Paulskirche: Search for ideas for the House of Democracy

Democracy proves its worth when it comes to protecting minorities.

But how do you map all social groups without forgetting one and putting your foot in it?

The poster campaign for citizen participation for the planned "House of Democracy" includes not only local celebrities such as Bärbel Schäfer, Meron Mendel and Ata Macias, who solicit ideas, suggestions and wishes for the House of Democracy, but also "completely normal" people: senior citizens , migrants, young people, women, single parents, tourists and many more.

Rainer Schulz

Editor in the Rhein-Main-Zeitung.

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City Councilor Nargess Eskandari-Grünberg (The Greens) is relieved to hear that the disabled have also been thought of: Max, a boy with Down syndrome, also advertises participation on a poster.

But where are the fathers?

Mothers with children appear twice on the posters.

Is there an antiquated role model behind it?

Apparently it's not that easy to reach everyone.

Digital posters all over Germany

2500 of these posters will be on display in Frankfurt and the surrounding area.

In addition, the Ströer company, which specializes in advertising in public spaces and supports the project, wants to place digital posters throughout Germany, because the House of Democracy is not intended to be purely a Frankfurt affair.

Both the posters and a social media campaign lead to the website

, where citizens can post their ideas until November 7th.

October is set to be a busy month of participation.

Citizens should explain what they think should happen in a house of democracy.

Based on three key questions: What do I want to learn there?

What do I want to find out there?

What am I going to do there?

The suggestions will be collected and then handed over as a non-binding proposal to the expert commission that is to present a final report on the future design of the Paulskirche and the House of Democracy in spring 2023.

So far it is still uncertain where the House of Democracy will be and what it will look like.

The only thing that is clear is that it will be built in the immediate vicinity of the Paulskirche.

Three variants are under discussion: the previously undeveloped Paulsplatz, the parking lot between the treasury and Paulskirche and a conversion of the treasury itself. A decision is still far too early, say culture department head Ina Hartwig (SPD) and Eskandari-Grünberg.

The meaning of democracy

The city paid around 200,000 euros for the participation process.

In addition to the poster and social media campaigns, events in the Paulskirche and in the districts as well as creative workshops with underrepresented target groups are planned.

In addition, employees of the agency responsible for citizen participation will drive through the districts on converted cargo bikes and ask for ideas there.

At the beginning of the press conference, at which the concept of citizen participation will be presented, three members of the municipal council – the two city councilors are also present along with Lord Mayor Peter Feldmann (SPD) – explain how important democracy is.

Eskandari wants the Paulskirche to be a place from which a symbolic power radiates, also to other countries.

Civil society must have a say in the House of Democracy: "Democracy is not a matter for the elite, it concerns everyone." Hartwig also emphasizes that the citizens should "help build".

Feldmann says he wants to "initiate" the participation process, but is now putting it "trustfully" in the hands of his colleagues.

But Hartwig, who is actually placed next to Feldmann, prefers to sit on the other side of Eskandari-Grünberg.