Welcome to Demokrati Garage
Democracy Garage is the city's democracy house and a meeting place for participation. We are a modern DIY workshop for democracy, driven by more and better democracy. We celebrate people who just get started and bring together communities that solve both everyday issues and society's biggest challenges.
Democracy is something we do together. In our garages you can go to Demokrati Fitness, roll up your sleeves in a civic bakery, or learn more about new forms of democracy. You can also just drop by for a cup of coffee in the sun and have a chat with your new neighbor.
Over the past two years we’ve restored the beautiful garage buildings here on Rentemestervej in the North Vest area of Copenhagen, formerly a blacksmith and car workshop. Today, it is not old cars, but democracy that we give a loving hand in the workshops. We replace, repair and upgrade democracy's central steering bolts and timing belts. We experiment with new forms of democracy to make it easier for more people to have an influence on their own lives and the society they are a part of. We create projects, activities and changes that make our community relevant to more people.
We call ourselves a garage because the future's big development ideas and radical solutions call for a joint space. We are concerned with democracy and communities because the city and the world are facing such big challenges that we can only solve them together.
Purpose and vision
We don't side with anyone - we side with the democracy.
Demokrati Garage is a meeting place for democracy innovation and everyday participation. Our vision is to create an open and non-profit arena for everyone who wants to help create more and better democracy. Regardless of political or religious beliefs everyone is welcome here.
We believe that our democracy needs a tremendous service inspection. More and more people drop out of the political agenda, and many find that it can be difficult to see how it is possible to participate and create important change. We live in a time of great change and are in the middle of some major transitions and this is the main reason why we need a place to meet to repair the democracy - this is why we created Demokrati Garage for you!
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Challenge the norms of democracy through creative approaches, creating innovative formats for democracy and engaging people broadly.
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Making democracy a natural part of everyday life by, offering easily accessible tools, and strengthening everyone's ability to participate.
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Create an inclusive platform with diverse perspectives and collaborations, across the community to ensure fair representation of all voices.
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Develop our organization, invest in education, and spread knowledge about democratic innovation and everyday participation.
Garage Princibles - in everything we do
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In a car workshop, you jumpstart an engine when it has stalled. In the same way, we work at Demokrati Garage to "jumpstart democracy". We give it a push or an extra hand as democracy seems to have lost its dynamism and drive. And occasionally a little shock and current is needed.
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The car lift in a car workshop is essential so that the mechanic can get at eye level with the car's engine and examine and repair it. In the same way, the ambition to bring democracy at eye level with people is crucial so that everyone can get close to decisions and give each other the necessary boost.
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Just like in an auto repair shop, we encourage everyone to take ownership of their own projects and actions. This is done to strengthen our common ability and awareness that our actions are important for democracy, and we must all take part in it.
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In an auto repair shop, the mechanics have a deep understanding of how a car works and can be repaired. In the same way, we focus on creating a deeper understanding of how democracy works and can be improved. It can create a greater common awareness of how we can jointly influence and improve democracy.
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In a car workshop there is always a car in the process of being repaired. When one is finished, a new one enters. In the same way, we will always be in progress, never finished and always believe that we can get better.
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In an auto repair shop, you have several different tools available to carry out different tasks. In the same way, we in Demokrati Garage and in ourselves have different tools available that we can use together to solve various democratic challenges. Here we use new and innovative tools to restore and revitalize democracy.
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At an auto repair shop, parts that are worn out or defective, are replaced. In the same way, we encourage taking a critical look at the parts of democracy that may be defective or worn out, and work to replace or repair them. While we invent parts and ideas that have not yet been seen before.
Rent our beautiful eventspace Folkestuen
Folkestuen is our eventspace in a converted forge built in 1918.
You can rent Folkestuen to host general assemblys, meetings, workshops, baby christenings, birthdays and weddings, and much much more!
If the door is unlocked and there is no event, you are more than welcome to take a look in Folkestuen.
If you have questions, want a tour or would like to rent the room, you can write to our event coordinator, Hannah.
book@demokratigarage.dk
The people who work here…
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Foreningen Demokrati Garage og Driftselskabet
Located in Butikken and Folkestuen
Driftselskabet Demokrati Garage ApS, together with the association Demokrati Garage, is the secretariat for the entire site. Together they run the community around Demokrati Garage's guests, volunteers and stakeholders.
In strong collaboration with the Association, we cherish our meeting place for Everyday Participation and Democracy Innovation.
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We Do Democracy
Located in Demokrati Værkstedet
In the large garage called Demokrati Værkstedet, you will find the Democracy advisors from We Do Democracy. They are passionate about spreading and strengthening participation and citizen involvement in democratic processes through deliberative democracy. They work to develop and implement new and innovative democratic formats and are experts in the design and facilitation of participatory forms of democracy, both in Denmark and internationally.
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Flere Fugle
Bakery and cafe
In the centre of the big backyard you will find Flere Fugle. This bakery is not just a bakery, but also a restaurant with events, a bakery school and Copenhagen's first citizen bakery.
Flere Fugle is driven by the vision of creating a vibrant place with a focus on quality products and good ingredients. Their innovation and local knowledge will undoubtedly inspire and sweeten the lives of everyone who stops by Demokrati Garage
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Fire Tyve / Winebar
Located i Støddæmperen
In a corner in the backyard you will find Fire Tyve, which is a wine bar with a focus on natural wine, as well as a snack and eatery with a focus on locally sourced ingredients from suppliers that contribute to transparency and organic development of food production.
The combination of our two profiles and focus areas; gastronomy and music & culture, will contribute positively to both Demokrati Garage's and the Northwest Quarter's development. In addition to the aforementioned operations, talks, concerts, workshops, market days, communal dining, etc. will create a breeding ground for increased community involvement.
In the long term, we want to be a gastronomic driving force in the area and contribute to a greater understanding of the potential of food culture's impact on sustainable development.
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SAGA
Located in Hal3 - House no. 1
We want to engage youth in the political society and create Denmark's largest political youth organization. SAGA is a party-neutral youth organization with over 1000 members, which will show the younger generations that the democratic society and the use of one's voice has the potential to actually change the world - both for the youth, but also for the rest of society.
SAGA is a dues-free association where all members are encouraged to participate in developing the key issues. We meet our members where they are; not with the language of the old uncle trying to be youthful - but with an awareness that things should not be simplified or dumbed down in order for young people to participate.
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Kontra Advokater
Located in Baghuset, 1st floor - follow the blue staircase
Kontra Advokater combines high professionalism with social commitment. Through our advice, we work to strengthen fundamental rights because we believe that they are the foundation of a free and well-functioning democracy.
Kontra Advokater deals with human rights, social cases, employee rights and climate law cases, among other things. Kontra Advokater collaborates with organizations and companies that work on a non-profit and/or democratic basis.