re_Design Democracies

re_Design Democracies

‘The crisis of modern democracy is profound. Free elections, a free press and an independent judiciary mean little when the free market has reduced them to commodities that can be sold to the highest bidder.’ Arundhati Roy

Today, we look on in dismay at the state of democracies around the world. But we are far from allowing ourselves to be deprived of action! How can we reappropriate the fundamental concepts of democracy? More importantly, how can we rethink them in line with the burning political issues of today? How can we pluralise them?

On 24 and 25 January, Civic City is hosting its 8th ‘Design Night’.

On 24 January at 10 a.m., a festival will begin at the Museum Angewandte Kunst and simultaneously at design schools worldwide, presenting the first contributions to the series ‘1000 Statements on Democracy’. Accompanied by the young authors of these free, personal statements on democracy.

At 2 p.m., the 24-hour broadcast ‘re_Design Democracies’ will begin, in which 96 speakers will each be interviewed for 15 minutes by Ruedi & Vera Baur, Christopher Dell and Danielle Rosales. The global marathon follows time zones to hear voices from around the world on the state and future of our democracies. The first few hours will take place in publicly accessible studios at the Museum Angewandte Kunst and the Cité du Design in Saint-Étienne.

The 24-hour broadcast can also be followed remotely. Information and programme at civic-city.org/24hours

Cité du Design Saint-Étienne, École Supérieure d’Art et Design (ESAD), 

World Design Capital Frankfurt RheinMain 2026, Museum Angewandte Kunst Frankfurt