Global Heritage Lab | Bonn & Exhibition

The Global Heritage Lab in Bonn is not a traditional event center, but a place where research, exhibition, and public exchange intersect. It is located at Poststraße 26 in P26, the House of Knowledge and Research of the University of Bonn, and is aimed at people who want to not only observe museums, collections, colonial history, and cultural heritage but also understand them critically. The official classification is clear: The Global Heritage Lab functions as a transdisciplinary laboratory within the TRA Present Pasts and works at the intersection of anthropology, museum research, design, and university collections. This combination makes the location in Bonn so special, as it makes scientific work visible while simultaneously opening up to the urban space. Therefore, those searching for Global Heritage Lab Bonn, Uni Bonn, or global heritage usually refer to a very specific place with a vibrant program structure and clear societal relevance. ([uni-bonn.de](https://www.uni-bonn.de/en/research-and-teaching/research-profile/transdisciplinary-research-areas/tra5/global-heritage-lab?utm_source=openai))

What is the Global Heritage Lab in Bonn?

The Global Heritage Lab describes itself as a research hub and laboratory for critical reflections on museums and heritage. The University of Bonn expresses the same ambition in German as a central hub for research in the field of heritage and museum studies. The place aims not just to present objects but to ask questions: How are things collected, how are stories told, which perspectives are missing in museums, and how can historical power relations be made visible? This attitude is important for the entire Global Heritage Lab brand because it understands the word heritage not as mere memory culture but as a contemporary issue with consequences for science and society. The lab wants to look at cultural heritage from global and historical perspectives and thereby provide new impulses for museums and university collections. ([globalheritagelab.org](https://globalheritagelab.org/about/?utm_source=openai))

Particularly relevant is the transdisciplinary claim. The Global Heritage Lab is part of the TRA Present Pasts and is thus embedded in a research environment that does not leave complex societal questions to a single discipline. The University of Bonn describes the lab as a space for experimentation, transcultural dialogue, and the reorganization of the relationship between past, present, and future. At its core are transregional and transcontinental perspectives that include indigenous forms of knowledge and different viewpoints. This transforms what seems to be a specialized research unit into an open space for thought, where colonial past, museum practice, knowledge production, and social responsibility converge. That this concept takes place in a publicly accessible building in the middle of Bonn is not a minor aspect but part of the program: Knowledge should not remain behind closed doors but should have an impact on the city. ([uni-bonn.de](https://www.uni-bonn.de/en/research-and-teaching/research-profile/transdisciplinary-research-areas/tra5/global-heritage-lab?utm_source=openai))

What exhibition and opening hours are currently in effect?

Currently, the Global Heritage Lab is themed around plant knowledge – Ecologies of Remembering and Acting. The official lab page announces the series with a duration from March 19, 2026, to February 14, 2027, while the University of Bonn states that the initial duration of the exhibition is from March 19 to June 7, 2026. This dual time indication is not a contradiction but can be read as a hint that the series is intended to be presented in several chapters or exhibition parts. For visitors, it is important: The exhibition has been designed as a learning and meeting space at the intersection of art, science, and urban society. It asks how relationships with plants, ecosystems, and bodies of water have historically developed and how these relationships are still shaped today by colonialism, slavery, and extractive economic practices. ([globalheritagelab.org](https://globalheritagelab.org/project/pflanzenwissen-okologien-des-erinnerns-und-handelns/?utm_source=openai))

The visiting hours are clearly regulated. The information page of the Global Heritage Lab currently states that the exhibition area is open from Wednesday to Sunday from 2 PM to 6 PM. The regular admission fee is 4.50 euros and 2.50 euros reduced; students of the University of Bonn have free admission. Additionally, the page refers to specific closing days in spring 2026, indicating that operations are regularly maintained and adjusted for renovations or program changes. Practically, this means: Those planning a visit should check the official notices in advance, as the lab works with a lively changing exhibition and may vary during events, renovations, or holidays. Especially for a place that brings research and the public together, such information is important because it makes visits planable and keeps the exhibitions visible as time-bound events. ([globalheritagelab.org](https://globalheritagelab.org/information-for-visitors/?utm_source=openai))

Where is the Global Heritage Lab located in P26 and how can one visit it?

The address of the Global Heritage Lab is Poststraße 26, 53111 Bonn. The University of Bonn explicitly describes the location as part of Bonn's city center and as P26, its House of Knowledge and Research. The building itself is a former department store that has been transformed into a modern place for science communication and public encounters. At the opening in October 2024, it was emphasized that P26 is located in the middle of the city and brings together various forms of knowledge under one roof. This is important for the Global Heritage Lab because the location almost automatically considers the bridge between research and urban life: Anyone walking through the city center can suddenly find themselves in an exhibition, a discussion, or a workshop without having to cross a threshold into a closed museum complex. ([uni-bonn.de](https://www.uni-bonn.de/en/news/ages-and-wonders-in-p26))

Inside P26, the Global Heritage Lab shares the space with other institutions of the University of Bonn. The official representation mentions four levels of the building, where different focuses become visible: Knowledge transfer on the ground floor, the Global Heritage Lab on the first floor, the Paul-Clemen Museum above, and on another level, the Egyptian Museum. This spatial proximity is significant in content because it closely links collections, exhibition practices, and university teaching. Visiting the Global Heritage Lab is therefore not just an isolated exhibition visit but often part of a larger tour through P26. Those planning a guided tour or a group inquiry can contact via email at ghlguide@uni-bonn.de according to visitor information. This makes access open and well-structured for both individual visitors and organized groups. ([uni-bonn.de](https://www.uni-bonn.de/en/news/ages-and-wonders-in-p26))

What research on colonial heritage, museums, and collections is behind it?

