Mission statement

The Gutenberg Museum in Mainz, the birthplace of Johannes Gutenberg, is an important place for collecting and preserving Gutenberg's invention and communicating the history of books, printing, and writing. It stands for constructive dialogue between science, art, and society. As one of the oldest printing museums in the world, located in the heart of the city, it was founded in 1900 on the initiative of Mainz citizens. The Gutenberg Museum, sponsored by the state capital of Mainz, sees itself as a world museum of printing art. Its unique collection comprises approximately 500,000 objects from the fields of books, writing, and printing, illustrating their development in different cultures. With its permanent and temporary exhibitions, research projects, and accompanying events, the Gutenberg Museum focuses on both historical and contemporary aspects from an aesthetic and scientific perspective. With its print shop as an educational department, the Gutenberg Museum aims to preserve and strengthen printing techniques as intangible cultural heritage and bring them to the public's attention. The museum's own Gutenberg Library is one of Germany's most comprehensive special libraries on the subjects of books, printing, and writing. It is a place of scientific research of international importance. The Gutenberg Museum invites everyone to engage in dialogue and is a place for the exchange of ideas, the free formation of opinions, and participation in science and research.

The Gutenberg Museum aims to strengthen and expand its role as a link between the past and the future, technology and art, Mainz and the world, personal experience and research, communication and participation. As a world museum of printing art, we consistently add objects from different cultures to our collection. We continue to support research on our museum objects, because gaining insights into our tangible and intangible cultural heritage is a key goal of our work. We are expanding national and international collaborations and partnerships with museums and educational institutions. It is particularly important to us to communicate our collection to the public in a contemporary, target group-oriented, and inclusive manner. In the future, the exhibits will tell even more about the further developments of Gutenberg's invention and its lasting impact on education, science, and society. We appeal to all the senses and make a visit to the museum a unique experience. Through the practical experience of technology, craftsmanship, and art, visitors gain an understanding of printing history and a deeper understanding of historical events. The comprehensive cataloguing, digitization, and publication of its objects will make it possible to experience the collection independently of its location in Mainz and to work with it scientifically. Additional digital offerings will encourage everyone to engage with the museum, its exhibitions, and its objects. Starting with Johannes Gutenberg, the museum's namesake, we examine developments up to the present day. It goes without saying that we will continue to build on current media and social innovations. The museum sees itself as a place of encounter that builds bridges between cultures, languages, and perspectives.

We, the employees of the Gutenberg Museum, live a culture of mutual respect and appreciation. Regardless of formal structures, we treat each other with respect and fairness. People of all backgrounds and ages work together as equals, regardless of their lifestyles. Personal and professional development and lifelong learning are an important part of our work culture. We see ourselves as an institution that promotes coexistence in a democratic community and understand our work as an active service to society and an important contribution to its development. The Gutenberg Museum is open to everyone and ensures the greatest possible accessibility. With our offerings, we want to address everyone's right to education and enable cultural participation. The Gutenberg Museum is a learning, agile, and innovative institution. We are committed to the guidelines for ensuring good scientific practice and strive for comprehensive, sustainable action in both ecological and economic terms. As a cultural institution in Mainz, we are committed to the fundamental values of our city, which are expressed in openness, hospitality, joie de vivre, and tolerance.