#64 Political education in shop windows

In the last few days, we have received a request for advice on how to use shop windows to inspire people politically and artistically. We have been brainstorming in the team and have collected a lot of ideas. We would like to share some of them here:

First of all, of course, we thought of smaller installations and exhibitions for which the shop window could be used. For example, the shop window could be completely covered with wrapping paper as a prelude to the installation or during conversion processes, leaving only two small peepholes open. The promise "The secret of democracy" is clearly visible on the paper or the window. Anyone who peers curiously through the two peepholes will only see a mirror and a little of themselves behind it. You could also announce somewhat abstruse things, such as "An open-plan club is being built here" and place a complaints box next to it. Critical street signs could point out problems such as a public transport stop that is too far away, a missing grocery store or a lack of local medical care. Mini-exhibitions of regional artists, accompanied by vernissages and/or finissages, are also a good idea to encourage local residents to engage in conversation.

The exhibitions and installations could of course also be designed in a participatory way with the residents. It would be conceivable, for example, to collect stories and experiences from the neighborhood and exhibit them in the window. Or you could invite people to answer a specific question photographically and exhibit it (e.g. on the topic of "Where do we meet?" or "What was it actually like here in the GDR?"). Objects from local residents could also be exhibited in response to specific questions such as "Which object in your household/your work do you like least?", "Which book did you enjoy most recently?" "Which plant grows best in your home?" or "Which object do you associate with (gender) discrimination?". You could also simply survey the moods and positions of the neighborhood and make them visible by having them finish sentences or setting up voting columns (where the voting could also work via small take-away items such as buttons).

We also liked the idea of making the shop window area available to committed and active people in the area, for example to draw attention to their own services or to offer their services (e.g. advice for single parents, homework help, etc.) on a fixed day of the week in the shop window. It would also be conceivable to set up a kind of community workspace with free Wi-Fi and/or coffee and cake on certain days for people who want to make a difference on certain topics in the town.

If you are now thinking about spicing up your shop window politically and artistically and perhaps need some support with the concept, please contact us. We would be happy to advise you!