Erweiterung um eine Abteilung „Immanuel Kant, Königsberg und die deutsche Aufklärung" ("Creating a New Department: 'Immanuel Kant, Königsberg and the German Enlightenment'")

Immanuel Kant (1724 - 1804) revolutionized modern philosophy and is still today considered probably the most important thinker of modernity and an outstanding figure of the Enlightenment. His ideas on epistemology, ethics, aesthetics as well as his reflections on forms of government and international law are still omnipresent in scientific and social debates worldwide. Throughout his life, Kant never once left . This is one of the reasons why there is still no permanent museum exhibition in Germany devoted to this outstanding, internationally respected and revered personality – a significant desideratum for a country like Germany that sees itself as a cultural nation.
 
In 2016, the Duisburg Museum "City of Königsberg" was closed down and the East Prussian State Museum took over its collections. These comprise some 3,500 exhibits, including paintings, arts and crafts, archival documents and historical exhibits. The “Kantiana” are particularly noteworthy and make this arguably the most extensive collection on Immanuel Kant in Germany. The Federal Government and the state of Lower Saxony are now funding an extension that will create 700 square meters of new exhibition space to present Kant,  and the German Enlightenment on a broad scale. In addition to the new exhibition area, a new research department on the topic of "Immanuel Kant, Königsberg and the German Enlightenment" will be established.