Der Demokratische Wald

The ‘Democratic Forest Reader’ (DFR), the international call for proposals, has produced a wide range of art and design projects in 2025. This first round of exhibitions, actions and readers marked the beginning of a ‘Democratic Forest’ incubator that will continue until 2027. DFR collected and presented 50 ideas on the themes of democracy, forests and art.

The planned workshops, lectures, conferences and exhibitions artistically depict the multi-layered aspects of our relationship with the forest and its rights.

The aim is to give the forest and nature a voice, to seek design ideas in the field of social, urban and cultural development, and thus to strengthen the sustainable design of our region. The open call encouraged creative professionals to contribute their artistic ideas, including projects from the fields of design, art, performance, theatre and music.

Our themes touch on many areas of life and connect nature/the forest with art, aesthetic means and visual methods. Who owns the forest? What rights does the forest have? What obligations do we have to preserve it? What are we willing to do for the forest? Is there such a thing as ‘democratic behaviour’ in/for the forest? What voice does the forest have? How can we give it a voice? How do we want to live with the forest in the future?

The Association for International Forest Art cooperates with, among others, the UNESCO Global Geopark Bergstraße-Odenwald, the UNESCO World Heritage Site Messel Pit, the Schader Foundation, Hessen Forst Darmstadt and Kultur einer Digitalstadt e.V. Other municipal, regional and international partners are also involved.