27 September 2025: Workshop : Visible Voices: Graffiti Theory & Queerness

In the first workshop weekend of the graffiti project „Visible Voices“, we dive into the world of graffiti and queerness. Together, we will explore the history and theory of graffiti, look into queer symbols, colours, and motifs, and develop the first ideas that will later be brought to life on a large wall. The workshops are led by experienced graffiti artists.

Topics include:

• History and culture of graffiti – between urban art and a form of protest
• Graffiti theory and terminology: what are street art, writings, tags, murals and stencils?
• Graffiti in the twin city Frankfurt (Oder) - Słubice
• Queer motifs, colours & symbols

Participation is open to everyone and free of charge. Food and drinks will be provided.

Registration appreciated

Cooperation partners:

• Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung
• ATLJAE Kunstvermittlung
• Christoph Kugler
• Wohnungswirtschaft Frankfurt (Oder)
• Utopia e.V.

Context & Objectives of the Project

Queerphobia is not a marginal phenomenon – it is an expression of a Europe-wide shift to the right, visible on the streets, in political debates, and through targeted intimidation of queer people. Right-wing, Christian fundamentalist, and nationalist forces are increasingly trying to delegitimise and push back queer life. Particularly in the context of public gatherings such as Prides, these attacks escalate into tangible threats.

This development is also noticeable in Brandenburg and in the twin city Frankfurt (Oder) – Słubice: during the cross-border Prides of 2023 and 2024, there were attempts of queer- and homophobic intimidation and threats. These events make it clear: queer visibility is political. This year, on Saturday, 13 September 2025, the cross-border Pride will march for the sixth time from Słubice across the Oder bridge to Frankfurt (Oder) – under the motto “Borders divide, prides unite“.

The project “Visible Voices” is an attempt to give a collective, creative, and solidaristic response to hatred, fear, and the exclusion of queer life. It is conceived as an international, artistic-political participatory project on the occasion of the cross-border Pride. Its aim is to bring together queer people and allies from Frankfurt (Oder) and Słubice to engage creatively and politically with queer visibility – through the medium of graffiti.

The project seeks to create a solidaristic, creative, and safe space for participation, encounter, exchange, visibility, and artistic-political expression in the twin city Frankfurt (Oder) – Słubice. The goal is the collective design of a public wall surface with queer, feminist, antisexist, and solidaristic messages and motifs. In this way, queer stories and perspectives will become visible in the public space of the twin city Frankfurt (Oder) – Słubice.

Safe(r) Space & Awareness

The project is explicitly conceived as a solidaristic and discrimination-sensitive space. Principles such as voluntariness, kindness, respectful communication, awareness, and mutual support apply. All participants should feel safe and be able to co-shape the project.