DU BIST AM ZUG

DU BIST AM ZUG (German for "You are on the move" or "It's your move") is a Berlin-based non-profit association (gemeinnütziger Verein) that develops and tests new forms of individual expression in urban public space. Its central idea is simple and inclusive: every person in Berlin is given the chance to present an image or a short text on a poster displayed in the city. There are no prescribed themes and no competition — participants are free to choose what they want to share with their fellow citizens. The project thus aims to make human diversity visible and to let sparks of creativity flash in public space. The association describes its mission as creating forms of visibility that turn urban space into a place of encounter between the different lifeworlds of its inhabitants. Its work ranges from participatory projects in public space to conferences and workshops, as well as publications and exhibitions. The poster campaign is the most visible expression of this mission: in the summers of 2022, 2024 and 2026, the streets of Berlin were transformed into an open gallery, with posters designed by city residents bringing art, personal stories, photographs, thought-provoking messages and poetry into the urban environment. Participants reflected the diversity of Berlin — people aged 1 to 87, newcomers and long-time residents, Berliners from a wide range of cultural backgrounds and professions. DU BIST AM ZUG is run by a volunteer team. The association states that printing the posters costs about 10 euros per participating person, and it relies on donations to keep the project going. A newsletter informs interested people when the next round begins so they do not miss the deadline. The team includes Tim Schnetgöke, a qualified photographer (Fachhochschule Bielefeld) who lives in Berlin and has long worked on uncommissioned art in public space; Katya Assaf Zakharov, a legal scholar at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem who critically examines the legal mechanisms shaping urban space; Jasmin Jossin, a transformation scientist and doctoral urban psychologist focusing on sustainable urban futures and the interaction between urban conditions and human well-being; and Svenja Arndt, a photographer of lost places, industry and architecture who created the "treasure maps" used to collect and share the locations of the posters. The project is documented and researched: the association studies the content and impact of the posters. Its activities are rooted in Berlin and address the city's public space directly, combining artistic participation, urban research and civic engagement.

DU BIST AM ZUG is a Berlin-based non-profit association (gemeinnütziger Verein) dedicated to developing and testing new forms of individual expression in urban space. Its stated goal is to create forms that grant visibility and turn urban space into a place of encounter between the lifeworlds of its inhabitants. The association's work spans participatory projects in public space, conferences and workshops, publications and exhibitions. The most visible activity is an open poster campaign. In the summers of 2022, 2024 and 2026, the streets of Berlin were transformed into an open gallery: posters designed by city residents brought art, personal stories, photographs, thought-provoking messages and poetry into the urban environment. The campaign has no prescribed themes and no competition; every participant is free to choose what to share with fellow citizens. Participants have ranged in age from 1 to 87 and include newcomers and long-time residents, Berliners of many cultural backgrounds and professions. The association frames this as evidence that the desire to share something of oneself and to reshape the cityscape together unites people regardless of age, origin or profession. The project is run by a volunteer team. The association notes that printing the posters costs about 10 euros per participating person, and it asks for donations to keep the project going. A newsletter is used to announce when the next round begins so that interested people do not miss the deadline. The team includes Tim Schnetgöke, a qualified photographer (Fachhochschule Bielefeld) living in Berlin who has long engaged with uncommissioned art in public space; Katya Assaf Zakharov, a legal scholar at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem who critically studies the legal mechanisms shaping urban space and is interested in new forms of public expression that could be anchored as legal instruments; Jasmin Jossin, a transformation scientist and doctoral urban psychologist whose research focuses on new visions and concepts for a more sustainable urban future and on the interactions between urban conditions and human well-being and behavior; and Svenja Arndt, a photographer of lost places, industry and architecture (modern or brutalism) who created the "treasure maps" through which the locations of the posters were collected and shared. The association also researches the content and impact of the posters, combining artistic participation with urban research. Its activities are rooted in Berlin and address the city's public space directly.

• 2026

  Third poster campaign takes place in Berlin.

• 2024

  Second poster campaign takes place in Berlin.

• 2022

  First open poster campaign transforms Berlin streets into an open gallery.

A non-commercial, participatory urban art and civic engagement project that gives every Berlin resident free access to public visibility, without themes or competition.

• Open poster campaign

  Residents design posters displayed in Berlin's public space; no themes, no competition.

• Treasure maps

  Maps collecting and sharing the locations of the posters.

• Conferences and workshops

  Part of the association's work on new forms of expression in urban space.

• Publications and exhibitions

  Documentation and presentation of the project's work.

1. 1DU BIST AM ZUG – official homepagedubistamzug.net
2. 2About Us – DU BIST AM ZUGdubistamzug.net
3. 3DU BIST AM ZUG – Wikidatawikidata.org