Cultural and Community Work in Hagen: Focus on Museums, Music School, and City Library

2026/2027 Budget: Securing the Cultural Infrastructure

On April 28, 2026, the Cultural and Continuing Education Committee of Hagen discussed the draft budget for 2026/2027, which includes product area “04 Culture and Science.” Within this area, the museums, Theater Hagen gGmbH, the Max-Reger Music School, the Adult Education Center, and the City Library are embedded. The budget focuses on securing and further developing the city’s cultural institutions, which are of central importance for both the population and the tourist and cultural identity of Hagen.

Museums and Archives: Cultural Institutions of Regional and Supraregional Significance

The museums and archives of the city of Hagen are not only historical collections, but also active cultural institutions offering educational programs, guided tours, and exhibitions. The Osthaus Museum and the Hagen City Museum are among the most important cultural institutions in the region. The budget includes investments in structural renovation and technical equipment, such as the redesign of the glass windows at the Osthaus Museum with triple glazing valued at 200,000 €, supported by a foundation grant of 60,000 €.

Furthermore, the redevelopment of the permanent exhibition at the Archaeological Museum Wasserschloss Werdringen is planned, which will strengthen museum pedagogy and educational offerings. The museums also contribute to regional networking and promote the city’s international image through loan exhibitions.

Max-Reger Music School: Musical Education as a Key Qualification

The Max-Reger Music School is a central actor in cultural education in Hagen. It offers music lessons for children and adults and promotes social skills, creative abilities, and intercultural encounters. The 2026/2027 budget includes specific measures for the funding of teaching materials, honorarium staff, and investments in infrastructure. The goal is to maintain stable student numbers and keep the per-pupil subsidy constant.

The music school will also be more actively involved in public relations, for example through open house days, lecturer concerts, and student concerts. Financial support from the budget is essential to ensure musical education is accessible to all population groups.

Hagen City Library: “Third Place” for Education and Encounter

The Hagen City Library is a central part of the cultural infrastructure and is supported in the 2026/2027 budget with a clear focus on digitization, event offerings, and barrier-free accessibility. In recent years, the City Library has established itself as a vibrant “third place”—besides home and workplace—and offers events for all age groups, from readings to escape rooms.

The budget planning includes investments in digital services such as Onleihe and Freegal, as well as in the structural development of the City Library. In addition, support associations and volunteer work are recognized as key pillars of cultural work. The City Library participates in regional and nationwide educational projects and promotes media literacy among young people through programs such as “Diginautis.”

Outlook: Culture as a Central Building Block of Urban Development

The decisions in April 2026 show that the city of Hagen understands its cultural institutions as a central building block for identity formation, education, and social integration. The financial security of the museums, the music school, and the City Library is not only an investment in the cultural infrastructure, but also in the future viability of the city.

With the IGA 2027 and participation in regional festivals such as the Krimifestival Mord am Hellweg or the Hagener Literaturtage, Hagen will also be presented as a vibrant cultural location beyond the region. The City Library, the museums, and the music school contribute to connecting the city community and promoting cultural participation—a process that is sustainably anchored in the 2026/2027 budget.