Hidden Capital: Trust in Museums in Germany is the first study of its kind to be conducted on a population-representative basis to provide empirical data on the trust potential of the approximately 7,000 museums in Germany. It was largely inspired by a study on trust in museums published in 2021 on behalf of the American Alliance of Museums.
Numerous studies on the German population’s trust in democratic institutions, the media and science are currently dominating the headlines. In these times of crisis, they remind us of the importance of social and institutional trust for the preservation and continued existence of our democracy. It is all the more surprising, then, that trust in museums, the oldest and most enduring cultural institutions in our society, has never been subjected to large-scale empirical research.
Museums have the potential to strengthen society’s sense of belonging and to foster trust in cultural institutions as a whole. Trust in museums has a very positive impact on the credibility of museums as educational and cultural centres. This in turn promotes visitor loyalty, cultural exchange and participation in cultural education programmes. The aim of this study is to use empirical findings to shed light on this often hidden capital outside the museum landscape and its actors in the current debate on social cohesion, and to empirically substantiate the socio-political dimension of museum work.
Authors of the study: Kathrin Grotz, Prof. Dr Patricia Rahemipour
Data collection: BIK Aschpurwis + Behrens GmbH
Illustrations, layout & editing: Josefine Dreesen, Violetta Mäder
Duration: September 2023 to April 2024
