New Exhibition Messages for Inclusion Opens May 4 at Bensberg Town Hall
One Exhibition, Two Venues: Photographs by Heide Prange Capture the Wishes, Demands, and Ideas of People With and Without Disabilities for a More Inclusive Society"Messages for Inclusion" amplifies voices from the region, giving visibility to diverse perspectives. The exhibition opens on May 4 at Bensberg Town Hall.
As part of the European Protest Day for the Equal Rights of People with Disabilities, the "Messages for Inclusion" exhibition will be inaugurated on Monday, May 4, at 11:00 AM in Bensberg Town Hall. Visitors can view the photographs in the ground-floor corridors (toward the council chamber) and on the first floor (left wing).
The project is a collaborative initiative by InBeCo, Lichtgestalten Dance Theater, and the Inclusion Advisory Council of Bergisch Gladbach. It features photographs and visual materials created last year in the city's pedestrian zone.
During last year's Protest Day, residents were invited to share their wishes, thoughts, and messages about inclusion on an interactive wall. The event also included artistic contributions such as dance performances, conversations on the "red sofa," and opportunities for exchange.
Photographer Heide Prange documented the activities and transformed the impressions into an artistic exhibition. The resulting "Messages for Inclusion" showcases the voices and perspectives of participants, making their calls for change visible.
Mayor to Open Exhibition
The exhibition will be officially opened by Mayor Marcel Kreutz. Following the launch, it will remain accessible to the public during the town hall's opening hours for several weeks. All residents are warmly invited to attend the opening and explore the exhibition.
Monika Hiller, Bergisch Gladbach's Inclusion Commissioner, emphasizes: "This exhibition demonstrates what inclusion truly means: listening, taking people seriously, and acting together. The messages from diverse individuals send a clear mandate—to dismantle barriers and ensure participation for all."
Second Exhibition Venue
An accompanying booklet, available in Easy-to-Read and Plain Language formats, enhances the exhibition's accessibility.
From May 8 through autumn 2026, the exhibition will also be on display at the InBeCo Service Center (Paffrather Straße 5, 51465 Bergisch Gladbach) during opening hours, with its launch there on May 8 at 4:00 PM.
Both venues are wheelchair-accessible, and the events will include German Sign Language (DGS) interpretation. Planned as a traveling exhibition, "Messages for Inclusion" will later be shown at additional locations across the Rheinisch-Bergisch district.
