Symposium of the Art Commission of the City of Düsseldorf
20–21, 2026, Künstlerverein Malkasten Düsseldorf
Public space is a complex fabric that is constantly being renegotiated in social, political, aesthetic and symbolic terms. Amid increasing urban density, societal fragmentation, and political polarisation, these negotiation processes are intensifying. This also applies to the role of art in public space, whether in the realisation of new projects or in the treatment of existing public artworks. A recent example of this is the debate in Düsseldorf in 2024 surrounding the façade of the former Audimax at Düsseldorf University of Applied Sciences, which was designed by Günter Fruhtrunk. Plans to demolish the building and dismantle the artwork sparked a wide-ranging public and cultural-political discussion, where urban development interests clashed with heritage preservation and artistic authorship. Such debates reflect elements of today’s ‘culture wars’, particularly the conflict between modernist values and the spatial appropriation of far-right groups.
But who decides which public artworks are preserved? What interests and power structures influence these decisions? How is the relationship configured between interpretive authority, access, and participation? Taking these questions as a starting point, the symposium will explore the multifaceted dimensions of public space and the role of art as a medium for social co-creation, critique, and transformation. As well as examining existing public artworks, we will discuss artistic and curatorial strategies that expose, question, or strategically subvert existing power structures. Particular focus will be given to the practices of underrepresented groups in urban spaces, such as queer-feminist perspectives, and to collaborative practices as a form of participation. We will also explore artistic strategies that contribute to ecological and social transformation, as well as art projects that extend public spaces into the digital realm.
The symposium brings together artists, curators, researchers, and civic actors to consider how public spaces can be shaped, and to reflect on the transformative power of art in urban environments. In addition to invited keynote speakers and panellists, contributions from a call for papers will supplement the programme. The symposium comprises five panel discussions, each addressing a different dimension of spatial negotiation. The full panel descriptions are attached below.
The symposium takes place from March 20–21, 2026 at Künstlerverein Malkasten in Düsseldorf. It will start on Friday 20 March at 1 pm and end on Saturday 21 March at around 2 pm. All interested citizens are warmly invited to participate in the conference and actively engage.
The symposium is organized by the Art Commission of the City of Düsseldorf. Since 2018, the Art Commission has been engaged with public art and building projects, supports interdisciplinary urban planning initiatives, and organizes temporary formats such as the Lantz’scher Skulpkturenpark and the internationally tendered stadt.raum.experimente.
Panels
Art in public space not only expresses aesthetic design, but also carries societal values, narratives and historical perspectives. Many artworks in urban space have developed historically. Created in specific historical contexts, they are now increasingly subject to criticism, disagreement, or demands for reinterpretation.
This panel will explore how to approach existing art, such as monuments and sculptures in public space. How can problematic content or outdated forms of representation be identified, discussed and transformed? What artistic or curatorial strategies already exist for dealing with these works? Examples include contextualisation, counter-monuments, temporary alterations and participatory processes.
We will also ask: who holds responsibility and interpretive authority? Who decides what should remain, what should be changed, and what should be removed? In which formats and through which processes can democratic negotiations about visibility, representation and memory take place in public spaces? One current example is the debate in Düsseldorf concerning the listed façade of the former Audimax designed by Günter Fruhtrunk. Despite its artistic and historical value, the façade is set to be demolished as part of urban development projects, sparking significant public protests and cultural-political discourse. This case highlights the tension between urban development, heritage preservation, memory culture and artistic autonomy, and emphasises the need for transparent, democratic processes when dealing with public art.
In light of the social and political shift to the right, the question of the appropriation of space by right-wing populists is becoming increasingly pertinent. How do interpretive conflicts around public art change in times of polarisation? What dangers arise from art being used to promote revisionist narratives? What artistic, institutional or civic counter-strategies can be developed?
This panel examines artistic, performative and activist practices in urban spaces that are shaped by self-organisation, protest and collective action. Public space is not only a stage for visibility; it is also a contested arena for political and social engagement. Temporary alliances, creative forms of resistance and alternative publics are formed here.
How can urban space be used to challege, disrupt, or renegotiate power structures? What role do self-organised structures, such as initiatives, collectives or informal networks, play in artistic-political interventions? And how do these navigate between institutional cooperation, autonomy, and resistance?
At the center of this discussion are artistic strategies that encourage participation, visibility and transformation, whether through performative actions, site-specific installations or long-term social practices. We will also consider how such spaces can be created, sustained and made accessible beyond project- or event-based logic.
This panel focuses on public space as a stage for queer-feminist (in)visibilities. How can marginalised perspectives be made visible in urban space, while challenging and transforming existing invisibilities? Which spaces allow for the disruption of patriarchal power structures and the establishment of new forms of presence and resistance? How can urban public space be described, rewritten and recognised from a queer-feminist standpoint?
The installation of the LGBTIQ+ monument by Claus Richter in Düsseldorf is a significant step towards the visibility and recognition of queer-feminist communities. The monument symbolises a public commitment to the inclusion and integration of queer-feminist perspectives in urban spaces, representing a diverse, queer culture of remembrance. But how can public space also promote equality, self-determination and sexual diversity, and address issues such as gender roles and historical and ongoing discrimination? What strategies can ensure these marginalised issues become embedded in everyday urban life without being co-opted by neoliberal commodification, such as ‘pinkwashing’? Keyword: “Queering Public Space”.
In light of global ecological crises, social inequality and multiple systemic challenges, this panel asks: What role can art in public space play in shaping sustainable futures? We invite discussion on artistic strategies that address and actively contribute to ecological and social transformation.
How can public art raise awareness of environmental issues and foster collective ecological consciousness? What part do participatory, site-specific, or process-based approaches play in making alternative ways of living, economic systems, and resource use visible—or even tangible? Which alliances are emerging between art, activism and urban society in the name of sustainability, and how can these be secured in the long term?
We will explore projects that incorporate sustainability in both their content and artistic methods, such as the use of reusable materials, collaborative processes, regenerative practices and temporary structures that reimagine urban space. How can these artistic forms inspire more equitable and climate-resilient urban development, rather than just making a symbolic gesture?
Digital spaces are increasingly becoming independent public spheres for artistic, curatorial, and cultural practices. This panel will explore how digital infrastructures, ranging from social media and immersive platforms to augmented and mixed reality, are generating novel forms of visibility, participation, and community.
Our focus will be on digital art projects that engage with urban, social, or political issues — projects that blur the boundaries between physical and virtual public spaces. In what ways can digital art expand, critique, or transform public space? How do site-specific digital formats offer new perspectives on cities, memory, and community?
We will also critically examine the social, technological and political conditions of these digital publics: Who has access to virtual forms of expression? What barriers are created by technology, algorithms, or platform economies? What possibilities exist for using digital spaces to explore new narratives, collaborations, and modes of artistic appropriation?
We welcome artistic, theoretical or curatorial contributions that consider digital spaces to be extensions, mirrors or counter-spaces of the urban realm, rather than opposites. These contributions should be critical, participatory and site-specific.