Storytelling café in Bramsche: memories and stories for the future!

Storytelling café in Bramsche: memories and stories for the future!

On June 2, 2025, a unique storytelling café organized by the Department of Cultural Studies at the University of Vechta took place in the “Bei der Becke” hall in Bramsche-Engter. Under the leadership of Prof. Dr. Lina Franken, who heads the “Digital Humanities” work area, over 60 people had the opportunity to share their stories. These stories were supplemented by objects, photos and newspaper articles and formed a lively overview of the hall's operations and its cultural significance in the community.

The central goal of the project is to research the transformation processes that hall operations have undergone. The digitization of local traditions for research is also being promoted. One vivid example from the multitude of stories shared describes how British officers independently organized beer in 1945 while locals secretly tapped from a branch of the tap. This not only illustrates the villagers' ingenuity in craftsmanship, but also their social cohesion during difficult times.

Meaning and cultural context

The “Bei der Becke” hall plays a central role in the community’s life and year by being used for various social events. From funeral ceremonies to celebrations, weddings and club meetings, the hall has played an important cultural role over the years. Historically it has also served as a venue for cinema, music, dance and theater, reflecting its versatility and high status in country life. In her novel “Lunchtime” Dörte Hansen describes the relevance of such guesthouse rooms and emphasizes that they are a reflection of rural life and its social structures.

Many guesthouse halls are currently undergoing change; some disappear while others are repurposed or converted. The importance of preserving and documenting this cultural asset becomes particularly clear. The Lower Saxony Ministry of Science and Culture has awarded this project three-year funding of around 250,000 euros. These funds will be used to create a doctoral thesis and to build a long-term usable database on a wide variety of halls in the Osnabrück region.

Sustainability and future perspectives

Part of the project is to categorically record the stories and objects of the participating citizens and store them sustainably in order to make them accessible for research. In addition, the digitized menus are intended to provide an overview of culinary developments since the 1990s by documenting the change from meat-based to vegetarian dishes. Anni Bei der Becke, who ran the hall with her husband Hermann, made a significant contribution to the food culture of the place, for example by serving large groups with traditional kale dishes.

The published scanned photos and documents are made accessible on the Lower Saxony Cultural Heritage portal. The project term extends until 2027, during which time additional storytelling cafés, such as the one in the Haarmeyer hall in Neuenkirchen, are planned. In conclusion, the study of such social and cultural places is crucial to preserving the history and identity of rural communities. The stories document the true diversity of life in the villages and promote awareness of the cultural heritage that is in danger of being forgotten.

Overall, the storytelling café shows how stories have a unifying effect and the central role such places play in the collective memory of a community. The surveys and exchanges not only promote knowledge about the past, but also enable a look at the future challenges of rural areas.