“First bank robbery” and “New scandal in the town hall” – these are the titles of the Mimüz in the first days of publication. Although the third day of play has only just begun, there is a lot going on in the editorial office of Mini-Munich’s daily newspaper. Children and young people are eagerly typing on the keyboards of laptops and computers. Amr stands in the midst of the hustle and bustle and holds his work tool, a notepad, firmly in his hand. The twelve-year-old decided to immerse himself in the world of journalism on this day. “You can tell others what’s happening in Mini-Munich and bring them up to date, even though they weren’t there,” says Amr. A newspaper costs four Mimüs, the currency of the game city. That’s as much as each child earns per hour minus city taxes – whether it’s a taxi driver or a judge.
There is a lot to do in the tailor shop.
(Photo: Leonhard Simon)
Since Monday, up to 2,000 children and young people between the ages of seven and 15 have been able to do everything that one does in a normal city for three weeks on the Showpalast site in Fröttmaning. They work and study, eat out and go to the cinema, get married or adopt children. The popular holiday program has been around for more than 40 years. Mini-Munich is a project by the Kultur und Spielraum association commissioned by the city of Munich that has received numerous awards and is admired throughout Europe, if not worldwide.
Only valid for one hour: the parent visa.
(Photo: Leonhard Simon)
From 9 a.m. onwards, the residents’ registration office in the Spielstadt has its hands full. Future Mini-Munich residents can register there. “Could I see your visa, please?” a visa inspector in a bright blue safety vest asks the adults he spots on the premises. Adults have to have a parental visa issued for a limited period of time at the registration office – the visa is then valid for one hour. There are also strictly parent-free zones. However, the play town facilities such as the travel office, museum and university are looked after by adult helpers.
From the editorial office of Mimüz, the Mini-München-Zeitung, the view falls on the cleaning service.
(Photo: Leonhard Simon)
Playing, however, is for the children. Taxi drivers transport other children and young people around the site in self-made wheelbarrows. The garbage disposal does its best to keep the premises clean, two girls sell pretzels from the vendor’s tray. It doesn’t matter whether they are a secretary, an employee at the employment office or a travel agency employee: the children and young people are astonishingly ambitious and very serious. Orderly chaos reigns in the wooden huts in and around the show palace. From 10 a.m. onwards, Mini-Munich residents who are already registered can line up wherever they would like to work.
If you don’t find what you’re looking for right away, you get a job at the employment office.
(Photo: Leonhard Simon)
Noa-Awa has chosen the restaurant “The Fat Sow”. She works as a waitress in the big tent and provides the children and young people with pizza and sandwiches. “There’s also tips,” says the twelve-year-old, showing some bills stuck in her wine-red apron. The employment office opens at 11 a.m. and distributes the remaining jobs. Security services monitor what is happening: “Always line up in threes! Don’t push!” they call out to the newcomers. The children and young people can choose every day which job they would like to try out.
Even mini-Munich cannot do without an election campaign: a new mayor is elected every week.
(Photo: Leonhard Simon)
Has successfully run for mayor: Eleamalou Schnebel.
(Photo: Leonhard Simon)
A new mayor is elected every week. In order to be able to be nominated, however, one must be a full citizen. Anyone who has completed four hours of work, four hours of study and a Zoff course receives full citizenship. Is that why the lecture halls are so well attended? In a building on the Showpalast grounds, probably a former horse stable, lecture halls have been specially set up. A lecture on Greek mythology is being held in lecture hall 1, while Doctor Theresa is teaching the basics of psychology in another room. The lectures are also firmly in the hands of children.
In order to be able to give a lecture, however, one must have a doctorate. You get it after sitting in on a lecture, writing a doctoral thesis and holding a trial lesson. The doctorate is never lost, so the university in Mini-Munich can offer around 40 lectures on the first day. “The origami course, the Zoff course and the Schafkopf course are very popular,” explains study advisor Ellen.
The radio station “Radio Mikro Mini Munich” has been around for a few years. This year, however, the Spielstadt radio station is broadcasting on a real FM frequency. Anahi Sanchez is in charge of the radio station. Outside the Spielstadt, she works for the education and training station M94.5. Sanchez is celebrating Mini-Munich’s 20th anniversary this year. She had been there since she was a child. “It’s amazing, but as a child I never felt overwhelmed. You just threw yourself into the fray. Mini-Munich was then the reality,” says the 28-year-old.
A delegation from Salzburg also arrived on the same day to visit the holiday programme. Guests from Vienna and Japan have already announced their arrival. Benjamin from Salzburg states: “Mini-Munich is much bigger and there are more jobs than here.” What is the delegation up to that day? From “Zur Fetten Sau” – there is baked Camembert with salad for the mini ambassadors. Well then, bon appetit!
Mini-Munich, Showpalast Fröttmaning, Hans-Jensen-Weg 3, Monday to Friday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., the registration office opens at 9 a.m.