SHUT UP AND LISTEN – Exhibition Gives Children in Care a Voice, Now Opening at Thoravej 29 in Copenhagen NV

The traveling exhibition “Shut Up and Listen!” opens to the public at Thoravej 29, 2400 Copenhagen NV from April 10 to May 22, 2026.

The exhibition was created by Danmarks Forsorgsmuseum, which created the exhibition together with six children in care.based on stories from both children in care today and children who were placed in care more than 100 years ago. Across time, the children stand side by side and share their experiences of being – or not being – heard.

A Necessary Break with Silence

“‘Shut up and listen’ is a powerful expression and perhaps harder than it sounds. Many children and young people who are or have been in care do not feel that they have been listened to as much as they would have wished. Truly listening to what children and young people say, want, and dream about has great significance for their everyday lives. This is where the exhibition begins and offers hope for change,”

- Jimmy Agerskov Krab, Senior Consultant at De Anbragtes Vilkår.

The exhibition shows that although legislation has changed significantly over the past 100 years, the struggle to be heard is far from over. It insists that real change is not only about rules and systems – but about relationships, respect, and the willingness to share power.

Brought to Thoravej 29 by the House’s Members

The exhibition is not placed at Thoravej 29 by coincidence. Several organizations in the building have joined forces to bring it there because it speaks directly to their work on social change.

For Hjem til Alle, which works to end youth homelessness, the exhibition is important because far too many people who were placed in care as children later experience homelessness. Addressing this requires listening better and understanding children’s needs.

For Mentorbarn, which works to give children and young people in vulnerable situations stronger networks, the exhibition is important because it reminds us that children and young people have the right to be heard and to have a say in their own lives and stories.

For Bikubenfonden, which works to create positive social change, the exhibition is relevant because young people in care too often feel unheard. It insists that real change begins with listening to the young people whose lives are affected.

Part of a Broad Collaboration

The exhibition’s title comes directly from advice given by a child in care to professionals. It was developed by the Danish Welfare Museum - a partnership between Svendborg Municipality, De Anbragetes Vilkår and SUS - Social Development Center, as part of a broader collaboration aimed at strengthening children’s involvement in social work. The project is funded by Lauritzen Fonden.

As part of the partnership, stories have been collected from children, families, and professionals. Insights from these stories will be used in 2026 to develop new ideas on how municipalities can strengthen children’s participation and improve the quality of work with child welfare cases.

An Exhibition That Travels – and Creates Change

Shut Up and Listen is part of a larger national partnership working to develop new, more listening-based practices in municipalities. The partnership continuously gathers stories and experiences from children, families, and professionals, which in 2026 will be used to develop new tools to strengthen children’s participation in decisions that affect their lives.

The exhibition first opened at Forsorgsmuseet in Svendborg and has since been shown at Platformen in Esbjerg, Dokk1 in Aarhus, and in Odense at the event KLSOCIAL Børn&Unge26.

It can now be experienced at Thoravej 29, 2400 Copenhagen NV.

Practical Information

Exhibition: Shut Up and Listen
Location: Thoravej 29, Copenhagen NV
Dates: April 10 – May 22, 2026
Open to: Everyone.