A new museum name: MiQua!
On 16 December 2016, with construction of a new museum under way on the Rathausplatz in Cologne, the LVR regional committee voted unanimously on a name: MiQua. LVR Jewish Museum in the Archaeological Quarter of Cologne. The acronym is taken from the German 'Museum im Quartier' (museum in the quarter). It is also clear in evoking the ritual bath of the Jewish community, the 'mikveh', which is a central feature of the new museum. The example beneath the Rathausplatz, dating from the Medieval Ages, is one of the best-preserved of its kind in the entire world.
MiQua indicates how Jewish life is closely bound to the history of Cologne
"We feel sure that the name will evince interest in this innovative cultural experience. It is a name that combines the most essential monuments of the 2000 year history of the city of Cologne: the buildings of the Jewish quarter, the Praetorium of Roman times and the Roman governor's palace. The Praetorium is the centrepiece and most significant monument to feature in the application for UNESCO World Heritage status for the 'Limes' boundary wall, which marked the Lower Germanic province", says Professor Jürgen Wilhelm, Chairman of the Regional Assembly of the Rhineland.
"The name MiQua suggests a connection both with Jewish life and the general history of Cologne, from Roman times to the present day. It awakens a certain curiosity, and at the same time is easy to remember", says Henriette Reker, Lord Mayor of Cologne.
"We believe it will help anchor the new museum within the diversity of cultural venues that Cologne has to offer." LVR director Ulrike Lubek adds: "MiQua stands for a special place: this is a complex historical district, which the museum will make accessible and tangible. The museum will present the many facets and ways in which various cultures meet in this historic quarter in the centre of Cologne. 'MiQua' is a catchy name and recognisable to an international audience, too."
Over 700 ideas submitted in the naming process
Finding a name was done in several stages, the first stage being to ask the public to send in suggestions. The response was extremely positive: over 700 suggestions and insightful ideas for the ongoing process were submitted. From this starting point, specialists and LVR policy-makers as well as representatives from Stadt Köln staged a workshop to come up with a short list of names. Here it became evident, as the public's ideas had already suggested, that the name should express the essence of this special place where, over the course of 2000 years, all kinds of inhabitants lived and worked side by side.
