Like a live concert
with the whole family

When North Rhine-Westphalia celebrates its 80th anniversary in Münster from August 28 to 30, Gronau will be there too: At the invitation of the Ministry of Culture and Science, Gronau’s cultural institutions will showcase the diversity of their work at NRW Day and invite visitors to discover Gronau’s culture firsthand and get involved themselves.
“We’re really delighted,” says Britta Drewitz, authorized signatory at the rock’n’popmuseum, “that the cultural department at the Ministry of Culture and Science in Düsseldorf reached out to us directly to present our institutions and programs in Münster. Of course, we agreed right away.”

Under the motto “Democracy Lives. Diversity Unites. Münster Celebrates 80 Years of NRW,” Münster’s downtown will transform into a major state-wide festival over three days. The program features eleven themed streets, ten stages, and numerous cultural, informational, and hands-on activities. The cultural institutions from Gronau are bringing two very different—yet both characteristic of the city’s cultural scene—entities to Münster: the rock’n’popmuseum and the “Dritter Ort,” the new Haus Lebenstein.

The Rock ‘n’ Pop Museum Goes on the Road

The rock’n’popmuseum will demonstrate in several ways during NRW Day that a museum doesn’t have to be confined to its own four walls. Using VR headsets, guests can virtually immerse themselves in the museum’s exhibition world in Gronau and thus take a look at the museum’s extensive exhibition archive. These exclusive glimpses

Of course, they’re meant to whet people’s appetite for more and then draw visitors to the Kulturmeile to Dinkel.

For younger guests , the “Krachmachclub on Tour” is coming to town. Children and families can build their own small musical instruments from everyday and upcycled materials—from drums and rattles to creative projects made from old vinyl records. On Saturday, the creative activities will take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Teens Create Their Own Rap

On Saturday afternoon, the exhibition booth will be transformed into a small recording studio. Together with musician and workshop leader Dennis Buss, teens will create their own rap songs about North Rhine-Westphalia and life in the state. They’ll write lyrics, record their own verses, and work together to produce a finished song. The “Rap is …” workshop—which is usually available for booking at the rock’n’popmuseum—is scheduled for Saturday from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and is open to up to ten teens aged 14 to 17. Spaces for this workshop are limited; those interested should register quickly at: info@rock-popmuseum.de

Haus Lebenstein: Memory, Democracy, and Encounter

In addition to pop culture, the cultural institutions from Gronau in Münster are also showcasing a completely new aspect of their diverse offerings: The Haus Lebenstein in Gronau-Epe presents itself as a democratic educational and community space and as a “third place.”

The focus is on a documentary photo exhibition about the Gronau High School’s trip to Auschwitz in June 2026. It is complemented by film clips and interviews, conversations with volunteers from the core team, and information about the concept and development of Haus Lebenstein.

Haus Lebenstein will be part of Gronau’s presentation at NRW Day this Friday from 4 to 8 p.m.

North Rhine-Westphalia Day 2026 will take place from Friday, August 28, through Sunday, August 30, in downtown Münster. The state festival is jointly organized by the state and the city and is free and open to the public without tickets on Saturday and Sunday.

The Gronau booth is part of the Ministry of Culture and Science’s booth on Aegidiistraße in Münster.