When does the tour take place?

The tour takes place on December 6, 2026, at 11:00 a.m.

What is the cost of the visit?

Participation is free of charge. The tour is offered at no cost.

Where does the exhibition take place?

At the City Archive - Bochum Center for Urban History, Wittener Straße 47 in Bochum.

Is the event location barrier-free?

Yes, the City Archive is barrier-free accessible and has a lift.

How long does the tour last?

The tour is scheduled to last about one hour.

Is there an accompanying program?

Yes, the exhibition includes additional tours, lectures, and film events in the accompanying program.

Light and Shadow Shows Bochum's Industrial Photography in Fascinating Archive Atmosphere

Name: Free Tour of the Exhibition Light and Shadow
Start: 2026-12-06T12:00:00+01:00
End: 2026-12-06T13:00:00+01:00
Location: Stadtarchiv - Bochumer Zentrum für Stadtgeschichte

Photography, Industrial History, and Light Dramaturgy at the Bochum City Archive

The free tour of the exhibition Light and Shadow offers a precise look at the visual world of the Bochum Association for Cast Steel Manufacturing between 1860 and 1945. At the City Archive - Bochum Center for Urban History, historical photography meets urban historical memory culture, creating an impressive artistic experience that intertwines documentation, industrial aesthetics, and exhibition pedagogy.

Photographs as Historical Evidence

The exhibition presents a cross-section of those recordings with which the Bochum Association documented internal processes, supported material testing, and at the same time staged the public. The images make visible how photography in the industry was not only a record but also a means of design. Those interested in cultural history, archival research, and image aesthetics will experience here the tension between sober function and artistic precision.

Between Workshop and Visual Memory

Particularly captivating is the historical depth of this project: in 1886, the first full-time factory photographer already worked for the Bochum Association, and by 1939, there were nine photographers. This continuity demonstrates how strongly companies relied on visual communication, representation, and image production. The exhibition unfolds a consideration of works that intertwines industrial modernity, local identity, and photographic quality.

Education, Tours, and Cultural Learning

The Sunday tours offer an easy access to the exhibition and strengthen cultural education with clear historical context. The accompanying program enhances the display through lectures and film evenings that further illuminate the Bochum Association as an actor in urban history. Thus, the visit becomes more than a walk-through: it creates a didactically clever, atmospheric exhibition experience.

Place with History and Barrier-Free Access

The City Archive on Wittener Straße is not only an exhibition venue but also the memory of the city. Visitors find here a house that connects historical sources, reading room, exhibition, and research under one roof. The exhibition areas are barrier-free accessible; a lift is available, making the artistic experience open to guests with mobility restrictions.

Conclusion

Light and Shadow combines photography, industrial history, and cultural mediation into an exhibition of high vividness. The free tour on December 6, 2026, invites you to rediscover Bochum's past through the lens of powerful images. Those who appreciate historical photography, urban history, and precise curation should experience this event live.