Numerusstellung

Numerusstellung is a German term that can be translated as "number exhibition." In use, it refers to exhibitions whose central theme is numerical data, numbers, or numeric concepts. The term is not standardized in museum catalogs and is not widely established as a formal genre; its application varies among institutions and contexts.

Etymology and usage vary, but the construction combines Numerus (number) and Ausstellung (exhibition). Because it is not a canonical term in museology, Numerusstellungen are typically described descriptively in program notes rather than classified as a rigid genre. They are most often encountered in German-speaking museums, science centers, and educational settings that emphasize data, statistics, or numeracy.

What such exhibitions may encompass includes the presentation of quantitative data, statistical storytelling, or artworks where numbers function as a primary medium. Formats commonly used are interactive dashboards, data visualizations, tactile models of datasets, and digital installations driven by numerical processes. Explanatory labeling often situates numbers within real-world contexts, such as climate data, population statistics, or historical measurements, with the aim of enhancing data literacy and numeracy.

Relation to related concepts includes data visualization exhibitions, numeric or mathematical art, and exhibitions on statistics. Numerusstellungen overlap with science communication and digital humanities outreach by prioritizing access to numerical information, encouraging numeric literacy, and illustrating how numbers shape knowledge and decision-making.

In summary, Numerusstellung denotes a numerically focused exhibition approach rather than a standardized museum category, highlighting numbers as subjects, materials, or modes of display.