What it's about: Goals of the next program phase

• Make democracy tangible in everyday life – in the city park, in the theater, on the sports field, and in public spaces.
• Use cultural education as a driver for empathy, expression, and understanding.
• Create new meeting spaces that bring together people of different generations, backgrounds, and perspectives.
• Link schools and extracurricular cultural work more closely – with practical impulses for lessons and project days.

Program Preview: Planned Formats and Actions

The following overview shows formats planned in Deggendorf. Exact dates and locations will be announced in good time by local organizers.

1) Youth Democracy Conference

Young people come together to work on climate protection, digital participation, and youth-friendly spaces. The conference relies on workshops, dialogue rounds, and creative participation methods so that ideas lead to concrete projects.

2) Theater and Readings on Contemporary History

New productions and readings address historical stories of resistance and link them to current questions of civil courage. Afterwards, moderated discussions are planned that incorporate perspectives from Deggendorf.

3) Art in Public Space: “Democracy in Color”

Installations, temporary interventions, and a publicly announced performance flash mob make democratic values visible in urban space. Inclusive participation opportunities for passersby are planned.

4) Democracy Run

An open, low-threshold running and meeting format combines movement with exchange. Along the route, short dialogue stations are planned where initiatives present their work.

5) Intercultural Evenings and Workshops

Music, culinary arts, and storytelling formats open up meeting spaces without barriers. The events are planned as family-friendly offerings and promote dialogue about similarities and differences.

6) Synagogue Visit and Discussion

An accompanied visit with a subsequent question-and-answer session promotes knowledge about Jewish life, strengthens respect, and raises awareness against antisemitism. Educational materials for preparation and follow-up are provided.

7) Introductory Sign Language Course

Compact units introduce the basics of German Sign Language. Participants learn to recognize barriers and communicate more inclusively.

8) Playmobile Deployments in the City Area

Mobile, multilingual play and creative offerings create uncomplicated encounters for children and families. Stations are planned in neighborhoods with limited access to cultural offerings.

9) Exhibition on Sexualized Violence with Specialist Program

A curated exhibition is accompanied by expert talks, panels, and workshops. The aim is a respectful, knowledgeable public discussion about prevention, support, and responsibility.

School Meets City: Constitutional Quarter Hour and Cultural Practice

The weekly constitutional quarter hour in Bavaria offers a reliable framework to regularly address fundamental rights and democratic values. In Deggendorf, upcoming cultural formats are taken up as learning opportunities – from museum visits to theater workshops.

• Regularity: Lesson impulses link current events with reflective follow-up.
• Experiential learning: Learning locations outside of school broaden perspectives and strengthen participation.
• Cooperation: Schools work with cultural institutions, archives, and initiatives to implement projects from research assignments to public presentations.

Culture in Rural Areas: What Will Strengthen Deggendorf

The upcoming projects are based on proven fields of action for rural regions:

• Advice and support for initiatives – from idea to funding to communication.
• Flexible spaces and infrastructure – from museums and schools to public spaces and mobile offerings.
• Visibility and appreciation – through public presentations and local reporting.
• Consolidation – recurring formats that build on successful components.
• Networks – cooperation between culture, education, social affairs, and sports for multi-perspective access.

Participate and Get Informed

1. Follow program announcements from local organizers and register for events as soon as registration opens.
2. Contribute your own ideas – for example, on topics to be addressed in workshops or dialogue formats.
3. Request school and club partnerships to connect learning projects with cultural practices.
4. Clarify accessibility early (language, mobility, hearing/seeing) and register support needs.

Note: All formats are planned with regard to accessibility, child and youth protection, and a respectful discourse culture.

Sources and Further Information

1. Bavarian State Ministry for Education and Culture: Constitutional Quarter Hour — official information on the weekly constitutional quarter hour (accessed 2026-02-04)
2. Federal Program “Live Democracy!” — funding guidelines and practical examples (accessed 2026-02-04)
3. Council for Cultural Education — studies and positions on cultural education (accessed 2026-02-04)
4. Federal Agency for Civic Education (bpb) — materials on democracy education and participation (accessed 2026-02-04)