Outdoor Art Gallery
In the heart of Germany, a significant debate has been unfolding, centring around the naming of the LWL Open-Air Museum Detmold. The proposed name change to "LWL Museum Hellerlecht, Westphalian State Museum for Culture and History, Detmold" has sparked concern among local authorities and residents.
Mayor Frank Hilker, a key figure in this issue, has been working tirelessly since March to prevent this change. He believes that the proposed name, "Hellerlecht," which translates to "Smallest Light" in High German, fails to convey the understandable and well-known location of the museum over more than 50 years.
The Detmold City Council, at Hilker's request, unanimously passed a letter rejecting the name change. The city portal expresses concerns that the identity, visibility, and tourist significance of the open-air museum could be weakened by the proposed name change.
Mayor Hilker's personal involvement in the museum's naming issue extends beyond his initial actions. He has spoken personally with various political actors at the LWL and the LWL administration regarding the name change. He is seeking additional support from various parties to influence the decision-makers in Münster.
The decision regarding the museum's name will be made by the Regional Council on July 4, 2025. The Regional Council will be the deciding factor in the museum's name change. Despite the decision made by the Culture Committee of the LWL Westphalia-Lippe, which passed the name change with the votes of the CDU and the Greens, Hilker continues to appeal for a decision that minimizes harm to Detmold.
Moreover, Hilker has requested that those who have been active through the media also influence decision-makers in Münster. Numerous voices from the population have shown that they reject the name "Hellerlecht." The mayor maintains that local cooperation with the open-air museum is strong and unquestioned.
Mayor Hilker's efforts to prevent the renaming of the LWL Open-Air Museum Detmold remain a topic of concern for him and the city of Detmold. The final decision on the naming of the museum rests with the Regional Council, and it remains to be seen whether they will heed the calls of the Detmold community and Mayor Hilker.
