The exhibition “Architecture Day 1995–2025 – Shaping a Sustainable Hesse” looks back on 30 years of architectural culture in Hesse. Using three current challenges in the building industry—housing, sustainability, and materials—as examples, it explores planning paradigms as reflected in their respective eras.

Organizer: Chamber of Architects and Urban Planners of Hesse (AKH), Wiesbaden.

The exhibition on the current state of democracy in Germany features cartoons by Katharina Greve, Greser & Lenz, and Hauck & Bauer, combined with satirical poems by author and former *Titanic* editor-in-chief Thomas Gsella. The participating artists are among the leading figures in the German satire scene and the world of comic art: they publish regularly in Titanic, FAZ, and FASZ, among others.

In a democracy that has come under pressure from acute threats, particularly from the right, our society faces major challenges. It is essential to secure a stable social order and a sense of community based on respect and fundamental humanist values. Satire can serve as a catalyst for conversations and spark discussions about the state of society. Like a seismograph, satire reveals the condition of a society: the freer it is to operate, the more enlightened its environment. The fact that it can be controversial and uncomfortable is one of its defining characteristics. It presents its criticism in a veiled manner and, with the help of well-placed punchlines, turns even the sharpest barbs into comedy.

Laughter helps—especially when it comes to criticism. As part of WDC 2026, the Caricatura Museum Frankfurt aims to contribute to strengthening democracy with this exhibition, which is as profound as it is varied and entertaining. To expand the show’s reach, it was designed as a traveling exhibition and will be shown at several locations throughout the region.

The exhibition concept was developed by the Caricatura Museum in cooperation with the KulturSzene Churfranken-RheinMain association.

In specially organized “Future Workshops,” elementary school students work with school social workers to develop ideas and projects that illustrate their vision of a child-friendly city.

Equipped with a backpack full of research gear—an instant camera and a workbook—they explore their neighborhood, identify places with potential for change, and develop new ideas for public spaces.

This gives rise to a variety of initiatives and projects at different locations that actively involve children in urban development. In this context, child participation is not just a right, but an opportunity to put democracy into practice. Taking children seriously strengthens a more just and sustainable society.

The goal of the project is to raise adults’ awareness of young people’s concerns and to develop long-term strategies for action that enable child-friendly urban planning.

The KulturCampus Wiesbaden is intended to bring together the existing cultural institutions in Wiesbaden’s Kulturpark under one roof while also creating space for new concepts, uses, and cultural perspectives. 

The goal is to secure the long-term existence, continuity, and growth of cultural institutions, enable new access to cultural programming, and promote participatory approaches by cultural organizations and supported creative spaces. Through lectures, workshops, panel discussions, and other event formats held directly on-site, the KulturCampus initiative aims to actively involve cultural practitioners, users, city policymakers, and citizens in the development and design of the project. In this way, the democratic planning and design process becomes visible, accessible, and directly experiential.

The pop-up exhibition "CONSUMPTION and ME – From Department Stores to Shopping Apps" explores the relationship between consumption and us—and our democracy—from the early days of department stores to current issues surrounding online shopping, sustainability, and social participation.

It is both a history museum and a future lab: thus, it not only looks back but also invites visitors to participate and reflect. Together, visions for the future of consumption are to be developed and discussed. 

Project partner: Janine Seitz, futurist.

Wednesday, July 1, 2026, 2:00–4:00 p.m. | Wednesday, July 15, 2026, 2:00–4:00 p.m. | Wednesday, July 29, 2026, 2:00–4:00 p.m. 

What is Joana actually doing at the museum?

Wednesday, July 8, 2026, 2–4 p.m. | Wednesday, July 22, 2026, 2–4 p.m. 

What exactly does… an archaeologist do at the museum?

Accompanying program for the special exhibition Christian Dell:

Open Workshop

Recommended for ages 6 and up

Saturday, July 25, 2026, 3:00–6:00 p.m.

We’ll design a postcard in the “Bauhaus style”

FAVORITE ITEM?
DON'T GIVE UP.
LEARN HOW TO MEND, DARSE, AND PRACTICE VISIBLE MENDING

#House of


Things#Clothing#Repair#Visible Mending

Not every hole has to be hidden. With visible mending, repairs become visible—and often even more beautiful than before. Together, we repair clothes, share knowledge, and give good things a second life. 

“Repaircafé on Tour” is stopping at WerkRaum Wiesbaden! Let’s fix things together instead of throwing them away—just bring along your favorite broken items. In a relaxed atmosphere, volunteers will help you tinker, repair, and live sustainably. 

What do our purchases reveal about us? And what does consumerism have to do with democracy?

Janine Seitz, curator of the exhibition and founder of the Museum of Consumer Culture, guides visitors through the exhibition. The exhibition spans a wide range of topics, from the plastic bag as a memento of the world before online shopping, to the history of department stores in Wiesbaden, all the way to modern mass consumption. Featuring eye-opening moments, hands-on activities, and plenty of space for discussion.

Free admission · No registration required

More Than Just Greenery! Urban Nature for a Better Quality of Life and Greater Biodiversity

Climate change is bringing us increasingly hot summers. City centers, as well as other heavily paved areas, are becoming heat hotspots. Heavy rainfall events are on the rise, and we must expect flooding with increasing frequency. Soil sealing exacerbates these effects. The quality of life declines—to the point of temperatures that pose a health risk to humans and animals.

What needs to happen to ensure cities remain livable even during hot summers? One solution: more urban nature. Plants in the city are not only natural air conditioners but also increase water infiltration, promote biodiversity, and make us happier and healthier. What can citizens and policymakers do to bring more nature into cities, on both a large and small scale? Because every square meter counts.”

During the 2026 summer semester, RheinMain University of Applied Sciences will hold seminars at WerkRaum Wiesbaden in the pedestrian zone. WerkRaum will serve as a central platform for exchange and networking between the university and the local community.

Multichannel campaign for FUNK with Prof. Jörg Waldschütz 

Tuesday, July 7, 2026, 11 a.m.–2 p.m. | Tuesday, July 14, 11 a.m.–2 p.m. 

Political Posters – The Power of Graphics and Typography with Prof. Jörg Waldschütz 

Wednesday, July 1, 2026, 11 a.m.–12:30 p.m. | Wednesday, July 8, 11 a.m.–12:30 p.m. | Wednesday, July 15, 11 a.m.–1:30 p.m. 

Skoda – The Future of Education with AI: The Case of Skoda with Prof. Jörg Waldschütz

Thursday, July 2, 2026, 2:15–4:00 p.m. | Thursday, July 9, 2:15–4:00 p.m. | Thursday, July 16, 2:15–4:00 p.m.