Keine Angst! Klassenk*mpf!? – Die Ausstellung

When workers‘ stories are told, they aren’t just tales: they are rough hands, woven clothes, braided hair, and songs at weddings. They are films of migrant workers resisting patriarchal labor systems with roses, images of queers uniting their fight for recognition and rights with that of their striking comrades. These stories become symbols and traditions in the class struggle, fueling revolts and revolutions.

These memories of (class-) struggles must not be seen as artifacts of a lost time. They are knowledge that teaches us how and why to fight, highlighting the tools needed in a world where the struggle against capitalism and imperialism continues. This exhibition is a space to recognize the stories of workers who fought for our rights and often gave their lives in the process – an interactive installation honoring the sacrifices and bravery of workers from whom we draw inspiration.

Celebrate the migrant workers who, in 1973, fought for dignity at Pierburg in Neuss; the Palestinian workers‘ struggles during the British mandate; the solidarity networks forged by the British miners and Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners between 1984 and 1985; the ongoing fight for gig economy workers‘ rights, from Gorillas to Wolt; the factory occupations like those by former GKN workers near Florence, and many more.

We bring these stories to the walls and pillars of Volksbühne. Volksbühne’s roots lie in the workers‘ movement, built with the support and membership contributions of workers. For a long time, it was a stage for the culture of class struggle. With FESTIWALLA, we reconnect with this legacy and reclaim Volksbühne with our art – seeking a new class perspective for today. Not out of nostalgia, but with today’s workers: migrant, conscious, young, queer, and anti-colonial.

Their poems, photos, installations, films, relics, and the curated book fair with stories, poems, and analyses will be accessible throughout the festival between performances.

Exhibition Opening Hours:

Wed 10.07.24 19:00 – 20:00
Thu 11.07.24 12:00 – 14:00 // 17:00 – 22:00
Fri 12.07.24 12:00 – 14:00 // 17:00 – 22:00
Sat 13.07.24 14:00 – 20:00

to the overview of FESTIWALLA