DemokratieKioske

What if a kiosk were more than just a place to shop? What if it became a meeting point for ideas, conversations, and questions about the future? That’s exactly what the Democracy Kiosks project makes possible from February to September 2026.

At a time when young people and marginalized groups are often unheard, the Democracy Kiosks create new, accessible spaces for encounter, dialogue, and participation – right in everyday life, right in the neighborhood.

3 components shape the project:

• Young Urban Future Labs: 30 creative workshops in youth centers where young people explore and express new perspectives on democracy. (February – May 2026)

In Frankfurt, Darmstadt, Hanau, Offenbach, Oberursel and many other cities, we visit a wide range of schools and youth institutions to explore how democracy works in practice within a group setting: How does an opinion actually form? And how can I contribute my perspective—without raising my voice or losing track? With the Young Urban Future Labs (YUF Labs), we come to your institution and make democratic participation tangible: low-threshold, hands-on, and playful.

• Democracy Kiosks: 11 artistically redesigned kiosks across the Rhine-Main region become vibrant stages for around 120 events – from dialogue sessions and co-creative activities to performances – for young people and adults alike.

In Frankfurt: Gallus, Atzelberg, Sachsenhausen and Sossenheim
In the Rhine-Main region: Darmstadt, Hanau, Bad Vilbel, Oberursel, Offenbach, Hofheim, Wiesbaden, and a pop-up kiosk on the Feldberg.

75 creative workshops for young people centered on democracy enable participation in public space. Whether it’s a rap workshop, DIY radio journalism, city stamping, a print lab, or postcards to politicians—creative collaboration opens up dialogue! Interested in attending a creative workshop at a DemokratieKiosk with your youth institution? Register at:
www.demokratiekiosk.de

Each workshop offers approximately 20 places—and all workshops are free of charge.

45 open creative workshops invite everyone in the Rhine-Main region to meet, create, and engage in discussion. These open events do not require registration and can be found on the events page.

• “Good Question” Tool: An interactive web application that invites everyone to engage with democracy-related questions in an easy, inclusive way.

Together, they form new forums for dialogue, participation, and creative empowerment – open, bold, and forward-looking.

Democracy Kiosks is a project by Lust auf besser leben, initiated by designer Elisabeth Budde, Director RheinMain of the German Design Club (DDC), and Felix Kosok, former member of the DDC board.

Funders: Hessian State Center for Political Education, German Television Lottery, Cultural Fund Frankfurt RheinMain

Partners: Polytechnische Gesellschaft Frankfurt, Cultural Region Frankfurt RheinMain