Introducing the climate ticket

Museum Folkwang has been consistently committed to climate protection and sustainability for years. With the introduction of the climate ticket from July 2024, a further step towards the Green Museum is being taken—with a new offer in Germany’s museum landscape, inviting visitors to actively participate in climate protection. The climate ticket is available online for one euro and at the box office as an optional extra to the admission ticket.

The Green Museum
Museum Folkwang is on course to becoming a Green Museum: the museum has been carrying out climate assessments at regular intervals since 2019. This has resulted in numerous measures to reduce CO2 emissions. For example, Museum Folkwang is pursuing the gradual conversion of all technical facilities to 100 percent renewable energy. This has been supported by an in-house photovoltaic system since 2022. To promote biodiversity, bird protection measures have been implemented and the outdoor areas have been replanted with insect-friendly perennials.

Sustainability and visitor mobility
Besides the energy supply, visitor mobility is the largest source of CO2 emissions at Museum Folkwang. In a scientific study carried out in collaboration with MacroMedia University of Applied Sciences Cologne, the carbon footprint of visitors to Museum Folkwang in 2023 was empirically determined: an average journey of around 148 km to and from the museum generates 15.5 kg of CO2 per visit. In addition to creating incentives for climate-friendly travel, the climate ticket now gives visitors the opportunity to actively make their own contribution to climate protection.

Think global, act local
To offset greenhouse gas emissions, Museum Folkwang has decided to cooperate with a local sustainability project and enter into a partnership with the Bonnekamp Foundation instead of purchasing international emissions certificates. The non-profit foundation runs a three-hectare natural garden on Bonnekamphöhe in Essen-Katernberg. Here, former fallow land is renaturalised according to the principles of permaculture, organic farming is practised and educational programmes are carried out. A particular focus of the foundation is on inclusion and social participation. In cooperation with the education and communication department of Museum Folkwang, the sustainability measures are expanded to include artistic and art education programmes.

The climate ticket costs one euro and is available as an optional extra when purchasing a museum ticket on site or in the online shop. Museum Folkwang uses the proceeds to support the work of the Bonnekamp Foundation and the realisation of joint projects. Visitors thus contribute to the interplay of ecological, social and cultural sustainability, create new ecological habitats and support the museum’s sustainable offers for the city of Essen. The pilot project will initially run for two years.