A Sky Full of Hope

With A Sky Full of Hope – Earthtime 1.78 Frankfurt, Janet Echelman creates a monumental net sculpture above Konstablerwache. The installation becomes a new atmospheric and social landmark in the center of the city.

Frankfurt is home to residents from 178 nations. This diversity forms the conceptual starting point of the sculpture. The net represents the principle that underpins both the artwork and the city itself: connection creates stability.

For Earthtime 1.78, a new color palette was developed. Warm and cool tones are deliberately balanced, pointing toward a sustainably designed future. The equilibrium of colors symbolizes both the interplay of diverse cultural perspectives and the relationship between humankind and the natural world.

Konstablerwache — a place of transit, encounter, and friction — becomes the stage for a “living sculpture” that continually evolves through light, movement, and public use. Accompanying formats encourage dialogue, participation, and appropriation. In this way, the project contributes to the long-term spatial, social, and cultural transformation of public space.

Opening with a light and sound show on 11 August 2026

The ‘Grand Opening’, the ceremonial illumination of the sculpture, will take place on Tuesday 11 August at dusk. The event begins at 8.45 pm, before the artwork is officially unveiled at 9 pm in the presence of Lord Mayor Mike Josef, Head of the Cultural Affairs Department Ina Hartwig and the artist Janet Echelman. From around 9.30 pm, a specially curated light and sound show will transform the Konstablerwache into an atmospheric open-air stage. All residents are invited to this special launch; no prior registration is required.

The US American Janet Echelman is internationally known for her monumental net sculptures in public space. Starting in July, her new aerial sculpture, titled “A Sky Full of Hope,” will float above Konstablerwache — a vibrant artwork that stands for openness, diversity, and international connectedness.

Further information on the project and an interview with the artist Janet Echelman:

Additional note:

The budget does not come from the current city culture budget; consequently, no cuts have been made elsewhere in the city’s arts, culture or science budgets. It originally came from the City Marketing department’s ‘City Centre Initiative’ and was earmarked for the ‘City Centre Illumination’ project. As the funds could not be used in 2024, City Marketing set the budget aside so that it could be put to good use at a later date. The 2025 supplementary budget enabled the funds to continue to be used and provided additional funding to top them up.

Social Media:

@ffmculture @ateliermarkgraph @janetechelman