“Let’s Move Democracy!”
Creative Family Festival at the German Emigration Center
The German Emigration Center invites you on March 22, 2026, at the start of the Easter holidays to a family festival with a diverse, free program for all ages focusing on the theme of democracy. The event takes place on the occasion of Democracy History Day – the patron is Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
“Democracy thrives on movement – on encounters, exchange, and active participation.” With this guiding principle, the German Emigration Center initiates the family festival “Let’s Move Democracy!” On the occasion of Democracy History Day, the museum will transform on March 22, 2026, into a vibrant, creative action space for young and old, where democracy can be playfully discovered, discussed, and shaped:
The varied program is specifically aimed at families, children, and teenagers and combines hands-on offerings with information. Creative workshops (dance, theater, animated film), meeting formats, and (foreign language) guided tours invite everyone to experience together and to rediscover the city of Bremerhaven as well as the emigration center. All offerings are free of charge.
The festival closely connects democracy with the city identity of Bremerhaven. As a historic emigration port and today’s immigration city, stories of emigration and immigration have shaped the city for generations. However, this is rarely understood as part of democracy history. This is exactly where the festival comes in: it brings migration into focus as a force that promotes democracy.
“Migration has not only changed our society but has also significantly shaped democratic developments,” explains Astrid Birth, museum educator at the DAH. “It expands rights, strengthens values such as solidarity and diversity, and creates spaces for participation and empowerment. With our festival, we want to make this perspective tangible – accessible, creative, and intergenerational.”
The event takes place as part of the nationwide Day of Democracy History, an initiative by the Foundation for Places of German Democracy History in cooperation with the Working Group for Places of Democracy History, and is supported by the Foundation for Places of German Democracy History.
PROGRAM ON 22.03.2026
WORKSHOPS
Democracy in Motion – StopMotion WorkshopWorkshop for children and young people aged 5 – 15 yearsWith creative materials, children and young people will explore how topics related to democracy, emigration, and immigration can be presented as animated films – a technique that is both simple and magical!Lead: Trick 47 (Bremen)11:00 AM to 4:00 PM (lunch is included)
Let’s play democracy – Theater WorkshopsWorkshop for children and young people aged 7 – 15 yearsIn this workshop, children playfully discover the world of co-determination, voting, and diversity. With theatrical movement games, improvisations, and small role plays, they experience how democratic processes work, how they can express their own opinions – and why every voice counts.Lead: Katharina Dür (City Theater Bremerhaven)Start: 10:00 AM & 12:00 PM
Dance Democracy – Dance WorkshopsWorkshop for children aged 6 – 10 yearsTogether, we will playfully discover through dance how movement can tell stories of home, foreignness, and belonging.Lead: Antonio Papazis (Theater Bremen)Start: 10:00 AM & 11:15 AM & 12:30 PM
TOURS
Our Paths, Our House – Staff ShareSpecial museum tour for everyone 5 years and olderAt the German Emigration Center, people from various cultures work together. Two of them will guide guests through the museum and share their personal stories in their mother tongue:· 12:00 PM – Tour in Arabic with Diab Bransi· 2:00 PM – Tour in Chinese (Han) with Yichun Zhang
Perspective Democracy – Tandem Tour with Eyewitness Lule DuriqiMuseum tour for everyone 16 years and olderLule Duriqi was born in 1977 in Pristina, the current capital of Kosovo. At the age of 16, she fled to Germany with her family and applied for asylum. “You always see a bit of yourself in others and their stories,” she says. In tandem, museum educator Astrid Birth and Lule Duriqi will share selected stories at different stations in the museum.Start: 11:00 AM
Family Tours of the German Emigration CenterDiscover with the whole family why Bremerhaven is a special place for democracy history: Democracy plays a central role in both emigration and immigration stories – that’s what we make vividly and child-friendly in this tour.Start: 1:00 PM & 3:00 PM
MOREOVER
Children’s Creative CornerJust get creative – with color, scissors, glue…Starting at 2:00 PM
Extra Menu in the Dining HallThe museum restaurant and café “Dining Hall” expands its menu with more dishes (not just) for children.
| All offers are free!Due to limited space, we kindly ask for prior registration for tours and workshops at presse@dah-bremerhaven.de | 0471 90 22 0 – 205Detailed information at www.dah-bremerhaven.de |
The event is funded by the Foundation Places of German Democracy History