Network of the German Emigration Center
The Deutsches Auswandererhaus is closely connected with the citizens of the city of Bremerhaven and numerous supporters and donors worldwide, who enrich the exhibits with stories and artifacts. The museum indeed traces back to a citizen initiative: in 1985, engaged citizens founded the Förderverein Deutsches Auswanderermuseum (now: Freundeskreis Deutsches Auswandererhaus e.V.). Since 1998, the Initiativkreis Deutsches Auswandererhaus has supported the museum project.
On August 8, 2005, the Deutsches Auswandererhaus was opened. The main building was created as a public-private partnership with the State of Bremen and the City of Bremerhaven. The expansions in 2012 and 2021 were funded by the federal government, the State of Bremen, the City of Bremerhaven, and the European Regional Development Fund (EFRE). Since 2017, the museum has been operated by Deutsches Auswandererhaus gemeinnützige GmbH.
The museum is supported and advised by committees, sponsors, and partners.
- Chair: Dr. Helmut Gold, Frankfurt am Main
- Matthias Ditzen-Blanke, publisher and managing director, Nordsee-Zeitung, Bremerhaven
- State Secretary Carmen Emigholz, The Senator for Culture of the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen
- Mayor Melf Grantz, Magistrate of the Seaport City of Bremerhaven
- Prof. Dr. Jochen Oltmer, University of Osnabrück, Institute for Migration Research and Intercultural Studies (IMIS), Osnabrück
- Nils Schnorrenberger, managing director, Bremerhavener Gesellschaft für Investitionsförderung und Stadtentwicklung mbH (BIS), Bremerhaven
- Dr. Simone Blaschka, director of the Deutsches Auswandererhaus, Bremerhaven
- Andreas Heller, Andreas Heller Architects & Designers, Hamburg / operator, Deutsches Auswandererhaus gemeinnützige GmbH, Bremerhaven
- Jack Masey †, Metaform Design International, New York, USA
The Deutsches Auswandererhaus, established in 2006, is a central pillar of research and exhibition work. It promotes research trips both domestically and internationally, conferences, special exhibitions, and publications.\r
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Since 2015, the foundation has jointly awarded the €20,000 ‘Kalliope Prize for Practical Migration Research’ together with the Deutsches Auswandererhaus for works related to immigration to Europe or European emigration to overseas.\r
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For the permanent exhibition, the foundation acquired two paintings: Felix Schlesinger’s ‘In the Passport and Police Office before Emigration’ (1859) and ‘The End of Nowhere’ by young artist Paris Giachoustidis, purchased for the special exhibition ‘Temptation of Space. Emigrating to the Moon, Mars, Venus?’ (2025).
The Friends of the Deutsches Auswandererhaus support the institution in various ways. They promote research on migration history, encourage its publication, and have significantly contributed to the establishment of the extensive and research-relevant library of the museum.\r
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Additionally, the Friends regularly enrich the program of the house with events where current research results, debates, and expert lectures are showcased. Members enjoy numerous benefits, including discounts at the museum and special insights into the work of the house.\r
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To the Friends of the House
The Deutsches Auswandererhaus has been supported for many years by Weser-Elbe Sparkasse, which particularly promotes the educational programs of the museum and enables numerous students to visit the museum.\r
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To Weser-Elbe Sparkasse
The German Emigration Center is a member of leading professional networks. These memberships facilitate exchange with international experts and strengthen the scientific and museological work of the center.
- Association of European Migration Institutions (AEMI)
- International Network of Migration Institutions (INMI) of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations UNAOC
- Federal Office for Migration and Refugees, Nuremberg (BAMF)
- The MeLa* Project “European Museums in an Age of Migrations”
- University of Osnabrück, Institute for Migration and Intercultural Studies (IMIS)
- International Council of Museums (ICOM)
- German Museums Association (DMB)
- Working Group on Migration in the German Museums Association
- Committee for “Out-of-School Learning” in the Didacta Association of the Education Industry
- Ellis Island, National Monument USA
- Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21, Halifax, Canada
- Jewish Museum Berlin
- German Maritime Museum Bremerhaven
- Working Group on Migration and Refugees, Nord-Süd-Forum Bremerhaven e.V.
