Berlin's Neon Lettering Museum Closes Due to Funding Shortages

A cultural treasure trove is closing its doors. The Berlin Lettering Museum's future hangs in the balance, but its dedicated team is fighting to preserve its iconic neon signs.

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2025 October 6 . 2:23 PM

1 min read

This is the picture of a museum plaque on which there is something written and also we can see some... — This is the picture of a museum plaque on which there is something written and also we can see some sculptures on it.

Berlin's Neon Lettering Museum Closes Due to Funding Shortages

The Metropolitan Museum of Berlin, a cultural hub of historical significance, is set to close its doors on Monday due to funding shortages. The museum, which houses around 3,500 neon tube letters, has struggled with declining visitor numbers and rising costs, particularly since the COVID-19 pandemic. Founded by Barbara Dechant, the museum has been supported by an association of 120 members, including Lucas de Groot, the designer of this newspaper's typeface. It was originally located in S-Bahn arch 424 near Bellevue Station in Mitte, opening in the early 1980s. The collection includes historical signs from Berlin, other parts of Germany, and even Austria and Switzerland. One of the most iconic exhibits, the 'Decorative Fish' sign, has been lighting up a gingerbread high-rise at the Frankfurter Tor in Friedrichshain for four decades. The sign was dismantled and is now part of the museum's collection. Despite the closure, the museum will remain in its current premises until the end of the year. The closure of the Metropolitan Museum of Berlin is a significant loss for the city's cultural heritage. Barbara Dechant and her team are actively exploring options for the future of the letters, seeking storage space and hoping to find an institution to continue the museum's important work. The search for a new carrier or institution to preserve this piece of city, GDR, and German culture is ongoing.