Leaving home and finding a new home. Stories of migration in Innsbruck. Part 1: Who wouldn’t want to live here?

Stories of Migration in Innsbruck

Migration is often discussed in emotional terms, reduced to a list of problems, and characterised by a distinction between ‘us’ and ‘them’. In the exhibition ‘Leaving and Finding a Home: Innsbruck Migration Stories’, Service Unit City Archives/City Museum in collaboration with the University of Innsbruck, demonstrated that migration is by no means an exceptional occurrence, but rather a recurring phenomenon and, indeed, the historical norm.

The aim of the exhibition was not to provide a comprehensive account of the history of migration, but rather to highlight fascinating aspects and, through comparisons, to encourage reflection on the present.

The first part of the three-part exhibition addressed themes relating to modern migration flows to and from Innsbruck (e.g. the employment of craftsmen and artists from outside the region by the princely court, the influx of Jews, particularly after 1867, and the emigration of Innsbruckers to America at the end of the 19th century). The contributions were provided by Magdalena Dorfmann, Eva Maria Egger, Florian Guggenberger, Nina Hechenblaikner, Stefan Hechl, Teresa Klotzner, Aaron Salzmann, Stefan Stachniß, Michael Stedile, Josef Theurl, Elisabeth Walder and Annika Willi.

Exhibition team

In collaboration with the University of Innsbruck

Project management: Joachim Bürgschwentner, Renate Ursprunger

Exhibition design and graphics: Teresa Stillebacher

Project team: Stefan Ehrenpreis, Magdalena Dorfmann, Eva Maria Egger, Florian Guggenberger, Nina Hechenblaikner, Stefan Hechl, Teresa Klotzner, Aaron Salzmann, Stefan Stachniß, Michael Stedile, Josef Theurl, Elisabeth Walder, Annika Willi