»settle in« – Annual programme at the Francke Foundations on finding your way in a complex world
OUR ANNUAL PROGRAMME
Jutta Allmendinger will open the 2026 annual programme at the Francke Celebration (20–22 March 2026). The former president of the Berlin Social Science Centre is one of Germany's most renowned sociologists. In her keynote speech, she will examine the annual theme of ‘finding one's way’ from a sociological perspective: What role do education, work, gender relations and social justice play? The Museum Night in Halle and Leipzig on 9 May 2026 will focus on one of the most fascinating phenomena for orientation. The flight of migratory birds is the inspiration for an elaborate video mapping by Leipzig light artist Bernd Gengelbach in the Freylinghausen Hall. On 20/21 June 2026, the Historical Linden Blossom Festival, entitled ‘Right on target – a festival of orientation’, invites families and children to immerse themselves in the 18th century in the foundation's alleys and discover the present in a playful way with over 100 hands-on activities.
In view of the polarisation and loss of trust in Saxony-Anhalt ahead of the 2026 state elections, the Francke Foundations are taking the Unterhausdebatte format to the city for the first time. Inspired by the British Parliament, three protected spaces for controversial but constructive debate will be set up in Halle's most diverse district, Halle-Neustadt, in the residential area of Halle-Dölau and in the historic meeting and cultural centre of the Halle workers' Volkspark (12 June 2026).
PROJECTS 2026
Climate protection and monument preservation are not mutually exclusive, as demonstrated by an innovative future project that will be launched in 2026 to protect the historic buildings of the Francke Foundations. The gradual installation of a climate-resilient rainwater management system consisting of underground cisterns and storage channels will address future heavy rainfall events. Compaction and sealing from decades of intensive construction activity on the foundation's grounds will be broken up, the existing tree population will be stabilised in the root area, and the surfaces will be carefully equipped with a barrier-free path system. The showcase project is being financed by federal and state funds.
Since 2026, the project ‘Verbund-KoMoNa: Oasis of Sustainability at Stiftsgut Stichelsdorf’ has been developing the historic estate on the outskirts of the city of Halle into an extracurricular learning centre. While in the 18th century the fields were used to harvest food for the more than 3,000 inhabitants of Francke's school town, today the project aims to convey new perspectives for sustainable development to school classes and groups of children in the region. The project is funded by the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Protection, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMUKN).
10 YEARS OF THE ANNUAL MAGAZINE
The freshly printed 64-page annual magazine offers an overview of the year's programme with reports, news briefs and background information. For the tenth time, this popular information medium presents the Francke Foundations from a variety of perspectives with high-quality photographs and wide-ranging content from experts and employees. Editor Andrea Klapperstück opens this year's issue with an interview with Prof. Dr. Jutta Allmendinger. The two discuss orientation, social cohesion and the future of young people. Dr. Frank Tillmann (German Youth Institute) points out that ‘young people experience the decisions they have to make [...] as “drawing without an eraser”.’ He suggests creating opportunities for goal orientation and inspiration for shaping life plans outside of school. Highlights of the annual theme, a review of the past year, an article on volunteering, and personal stories about navigating complex times round off the reading material.
Pick up your free magazine now at the information centre in Francke`s Home (pick up only, Tue–Sun, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.) or browse through our annual magazine digitally, available for download.
