Use of the Werkstoffarchiv
The basic holdings of the broad collection of the Werkstoffarchiv come from the workshops of the Kunstgiesserei, where work and experiments are done with various, in part unconventional, materials and techniques. A selection of these samples and remnants that result from the process of producing art is made accessible in the Werkstoffarchiv and expanded to include material samples from the Material-Archiv network.
The collection is sorted based on classical categories such as wood, synthetic materials, and metal in a large drawer cabinet. Users on site can make use of the material samples to examine properties, compare quality, as a basis for discussions, or for inspiration in the design process. In addition to the physical level of information, they can also be accessed directly digitally: the RFID tags attached to the material samples show background information from the Material-Archiv knowledge portal when placed on a reading station. A wealth of further information on the topics of material and technology is also available in the Art Library. The two collections are linked and searchable via the joint Sitterwerk catalogue. It is also possible to put books and materials in relationship to one another on the interactive Workbench. With it, users are able to save their research in the catalogue in the form of a compilation and enrich it on a digital level with personal notes. The Werkstoffarchiv and the Kunstbibliothek are thus continuously expanded with contents that visitors leave behind as compilations or bibliozines generated and printed from them.
The Werkstoffarchiv and Kunstbibliothek can be visited without registration during opening hours. Groups can receive insights into the areas of the Sitterwerk Foundation and the Kunstgiesserei on a guided tour. The collecting activities in the Werkstoffarchiv also again and again serve as a starting point for public workshops, further education, lectures, and exhibitions, which take place in a loose sequence. With such projects, specific topics are deepened and made accessible for a broad audience.