Schauraum: comic + cartoon

About the museum

The schauraum: comic + cartoon opened in April 2019 in downtown Dortmund, between the Stadt- und Landesbibliothek and the main train station. It is run by the Dortmunder Kulturbetriebe, which operate it together with the uzwei, the cultural education floor in the Dortmunder U, and the Stadt- und Landesbibliothek. The aim of the venue is to take comics and cartoons seriously as an art form in their own right and to show drawn storytelling in its originals.

There is no permanent exhibition: the schauraum thrives on changing, often cultural-historically conceived exhibitions, for which original pages and drawings are often brought to Dortmund. Topics have ranged from individual classics of newspaper and album comics to cross-sections of genres such as horror or western. Some of these shows reached five-figure visitor numbers.

Besides the exhibitions, the program includes readings, lectures, workshops, tours and the discussion series "Dortmunder Comicstreit". Since 2024 the City of Dortmund has also awarded its own comic prize. In 2024 the schauraum celebrated its fifth anniversary.

Highlights

• Changing exhibitions with original drawings from comics and cartoons
• Central location between the city library and the main train station
• Discussion series "Dortmunder Comicstreit"
• Readings, workshops and tours on drawn storytelling
• Free admission

Founded

2019

Operated by

Dortmunder Kulturbetriebe (Stadt Dortmund), in Kooperation mit der uzwei im Dortmunder U und der Stadt- und Landesbibliothek Dortmund

Director

Sophia Gloe

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Free admission.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours
• Easy-to-read materials
• Audio description: no information

Checked under "Reisen für Alle": accessible for people with walking disabilities, partially accessible for wheelchair users. All rooms reachable without steps, doors at least 90 cm wide. Wheelchair-accessible restroom in the Stadt- und Landesbibliothek (approx. 30 m away). Public accessible parking spaces nearby. Visual alarm signals, bright and glare-free lighting. Tours in sign language, in Easy Language and for blind people after advance registration.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops

Regular comic and manga workshops for children and young people in cooperation with the uzwei in the Dortmunder U (registration there). For school classes from grade 7 there is a free hands-on booklet with which your own comic characters and stories are created.

Getting there & parking

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.

Plan your visit