Teachers play a central role in raising young people’s awareness of socially relevant issues. The “Impulsabend” event at the Ernst Leitz Museum on October 21 at 6:30 p.m. invites educators to rediscover photography as a medium for political education and visual communication—in the context of the exhibition for the 2026 Leica Oskar Barnack Award (LOBA).

The Leica Oskar Barnack Award (LOBA) is one of the most internationally renowned awards for photojournalism. Since 1979, the award has honored photographers whose work impressively documents the relationship between humans and their environment—in an emotional, socially relevant, and visually powerful way.

Each year, twelve finalists from around the world are selected—including young talents under the age of 30 as part of the LOBA Newcomer Award, which is presented in collaboration with international universities and photography institutions. Their works tell stories about humanity, climate change, conflict, identity, and migration—and open up new perspectives on our world.

Here’s what you can expect at the Inspiration Evening:

• A curated guided tour of the exhibition with expert commentary
• Educationally tailored supporting materials for integration into the classroom
• Inspiration for exemplary learning based on current photo essays

The event is aimed at teachers of all school types and subjects, particularly those in the fields of politics, social studies, art, ethics, or media education. Even outside of the “Impulse Evening,” the Ernst Leitz Museum offers a variety of programs for school classes to actively and thoughtfully experience the exhibition:

• Admission for students: only 3 euros per person
• Free admission for two accompanying teachers per class
• Developing visual literacy and discussing social issues in a museum context

These offers are valid for the entire duration of the exhibition—through February 18, 2026—and are ideal for field trips, project weeks, or interdisciplinary lessons.