When does the opening take place?

The opening starts on Thursday, September 24, 2026, at 6 PM.

How long will the exhibition be on display?

The exhibition will be on view from September 24 to November 8, 2026, in the DOWN UNDER gallery of Bunker Ulmenwall.

How much is the admission fee?

Admission to the opening is free.

Where does the exhibition take place?

The exhibition takes place at Bunker Ulmenwall, Am Ulmenwall 1, 33602 Bielefeld.

What contents are shown in the exhibition?

Displayed are posters, photographs, archive material, and objects related to the history of Bunker Ulmenwall as a cultural venue, music and jazz club, and a place for youth culture, literature, and art.

Who curates the exhibition?

The curation is undertaken by Markus Felthaus, Wilfried Klei, and Dr. Oliver M. Pawlak.

Discover bunker history between jazz, images, and Bielefeld culture

Name: Everyone was there – except Miles!
Start: 2026-09-24T18:00:00+02:00
End: 2026-11-08T23:59:00+01:00
Location: Bunker Ulmenwall

Everyone was there – except Miles! – a bunker writes Bielefeld's cultural history

The opening on September 24, 2026 marks the launch of the anniversary exhibition Culture. Sounds. Passion. The Bunker 1956–2026 at the Bunker Ulmenwall. For the 70th anniversary of the cultural venue and the 30th anniversary of the association, the exhibition looks at an extraordinary place where music, literature, art, youth culture, and cultural education have been interconnected for decades.

Archive material as sensual memory

Posters, photographs, historical documents, and selected objects make the eventful past of the bunker visible. The exhibition transforms the DOWN UNDER gallery into a space of remembrance, where traces of local cultural work, musical experiments, and community initiatives overlap. Each examination of a work leads from a specific object into larger social contexts.

From puppet theater to jazz club

The exhibition narrates the development of the bunker from its beginnings as a venue for Bielefeld's puppet shows to its international recognition as a music and jazz club. This cultural-historical dramaturgy shows how a venue is continually redefined through changing generations, artistic expressions, and committed volunteer work.

People shape spaces

The focus is not only on the exhibits but also on the people who have shaped the bunker over decades. Their ideas, their cultural work, and their volunteer commitment form the social foundation of this place. Thus, the exhibition becomes a study on memory culture, urban identity, and the importance of open spaces for a vibrant city society.

A place for encounter and cultural education

The Bunker Ulmenwall still stands for encounter, experimentation, and community today. The exhibition makes it tangible how closely aesthetic experience and cultural participation are linked. Between historical photographs, graphic traces, and documentary materials, an exhibition atmosphere emerges that encourages reflection on the role of music, literature, and art in public life.

Conclusion: Experience a piece of Bielefeld live

The opening offers art and culture enthusiasts a multi-layered access to the history of Bunker Ulmenwall. Those who want to understand how a cultural venue is shaped across generations will experience a vivid artistic encounter between archive, city history, and vibrant present here. Admission is free. A visit opens new perspectives on the Bielefeld cultural landscape and on the people who have shaped it.