Three questions about the exhibition "Auf die Straße"

Climate activists have caused quite a stir in recent months with their actions such as street blockades or throwing paint or soup at works of art. Now a traveling exhibition called "Auf die Straße" is dedicated to this topic: here, visitors can find out about climate activism using multimedia, listen to activists and get to know and try out various forms of action themselves through short films. The two students from the Dortmund University of Applied Sciences and Arts came up with the idea for the project as part of their Master's project; the journalism students from TU Dortmund University joined them later.

What can visitors expect at the "Auf die Straße" exhibition?

Alina Andraczek: The exhibition is structured like a tour in which visitors can explore the topic of "climate activism" using multimedia. There are also many information boards that illustrate the background research on the topic, such as the climate crisis, measures against the climate crisis, discourse on climate protest in Germany and other subtopics.

Charlotte Groß-Hohnacker : One special feature is our experience room, which was largely equipped with video and sound effects by film and sound students from Dortmund University of Applied Sciences and Arts. For example, visitors can sit face to face with the activists via a screen, just like in an interview, and find out how the climate protest affects their lives, what drives them to protest and why they have chosen a particular form of protest. Under the motto "How to activism", they can also experience what it feels like to be part of a protest action.

Alina Andraczek: We are also offering an additional supporting program during the exhibition period. Here, individual activist groups will introduce themselves and organize information lectures and workshops.

What do you want to achieve with this project?

Charlotte Groß-Hohnacker: The primary aim is to make climate activism more tangible and personal, to bridge distance and create space for empathy. Visitors are invited to get to know different forms of protest and to reflect on how they themselves can participate in solutions to the climate crisis.

Alina Andraczek: In my opinion, an important goal of the project is also to create an understanding that much more needs to be done in terms of climate policy, because otherwise we are heading towards a future that - I believe - nobody wants. Nevertheless, it is noticeable that talk shows and other news reports often focus on what climate activists can and cannot do. The focus should rather be on questioning why this protest is necessary. Only when we take enough action to mitigate the climate crisis will we have the time to discuss which forms of protest are legitimate and which are not.

How are you using the prize money?

Alina Andraczek: The prize money is not tied to the project itself, but we still want to use it to finance it. All the materials, scenography, screens and so on, all that costs money. The prize money will enable us to realize our project in the way we are doing it now.

Exhibition information

The traveling exhibition "Auf die Straße" can be seen from March 7 to 24 as part of Green Culture Week in the HANS A space in Dortmund's city center. Admission is free of charge. Registration is only required for certain supporting events.

The information texts in the exhibition are also available in easy language, English, Spanish, French, Russian and Turkish via a web link.

Opening hours: Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri from 1 - 7 p.m. Sat, Sun from 11 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Mon // Day off

Location: HANS A, Hansastrasse 6-10 44137 Dortmund

Further information