Academic Heritage of TU Dresden: Exploring collections, exhibitions and art treasures

The Academic Heritage brings together the comprehensive and unique holdings of TU Dresden's university collections. These include 40 technical-scientific collections as well as an important collection of works of Saxon art after 1945. The Academic Heritage is responsible for the preservation of the collections and for making them accessible to both the scientific community and the public. In this spirit, it offers a varied programme of exhibitions and events at various locations:

The permanent exhibition in the rooms of the Academic Heritage on Zellescher Weg presents a cross-section of the university's scientific and technical collections, as well as documents and objects relating to the history of the university. In the Altana Gallery in the Görges Building, changing special exhibitions are presented, which blur the border between science and art. In connection with these exhibitions, as well as on topics regarding the history of the university or specific to the collection, the Academic Heritage regularly organises public lectures, discussions with artists, exhibition and campus tours, panel discussions and other interactive communication formats for various target groups. All dates of events can be found in the Academic Heritage's calendar. Individual guided tours of the permanent exhibition and the special exhibitions or of the campus can also be arranged.

Academic Heritage website

Artistic groups

At TU Dresden, there are various possibilities to actively engage in artistic activities or to enjoy performances, presentations, concerts, exhibitions and many other events.

Students, members of the university and alumni are involved in the following artistic groups.

die bühne - TU Dresden’s theatre

Young, passionate and frank: For almost 60 years now, professional directors have been making common cause with amateur actors and staging for an audience that wants more than run-of-the-mill productions. Always close up: With wit, enthusiasm and a portion of idealism, Dresden's oldest student theatre questions realities, the universe and everything else.

die bühne - TU Dresden’s theatre

"Thea Maass" Folklore Dance Ensemble of TU Dresden

Since 1950, TU Dresden's "Thea Maass” Folklore Dance Ensemble has been one of the most impressive and artistically distinguished, amateur dance groups in Germany. Under the direction of the dance teacher and choreographer Maud Butter, about 40 dancers and musicians are committed to the cultivation and interpretation of German dance folklore as well as to the dancing interpretation of traditional customs from various German regions within challenging stage choreographies. The sensitive and responsible handling of our cultural heritage is our main concern when developing thematic and action-orientated pieces with the manifold means of folklore dance. In the spirit of the choreographer and dance director Thea Maass, who worked for the ensemble for a long time, the aim of the group is to bring folklore to people in its vivid naturalness, its expressive richness of form, and in all its beauty.

University orchestra Dresden

© Maximilian Helm

The University orchestra Dresden unites more than 100 members, mainly students, staff members and graduates of TU Dresden, who in their free time enjoy making music and friends while playing together in the orchestra. Both the symphonic and the chamber orchestra rehearse on a weekly basis. At the end of each semester, both ensembles present themselves in concerts at a renowned high level. The orchestra's repertoire ranges from baroque, classics and romanticism to works by contemporary composers.

University choir Dresden

© Universitätschor

With more than 150 members, the Universitätschor Dresden e.V. is one of the largest and, in terms of average age, one of the youngest choirs in Dresden. With Christiane Büttig, the choir is headed by an equally young and dynamic artistic director, which makes it one of the most promising ensembles in the city. In recent years, the choir has repeatedly devoted itself to playing pieces that were rarely heard before. Thanks to many Dresden premieres, the choir has introduced numerous musical discoveries away from the "mainstream" to its members and to the Dresden audience.

Kino im Kasten

A little outside the TU main campus, on August-Bebel-Straße, there is the cinema Kino im Kasten, or KiK for short. In next to no time, the newly renovated auditorium can be transformed into a cinema. From 8:30 p.m. onwards, you can escape the dreary everyday life and immerse yourself in exciting film worlds. When selecting films, the main focus is not on new releases. The programme includes interesting films from all genres and times, sometimes introduced by short talks. Quite often, there are also films in the original version with and without subtitles (OmU/OV).

You will find more groups and offers on the website of Dresden’s Student Union.