The Global Heritage Lab visibly works on topics that go far beyond a classic exhibition logic. The University of Bonn describes the first floor of P26 as a place where the lab critically examines museum and cultural heritages, develops innovative approaches to dealing with colonial pasts, and focuses on historically suppressed knowledge. Central are questions about relationships between people and the environment that should not be reduced to European notions of nature and culture. Equally important are global stories of contact, conflict, and appropriation, as well as the question of how ideas of the familiar and the foreign have historically developed. Thus, the lab is not just an exhibition space but a research site with a distinctly societal claim. It aims to relate insights about the past to present crises and thereby initiate thought movements for a more just future. ([uni-bonn.de](https://www.uni-bonn.de/en/news/ages-and-wonders-in-p26))

The connection to collections is also central. In P26, the museum and collection competencies of the University of Bonn are visibly bundled, and the Global Heritage Lab builds on this. The university emphasizes that the new exhibition and research environment raises questions about the provenance of objects, their acquisition history, and the appropriate handling of sensitive contexts. This is relevant for provenance research, colonial history, and the debate on responsibility in museums. The first exhibition in the building already worked with object histories and provenance questions; the Global Heritage Lab continues this logic but with a stronger focus on critical and global perspectives. This creates a place where university collections are not only shown but also reflected upon. Especially for an audience searching for global heritage, this approach is attractive because it understands heritage not as static possession but as a contested, living, and changeable relationship. ([uni-bonn.de](https://www.uni-bonn.de/en/news/ages-and-wonders-in-p26))

What events, workshops, and tours are available?

The program of the Global Heritage Lab is significantly broader than just a single exhibition. On the official events page, workshops, lectures, discussion formats, book-related events, and interactive formats related to the exhibitions appear. The University of Bonn and the lab itself demonstrate that the house is intended as a meeting space. Examples from the official pages range from hybrid workshop series on controversial monuments to lectures and discussion formats to creative workshops in the context of current exhibitions. For visitors, this means: The lab does not see itself as a static showcase but as a place where knowledge is jointly produced and negotiated. Especially the connection of research, art, and public communication makes the events here interesting because they not only explain content but also open perspectives and allow reactions. ([globalheritagelab.org](https://globalheritagelab.org/events/?utm_source=openai))

An important part of the offering is guided tours. The visitor information explicitly mentions the possibility of requesting group tours. This is relevant for schools, study groups, associations, and culturally interested groups because the topics of the Global Heritage Lab often thrive on context and conversation. Additionally, the house works with changing program points: Performances, interactive tours, and small workshop formats accompany the exhibition and extend its impact into everyday life. This is particularly evident in the current plant knowledge series, where artistic, scientific, and community-oriented elements are considered together. Therefore, anyone looking for an event in Bonn that not only entertains but also stimulates reflection on museums, the environment, and colonial history will find an unusually dense offering here. The contact option via email also facilitates planning if a visit is to extend beyond the individual appointment. ([globalheritagelab.org](https://globalheritagelab.org/information-for-visitors/?utm_source=openai))

Why the Global Heritage Lab is relevant for Bonn and the University of Bonn

For the University of Bonn, the Global Heritage Lab is a strategically important component because it connects scientific excellence with public visibility. The official communication surrounding P26 makes it clear that research, teaching, and the public should come together here. The lab is thus not only a specialized institution for heritage studies but also an instrument of science communication. This dual function makes the place attractive: On one hand, researchers work on complex questions regarding museums, colonialism, and global knowledge relationships; on the other hand, visitors can experience this work in the urban space. That the lab is located in a building in the city center underscores the claim of not being an aloof institution but rather formulating an invitation to the urban society. Bonn thus becomes not only a university location but a place where critical memory culture can be experienced concretely. ([uni-bonn.de](https://www.uni-bonn.de/en/news/ages-and-wonders-in-p26))

Also for the search intention behind terms like Global Heritage Lab Bonn, Global Heritage Lab Uni Bonn, or global heritage, this role is crucial. People searching for this usually want not just an address but context: What kind of place is this? What is happening there right now? How is it connected to the University of Bonn? And why is it relevant for cultural debates? The answer is: because the lab does not just document societal questions but negotiates them in exhibitions, discussions, and workshops. It creates a space where colonial past, collection history, environmental relationships, and future questions come into conversation. For visitors, this creates a place with a clear content identity, for Bonn a publicly visible contribution to critical cultural work, and for the university a showcase that directly connects research with the city and society. ([globalheritagelab.org](https://globalheritagelab.org/about/?utm_source=openai))

Sources:

• University of Bonn – The Global Heritage Lab
• University of Bonn – P26
• Global Heritage Lab – Information for Visitors
• Global Heritage Lab – Plant Knowledge – Ecologies of Remembering and Acting
• University of Bonn – Ages and Wonders in P26