DEMOS – Politikwerkstatt Museum Arbeitswelt Steyr Democracy cannot be taken for granted. It must be worked for, lived, preserved and, if necessary, defended.

CONCEPT,ORGANIZATION,EXECUTION In keeping with this principle and the museum’s orientation as a place for dealing with topics of socio-political relevance and explosiveness, the Museum Arbeitswelt Steyr opened DEMOS, the political workshop Museum Arbeitswelt Steyr, on Wednesday, April 15 at 10:30 am.

As part of a pupils “parliament, the President of the Austrian Parliament, Barbara Prammer, answered questions from young people from Steyr on the topic of ‘Putting democracy to the test’ – sent from all secondary schools and one compulsory school in the city. Around 140 interested young people eagerly watched the live broadcast of the pupils” parliament via Vidi-Wall.
With a well-balanced mixture of factual information and thoroughly personal and emotional statements, the President of Parliament succeeded in attracting attention and making the importance of democratic political discourse clear.

This successful morning is intended to be the prelude to even more, even more intensive and even more unconventional political education at the Steyr Arbeitsweltmuseum. The DEMOS workshop, which has been given a parliamentary flair by art and culture creator Chris Müller, offers unique opportunities for democratic political education not only for schoolchildren but also for adult education and events thanks to its spectacular design with a parliamentary room, voting booth, film and sound lab, internet stations and the “narrow point of democracy”, as well as its range of DEMOS modules.

The qualified and dedicated team of the museum’s own Department of Education and Communication, headed by Christa Nowshad, has experience and expertise in the field of political education. “The focus of our DEMOS programs should not be on teaching institutions, but on a well-founded and critical examination of the prerequisites, basic principles, modes of operation and also obstacles to democratic coexistence,” says Nowshad, “We want to pick up the young people with their opinions, expectations and also fears and develop strategies for a better coexistence together with them.” Reducing political disinterest, prejudices and ignorance are the primary goals for the near future, and an extensive educational program for people aged 14 and over awaits interested visitors.

CONTACT AND INFORMATION:
Mag.a Christa Nowshad
Head of the Department of Outreach and Communication
Museum Arbeitswelt Steyr
Wehrgrabengasse 7
4400 Steyr
07252 – 77351 – 15
christa.nowshad@museum-steyr.at