From September 12th to October 8th, the Werkbund Academy will be showcasing projects in art, design and urban development
The Werkbund Academy Darmstadt will present the exhibition "Tools of Instigation" on Friedensplatz in Darmstadt from September 12 to October 8, 2026. As part of World Design Capital 2026, it will showcase projects that use artistic, participatory, and volunteer approaches to initiate social processes. The exhibition is open 24/7. A live interactive event is planned for the opening on Saturday, September 12, at 2 p.m.
The exhibition focuses on projects that began as experiments or small initiatives and have since developed into new spaces, networks, or discussions. Instead of offering ready-made solutions, the exhibition aims to showcase methods and approaches that can initiate change.
Tools for incitement in three areas
Three cubes on Peace Square divide the exhibition into the areas of "Space", "Movement" and "Collective".
Under the heading "Space," projects are presented that create places for encounters and experiments. These include, among others, the Semiotics Lab 6, the Zucker art space, and the Bessunger Youth Forest.
The "Movement" focuses on processes that initiate change through performance, participatory formats, or artistic interventions. Examples include the performance "unSICHTBAR" (invisible), Darmstadt city photographer, and "Poesie for free" (Poetry for free).
The term "collective" focuses on networks and collaborative projects. Among those represented are the Office for Artistic Surveying and SOCIALARTS.
The opening invites participation
A live interactive event is planned for the opening on September 12th at 2 pm, allowing visitors to become part of the exhibition themselves. With this, the Werkbund Academy continues its approach of initiating processes of change through participation and personal experience.
For 25 years, the Werkbund Academy Darmstadt has been engaged with art, design, and urban development in the region. In "Tools of Instigation," it focuses on artistic research, open processes, and volunteer engagement as potential catalysts for social change. The Werkbund Academy also initiated Frankfurt RheinMain's bid to become World Design Capital 2026.
The exhibition ends on Thursday, October 8th, with a closing event at 6 pm.
Info: www.wba-darmstadt.de
(RED/PM/Werkbundakademie Darmstadt)
