Beer fans can find out more about Luxembourg’s brewing heritage at the exhibition “Onse Béier” (our beer) and series of events over the coming months. Delano interviewed the curators to find out more.
Who is behind the exhibition?
It is a partnership between the Musée Brassicole des deux Luxembourg and Musée National d’Art Brassicole de Wiltz. The exhibition “Onse Béier” by the Archives Nationales de Luxembourg shows the relationship between Luxembourgers and “their” beer, the industrial revolution and its impact on their lives economically, socially and culturally.
Why host this exhibition now?
The choice of the subject is part of the archives’ strategy, which was written a few years ago. This strategy aims to provide access to archive documents through the exhibition, which is pitched at a broad audience.
The exhibition includes a photographic exhibition called “Prost!”, made for the European Month of Photography and celebrating the social links of Luxembourgers in relation to beer, from the beginning of the twentieth century to today.
It is comprised of photos from the Centre national de l’audiovisuel, the Photothèque de la Ville de Luxembourg, the Musée brassicole des deux Luxembourg, des Archives nationales and photography by Sven Becker, comissioned by the Archives nationales.
Just how important is beer and the brewing heritage in Luxembourg?
Luxembourg has a long brewing tradition. The breweries, however, experienced the first real upturn/boom in the nineteenth century, a period marked by the country’s newly acquired independence and beginning of the industrial revolution. All in all, it can be said that the fate of the Luxembourgish breweries is closely linked to the economic, industrial and social changes that occurred in Luxembourg during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Therefore, it seemed interesting to highlight the social and cultural significance of beer. It cannot be denied that beer is a vital part of get togethers in Luxembourg.
Beer deliveries from the past in Diekirch Photo: www.luxem.beer
What can people see and learn from the exhibition?
Beer is more than a mere alcoholic beverage, so there is more to it than meets the eye. The beverage mirrors economic, industrial and social changes that influenced Luxembourg since the beginning of the nineteenth century and it allows a different take on Luxembourgish history.
The exhibition also investigates the role breweries played in Luxembourgish society and highlights the cultural significance of beer.
Will there be actual beer at the exhibition?
At the exhibition opening at 6:30pm on 15 June, a drink will be offered to everyone who attends.
How to see the exhibition
The exhibition, which is in French and German, can be viewed at the national archives centre, plateau du St Esprit, L1475, Luxembourg-Centre, from 16 June until 6 October. Monday to Friday from 8:30am to 5:30pm on and on Saturday from 8:30 to 11:30am.
To find out more, visit the Onse Béiere Facebook page or www.anlux.lu
