Networks for Democracy – A Work Meeting for Interdisciplinary Cooperations and Campaigns

Berlin will elect a new parliament in 2026. Current election surveys show that antidemocratic positions are continuing to gain ground. Many of those working the fields of culture, cultural education and civic society have taken specific measures against this development for years: they create places of solidary exchange, strengthen democratic processes and encounter current polemics with differentiated, open discourses.

This work meeting will build upon these initiatives and invites structures and people from the independent performing arts community as well as civic society to give each other an overview of their coming activities and projects to strengthen democracy. What preparations are underway with an eye toward Berlin’s parliamentary elections in 2026? Which target groups should be addresses, which formats should be tried out – and at what points do cooperations make sense or are even absolutely necessary?

The goal of the meeting is to strengthen existing networks and forge new alliances. The idea is to create synergies that both create more visibility for the needs of a civic society that promotes democracy as well as that can address additional parts of Berlin’s population.
 

Moderation: För Künkel (scenographer, costume designer) and Sarah Stührenberg (the Berlin Performing Arts Program) 

För Künkel works as a scenographer and costume designer and conducts research in archives on the performing arts. She is politically active in various artistic and civil society initiatives.

Language

This event will take place in German spoken language. If necessary, personal simultaneous interpretation into English spoken language can be organized. Please send us an email by February 11, 2026 if you would like to arrange this. Thank you very much!

Accessibility

The event location is accessible at ground level. Additional information about accessibility will be provided soon.

Contact Information

Sarah Stührenberg is available for your questions and comments at sarah.stuehrenberg [at] pap-berlin.de (sarah[dot]stuehrenberg[at]pap-berlin[dot]de) or 030/ 20 45 979 14 (Mondays and Thursdays, 11am to 4pm).