How to do a Cultural Palace?

How can a democratic space function that unites diverse cultural offerings under one roof?

Ahead of the opening of the Bolongaro Palace as the cultural center of Frankfurt’s western district in 2027, the Historical Museum Frankfurt will host a two-day symposium. Together with residents of Frankfurt, cultural practitioners, and scholars, the symposium will explore cultural palaces on both local and global levels. Historical examples will be presented alongside contemporary approaches to practice. Cultural palace makers from around the world will discuss the challenges and potentials of such institutions.

The event will take place at two locations: At the Historical Museum in the city center, the focus will be on international and academic perspectives as well as workshop discussions. In Höchst, around the Bolongaro Palace, insights into the construction site and artistic contributions will help shape ideas for the future Palace of Culture. Once built by the wealthiest citizens of Frankfurt, the palace now offers an opportunity to negotiate and further develop democratic processes of shared usage.

The symposium is part of the framework program for the CityLab exhibition "Höchst tells it’s story. About the Museum at Bolongaro Palace" (2026-2027). This exhibition provides a preview of the new location for the Historisches Museum Frankfurt within the future cultural palace, while raising questions about what a city museum in the 21st century can and should achieve.

An event by Historisches Museum Frankfurt as part of WDC 2026. WDC 2026 is funded by the State of Hesse, the City of Frankfurt/Main and the Kulturfonds Frankfurt RheinMain.