Craftsmanship. Then and now

Craftsmanship has been one of the defining elements of Neubrandenburg's history for centuries. Ever since the town was founded in 1248, craft businesses have played an important role in economic and social life within the town walls. The so-called Wiekhäuser are not called the "pride of the guilds" for nothing: Organized craftsmen were once responsible for the maintenance and, in an emergency, the defence of the city fortifications. The exhibition is dedicated to the many facets of craftsmanship - from historical trades and traditional working methods to modern forms of craftsmanship in an increasingly digitalized world. It is not just about individual trades, but also about the customs and traditions surrounding the trades and the changes in their legal and social framework. While industrialization and freedom of trade shaped craftsmanship in earlier times, today globalization and digitalization present new challenges and opportunities.