EN version
We are happy to invite you to the Kiss*Lab: an event aimed at creating a space where people can explore the intimacy of physical closeness outside romantic and sexual contexts!
Although during the workshop you might kiss someone, this is not a given nor is it necessary. The main goal is to have the opportunity to slow down and focus on the senses engaged when we come close to one another. Under the guidance of two workshop instructors, participants will partake in various exercises that will bring them closer to one another. Coming closer will happen in various stages: from looking at one another at a couple of meters’ distance, through getting close enough to perceive the smell of another, to gently touching and, perhaps, kissing.
Each participant will do the exercises with different partners, so do not expect to only interact with one person. In this way participants have the chance to experience individual encounters that involve a level of intimacy different than in ordinary situations of flirting or dating.
Along with the instructors and participants, during the event there will be other people to support you, including a support team that is there to ensure that everyone feels as safe as possible and to provide support in case someone needs to process experiences that surface during the encounters. Rest and retreat areas will be provided so that if you want or need to step out of the exercises you have a chance to do so.
Names are not required during the Kiss*Lab. We invite participants to encounter one another with as few assumptions and as little prior knowledge as possible, and to help co-create a space grounded in respect, openness, care, and ongoing consent. You can read more about our awareness concept here: [link]. All genders and ages are welcome and participants are expected to be open to engage with others irrespective of markers such as age, gender, ability, and appearance. The event is a bilingual space. Instructors will provide guidance in English and German and in case a participant requires translation during interactions, support will be provided from the instructors or volunteers at the event.
We would like you to also know that the Kiss*Lab is more than just an event. It is a participatory artistic project and collaborative research endeavour exploring intimacy, touch, non-verbal communication, and physical closeness. It creates a carefully held space to feel, learn, and reflect, where art, collaboration, experimentation, self-exploration, and social scientific research come together. Participants are invited to engage in guided exercises at their own pace and to contribute to the project through their perspectives and reflections during and after the event. The Kiss*Lab follows an awareness-based, trauma-informed, and ethically grounded research approach, centred on consent, care, respect, and personal boundaries. You can find more information about our research ethics here: [link].
How can I apply?
If you are 18 years old or older you can apply.
Note that to ensure a smooth workshop flow places are limited to 40.
Date and time of workshop
Sunday, 8th November, 2026, 15:00 to 19:30 o’clock
Venue
B-Side, Am Mittelhafen 42, 48155 Münster.
Application Process
Please complete the short questionnaire.
Additionally, we ask you to send us a short video (30–60 seconds) in which you introduce yourself by name and tell us why you are interested in taking part in the Kiss*Lab experiment.
Payment Information
We want the Kiss*Lab to be accessible to people with different financial circumstances. At the same time, the participation fees help us cover the costs of organising the project. We have therefore chosen a sliding scale of €15–€35.
Please choose the contribution that best reflects your current financial situation:
€15 – Reduced contribution
Please choose this option if the following statement applies to you:
I have little or no disposable income, and it is difficult for me to cover my basic material needs.
€25 – Standard contribution
Please choose this option if the following statement applies to you:
I am able to meet my basic material needs and have some disposable income, but need to remain mindful of my spending.
€35 – Supporting contribution
Please choose this option if the following statement applies to you:
I can comfortably meet my basic needs and have sufficient disposable income. By paying the full amount, I help make participation possible for people with fewer financial resources and support the costs of the Kiss*Lab.
There is no need to provide proof of your financial situation. Please choose the amount that feels appropriate for you. If none of the options feels suitable, or if the fee presents a barrier to your participation, please contact us.
Cancellation politics
- 2 weeks before event: 100% refund
- 1 week before event: 50%
- less than one week before event: nothing (but it is possible that we find a replacement and refund you 75% in that case)
- In case of last-minute cancellation due to illness there will be a refund of 75% if you prove this with a doctor’s notice!
If you have any questions, please refer to our FAQ page [links] and the more detailed description of the Kiss*Lab event on our homepage [links]. For any other questions, please get in touch via email: kisslab@uni-muenster.de