Club Voltaire e. V.

In the location's words:

Club Voltaire has existed in Frankfurt am Main since 1962.

To this day, it offers a mixture of pub, music and (political) information that is certainly unique in Frankfurt,

In the long period of the club's existence, enormous changes have taken place. A few key words describe important events: from the Cold War to the 1968 and women's movements, to anti-colonialism, peace and ecology movements, to the dissolution of the blocs, German involvement in the war and now the current systemic crisis, which has led to an intensified confrontation between democracy and economic power. Despite these fundamental changes, Club Voltaire has remained committed to its original intentions.

Partisan, but not bound to any party

As a registered, non-profit association, we see ourselves as a place for counter-publicity, offering information and education as a prerequisite for emancipation and change. We want to maintain a space for alternative art and culture and - with a small pub - for socializing without discrimination. We have developed attractive programs, celebrated wonderful festivals and also overcome difficult crises in the association with mainly voluntary work. Generations of new members have made the founding idea their own.

Standing up for peace and disarmament still resulted in expulsions from the party in 1962, and the anti-communism of the Cold War meant that even at readings by Anna Seghers or Christa Wolf, the constitutional protection was sitting in the audience. Club Voltaire was subjected to fierce hostility during these years. Above all, however, it was a meeting place for those who wanted to come to terms with the German past and draw conclusions for a better future. French, Algerians, Spaniards and, in later years, Chileans, many people who had to go into exile due to political persecution in their home countries, were welcome here and had an open place and supportive solidarity.

In the 1960s, similar clubs were founded in many cities in the Federal Republic of Germany, with some taking the Frankfurt club as a model.

"Those who want the world to stay as it is, don't want it to stay"

This line of poetry by Erich Fried expresses what drives our club. We want to make our contribution to ensuring that human rights, social justice, peace and the protection of the environment do not remain subordinate to the profit interests of an elite.