The Library
in Basle
a Collaboration between Catacity@Catapult and
the Library for a Happy Future
9.2.2026
-15.7.2026
The Library for a Happy Future is a place for experimentation. In Basle it addresses the questions: What constitutes a healthy city? And how can the Basel region be designed to be healthy—for us, our community, and the environment? Listen to Podcasts
"Chill mol, Basel"
Call for Projects with CATAPULT
During the Radio Days in February, we listened to the city. Now it’s time to put those ideas into practice. Together with CATAPULT’s Catacity initiative, we are launching a project competition on the theme of “Chill mol, Basel”.
During the Radio-Days in February, Youth and Elderly explored the Question of what is a healthy Basel - Access
HipHop4Health
In February, we had the opportunity to create a radio program together with students from FMS Basel and the Klimasenior:innen, exploring the question:
What is a healthy Basel?
HipHop4Health brings together the key insights from two days of radio. The result: two tracks—professionally mixed, with lyrics written by the students or composed from quotes taken directly from the conversations.
DEVELOPED BY DUMASTAR
"Chill mol, Basel"
Don’t just talk about it—test it out. Try new things and discover what really matters to us. CATACITY, in collaboration with the Library for a Happy Future, invites you to imagine a happy and healthy future for Basel: to visualise it and explore how we can make it a reality.
Open Call
Submit your project on the theme: CHILL MOL, BASEL
For a climate-friendly, healthy and community-oriented city.
Too hot? Too cramped? To much bad mood? Let's do something about it!
Public spaces in Basel are often marked by stress and constant hustle, leaving little room, shade, or space to relax and connect. Where places are hot and over-crowded, people, animals and plants suffer—along with the climate and our health. And the way we live has impacts far beyond the city itself. What flows into the Rhine, for example, continues far beyond Basel’s borders.
That’s why CATAPULT and the Library for a Happy Future are inviting you to submit your project ideas by 26 April 2026. You can apply for up to CHF 15,000 to realise your idea.
Do you have ideas for transforming public spaces in Basel—whether in the short or long term? How can we strengthen climate justice, social interaction, community connections and health?
Your project could take many forms: street actions or public gatherings, greening initiatives, revitalising squares and neighbourhood spaces, creating places for social interaction and intergenerational exchange, protecting animals and plants, or organising clean-up campaigns of all kinds.
This is your space to experiment, explore, and be creative—to spark reflection, make plans together, build groups, have fun, strengthen community, cool down and simply chill.
Beyond the legal framework, there are no strict limits: your project simply needs to take place in public space and meet our funding criteria. CATACITY goes Library welcomes submissions from individuals and groups aged 25 and over.
Submit your project.
The Library in Basel
Health can bring us together where politics divides us. Or, else: health is vital and our most essential right. Yet, it requires dialogue because we are all connected; as a community, with animals and our local and global ecosystems.
But how do we define health and what keeps us healthy? How do our current lifestyles challenge our well-being? How are we connected to animal health and thriving ecosystems? And can health and well-being inspire a balanced, joyful way of living?
Important Dates
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February 9 and 10, 2026, Radio days with FMS Basel (9.2.) and Klimaseniorinnen (10.2.), in collaboration with Radio PowerUp, Stiftung Kinderdorf Pestalozzi
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March 21, 2026, Presentation of Radio HipHop and Public Call for Projects, in collaboration with Catapult
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June 4, 2026, Fountain Apéro, Collective Weaving
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June 25, 2026, Presentation of results and pilot projects and Radio day with Gymnasium Leonhard
Radiodays - 2026
On Radio Day, we listened, discussed and searched together for answers to the question "What is a healthy city?" Students from FMS Basel spoke with their grandparents, the Kimaseniorinnen spoke with their granddaughters and neighbours, and invited experts also contributed. We will summarise the results in a scientific analysis and process them further as hip hop. The results will be presented on 21 March 2026.
The program was produced with our partners at PowerUp Radio, part of the Pestalozzi Children's Foundation. Special thanks to Katrin Pedrazzi, Chantal Radeck, and Florian Karrer.
The program for Day 1 was developed with Class 2H of the FMS Basel and their teacher Natalie Nikitine. They spoke with their grandparents, neighbors, and invited experts from politics and science.
The program for Day 2 was developed by the Basel Climate Seniors with their grandchildren, neighbors, and invited experts.
Moderator: Sonja Schenkel
Radio Day - FMS Basel
Radio Day - Klimaseniorinnen Basel
A Library of Action and Interaction
The Library for a Happy Future is not a typical library with shelves and books — it is a library of action and interaction. We make new ideas and traditional knowledge visible and tangible through dialogue, pilot projects, art, and science.
At the heart of the library is the participation of young people and intergenerational dialogue. Youth bring the courage to question, the openness to try new things, and the freedom not to cling to old structures. Elderly participants contribute their experience and, in some cases, the willingness to let go of repeating the same patterns.
With this combined power, we engage in dialogue across generations: youth talk to their grandparents, to scientists, and to experts. We weave their knowledge, experiences, and insights into new ideas. Only when all voices come together can true balance be achieved.
Partners
If your dreams
were rivers, where
would they flow?
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