dialogue-oriented. Children and young people, in particular, are offered opportunities for creative participation. In this way, we foster openness to technology and the natural sciences and generate interest in related professions. In addition to its socio-political mandate, the museum thus contributes to the promotion of the next generation of technical professionals.

We understand our visitors as guests. We treat them, like our partners, in a friendly and open manner. Our museum is a place of encounter and communication. We engage people with diverse interests and take their suggestions seriously. Our facility is accessible and certified as a “family-friendly institution.”

We cooperate with universities and other scientific institutions as well as partners from industry, politics, and society. For Saxon industry, our museum and its exhibitions serve as a showcase and marketing platform. Within the limits of our possibilities and conservation requirements, we offer our museum as a venue for conferences, product presentations, company anniversaries, receptions, and other social events. In this way, our guests and we become ambassadors for the museum, contributing to a positive public image.