Extensive plans

Work on extension plans for Moesgård has been underway for several years. For quite some time the present buildings have been unable to meet the need for up-to-date exhibition facilities and, furthermore, they can no longer adequately house the many activities presently carried out by the Museum and the University Institute of Anthropology, Archaeology and Linguistics at Moesgård.

Plans have now been finalised for the construction of a new building for the display of the collections. The new building will consist of some 15.500 m2 and will be placed in the area of undulating landscape immediately to the north of the old manor-house buildings.

This is the first time for many years in Denmark that work has been initiated to build a new museum of cultural history from scratch. Elsewhere in the country museums have been extended or additional buildings have been erected to house spectacular finds; otherwise historical museums have been housed in old, protected buildings where displays had to be created within the framework of existing rooms.

The objects themselves, in addition to an extensive amount of research to present the past in context, have been the Museum's point of departure. For Moesgård Museum, therefore, it is a unique opportunity to be able to shape the framework in which the stories can be retold.

Moesgård Museum does not focus exclusively on archaeology. Ethnography, and communication of the results of ethnographic studies, will be central elements in the new displays. Globalisation makes new demands for cultural dialogue, not only in Denmark but also between the wealthier and poorer parts of the world, as well as internally in the wealthier countries. Here lies a major challenge for the museum.