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Anklam transforms St. Nicholas Church into a modern Ikareum – a milestone!
Anklam celebrates the progress of the Nikolaikirche into the Ikareum Museum, a cultural project with international significance until 2027.
Anklam transforms St. Nicholas Church into a modern Ikareum – a milestone!
On June 19, 2025, the mood in Anklam was particularly solemn. The city celebrated significant progress in the renovation of St. Nicholas Church, which will in the future function as a modern museum - the Ikareum. This ambitious project not only promises a new use for the historic building, but also has far-reaching cultural and tourist goals for the entire region.
The Ikareum, which is designed as a “cathedral of aviation,” will in future house the Otto Lilienthal Museum. With an investment volume of an impressive 10.5 million euros, the third construction phase is already in the starting blocks. The expansion of the galleries in particular is a central point in this comprehensive renovation, which is scheduled to be completed by 2027. As part of this project, the historic substance of the church is preserved while it is modernized for future-oriented use.
A long-held dream
The idea of converting St. Nicholas Church into a museum is not new. The first thoughts about finding a suitable location for the Lilienthal Museum arose as early as the 1990s. However, these plans were put on hold as long as the reconstruction of the church had not yet begun. Finally, a feasibility study was commissioned in 2005 to examine the future use of the structure. The result: the integration of the Lilienthal Museum into the Nikolaikirche, which turned out to be an ideal location.
The Nikolaikirche Anklam e.V. support group, together with the Hanseatic city of Anklam, is actively committed to the realization of the Ikareum. During the planning, a major concern is to preserve the nave primarily as an exhibition and event space. It is also planned to convert the church tower into an observation and exhibition tower with a walkable top. In addition to these exciting innovations, additional space will also be created in the attics to enable a variety of uses.
Cultural promotion and support
In order to realize the conversion of the St. Nicholas Church, monument protection funding will also be used. This support, which extends across the entire federal territory, is aimed at preserving and maintaining the cultural landscape. The federal government's participation can amount to up to 50 percent of the eligible costs, which significantly strengthens the financial basis for such projects.
The Ikareum will not only enrich the local cultural scene, but will also attract visitors from outside who are interested in the exciting history of aviation. Thanks to well-thought-out planning and the support of the city and the support group, the Nikolaikirche is becoming a real attraction in Anklam and beyond.
Those interested can find further information about the ongoing plans and architecture on the Ikareum website. Regular updates on the construction work and use of the future museum will be published here, heralding an exciting cultural development in Anklam.
If you want to find out more about the renovation work, check out the reporting from coolis.de or visit the official website Nikolaikirche Anklam. Information about funding programs for monument protection can be found on the website Ministry of Culture.