Writing is happiness: New exhibition about Mirjam Pressler in Erfurt!

Writing is happiness: New exhibition about Mirjam Pressler in Erfurt!

The exhibition “Writing is Happiness”, which will take place in Erfurt from May 16, 2025 to January 10, 2026, is all about Mirjam Pressler’s impressive life experience and artistic work. The main venues are the Old Synagogue, the Waidspeicher Gallery and the Small Synagogue, all of which are open to visitors. As [MDR](https://www.mdr.de/kultur/ exhibitionen/thueringen-museum-kunst-börse-tipps-172.html) reports, the entrance ticket to the Old Synagogue allows access to all three exhibition locations, which are open from Tuesday to Sunday.

The Old Synagogue is closed on Mondays, while the other locations follow the same hours: Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The Waidspeicher Gallery is also closed on Mondays, but opens an hour later than the Old Synagogue. The ticket prices are designed to accommodate families and students: adults pay 8 euros, discounts are available for 5 euros, while the family ticket is available for 17 euros. School classes and daycare groups can visit the exhibition free of charge as part of lessons if they register in advance. Admission is also free every first Tuesday of the month.

A look at Mirjam Pressler

The exhibition, which was organized in cooperation with the Jewish Museum Frankfurt, deals intensively with the life and work of Mirjam Pressler. Pressler, born on June 18, 1940 in Darmstadt, is known for her works that deal with themes such as fear, violence, loneliness and Jewish survival stories from the Nazi era. She only began writing at the age of 39 and has become a versatile author of children's and young adult books. Some of her works will be available at reading stations throughout the exhibition, giving visitors the opportunity to immerse themselves directly in the texts. The last novel, “Dark Gold,” which focuses on an Erfurt treasure, will also be presented in the Old Synagogue.

The interactive design of the exhibition is enriched by seven hands-on stations in which visitors can actively participate. A highlight is the accompanying publication from the Jewish Museum Frankfurt, which is available for 9.95 euros and offers 100 pages of deeper insights into the author's life and work.

Accompanying program and kick-off event

The accompanying program for the exhibition starts on June 18, 2025 and includes a number of activities, including a birthday party for Mirjam Pressler. The opening event will be celebrated with an improv theater and a silent disco. Other offerings include public aperitif tours, creative workshops and special holiday programs for children and young people. Readings from Pressler's works will be given by her daughters and granddaughter, while lounge music from the Lechaim Band at the Kulturhof Krönbacken will create a special atmosphere.

The Old Synagogue is barrier-free for visitors who require accessibility, and video guides and tactile tours for the visually impaired are available. These aspects make the exhibition an integrative experience that gives everyone access to Pressler's moving life and work. The attention to detail in the presentation underlines the importance of Mirjam Pressler's contribution to German-language literature and Jewish life in Germany.