Exhibition "Heavy Steps" opens at the LernWerk

The special exhibition "Heavy Steps: Stories of Flight and New Beginnings from Bocholt" opened on Thursday evening in the annexe of the LernWerk (Herdingstr. 5). The exhibition is open to the public free of charge from 8 August to 26 November 2026. Opening hours are Thursday to Sunday, 11 am to 5 pm.

The Bocholt City Museum is dedicated to a historical, contemporary and deeply human theme: the experience of having to leave one's home, being on the move and starting afresh in a new place.

The exhibition centres on the life stories of people from Bocholt or those who have settled in Bocholt. Their memories recount war, persecution, loss, uncertainty and perilous journeys. They also speak of responsibility, hope, new relationships and the question of when arrival can truly become a sense of belonging. The exhibition combines these personal voices with factual information and artistic works. This creates a space that invites visitors to reflect, listen and gain a new perspective.

In-depth research and curation

"Schwere Schritte" was developed over a period of almost two years. For the exhibition, interviews were conducted, historical and current contexts were researched, and artistic approaches were developed. The artworks were created by a working group from the Bocholt Art and Culture Association (Bocholter Kunst- und Kulturgemeinschaft e. V.). The local community was also involved in the creative process, through discussions, collaborations and participatory activities, amongst other things.

The exhibition does not merely ask why people are forced to leave. It also turns its attention to those who cannot flee, to the dangers encountered along the way, and to the political debates that continue to shape the issue to this day. The aim is not to provide simple answers, but to offer a nuanced approach to flight, migration, arrival and social responsibility.

Guided tours and events

The exhibition's accompanying programme begins shortly after the opening. The first public guided tour takes place on Saturday 8 August at 11.00 am. A further tour follows on Thursday 13 August at 4.30 pm. Following this, Kai Echelmeyer, a board member of the sea rescue organisation Sea-Eye, will speak about sea rescue in the Mediterranean. The talk ties in directly with key themes of the exhibition, in particular the life-threatening sea routes taken by refugees.

Further events and educational programmes can be found in the exhibition leaflet and on the Bocholt City Museum website at stadtmuseum-bocholt.de. The City Museum asks that visitors register for the events and looks forward to welcoming a large number of visitors.

Funding

The project is funded and supported by the Heimat-Fonds of the Ministry for Home Affairs, Local Government, Building and Digitalisation of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, the LWL Museum Office for Westphalia, the Stadtsparkasse Bocholt and the Rudolf and Margot Ostermann Foundation.