In the completely renewed collection display, the precious artworks of the Middle Ages tell their own stories. For the first time, different perspectives on the art can be experienced directly in the collection: 15 chapters, from A, such as "Alexander Schnütgen" to S, such as "Skulptur im Spätmittelalter", illuminate the respective context of the art with reference to past epochs, iconography, material or technique.
Thus the redesigned and widened entrance area in the new building from 2010 welcomes visitors, as it were, into the Cologne living room of collection founder Alexander Schnütgen around 1910. "Kunstwerke für den Gottesdienst" are presented, for example, in the 1950s building, and the Cäcilienkirche as main exhibition space awaits with themes such as "Memento Mori" and "Kunst für Stadt und Kirche".
All artworks are explained in short texts and can be discovered in the context of the respective thematic area. For around 100 selected objects, an audio guide in German and English offers additional information via QR code. In addition, this mobile application provides reading texts in Ukrainian, Turkish and in Easy Language.
Inspiration is also provided by accompanying booklets for beginners, material enthusiasts, detail lovers and creative minds. Children can get active themselves with a doodle book and pencils and design their own Middle Ages. In the video room, ten objects are also brought visually to life – they speak literally to us.