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Voices for the City: idea workshops for AK Wien

How can Viennese residents participate more strongly and effectively in city politics? Two idea workshops at the Arbeiterkammer Wien education centre explored this question on 14 April and 5 May 2023. The workshops were part of an AK Wien research project with political scientist Dr. Tamara Ehs and Foresight Research. mitgestalten Partizipationsbüro designed, implemented and moderated them.

Fotokarten mit dem Wiener Rathaus und Wohnbauten auf dem Workshoptisch – Ideenworkshop „Stimmen für die Stadt“

Voices for the City

The two four-hour workshops were titled “Stimmen für die Stadt. Ideen für eine aktive Beteiligung der Wiener:innen an der Stadtpolitik” (Voices for the City. Ideas for active participation of Viennese residents in city politics). They were designed by Romy Grasgruber-Kerl and Dieter Gremel and moderated by Dieter Gremel and Schifteh Hashemi. The aim was to collect ideas for a democratic city – as a basis for recommendations to the Arbeiterkammer Wien.

Participants deliberately worked in mixed groups, because different perspectives foster mutual understanding. In several World Café rounds they exchanged views at themed tables, including on the questions:

  • Do you feel that you can help shape things?
  • What prevents you from getting involved (or being able to)?
  • What do you need in order to participate (or be able to)?
Workshoptisch mit Spielfiguren und Fotokarte – Ideenworkshop „Stimmen für die Stadt“ im AK-Bildungszentrum

The workshops were accompanied scientifically by Dr. Tamara Ehs through participant observation.

Update: the study has been published

The results were incorporated into the AK study “Mehr zusammenbringen – zur Verbesserung politisch wirksamer Beteiligung in Wien” (Bringing more together – improving politically effective participation in Vienna) (Stadtpunkte series, volume 47, 2024), published by AK Wien and Foresight Research. The authors are Tamara Ehs, Martina Zandonella, Malena Haas, Sina Moussa-Lipp and Mara Verlič. For the study, the Partizipationsbüro also evaluated the City of Vienna’s online petition platform in August 2023 – with regard to accessibility, plain language, barrier-free access and design.