Dawn of the Pharaohs

In the early 1990s, elaborate exhibition design and new media were not part of the standard repertoire of the Staatliche Museen. The exhibition Dawn of the Pharaohs at the Ägyptisches Museum was the first to make a concerted use of videos and audio-recordings (via headphones) in order to achieve its educational goals. Among museum practitioners, this form of presentation was controversial, and was accompanied by a large-scale visitor-impact study. The 91% approval ratings were overwhelming. Younger Berlin audiences in particular flocked to the show in the autumn of 1999, hanging around to take advantage of the extended opening hours, while the typical Berlin tourists would pop in to see the Bust of Nefertiti and then continue on their way.