[artinfo] "Art and Activism" in Eastern and Central Europe

[Andreas Broeckmann]

Arts and Activism

Panel, Wednesday 16 March, 17:00h
Amsterdam, De Balie

http://www.debalie.nl/agenda/podium/arts-and-activism/

Not long ago the countries of Eastern and Central 
Europe were presented as proud examples of 
successful democratic transition. Today we see 
the rise of illiberalism in the same region. Can 
activists and cultural operators reverse this 
alarming trend? Árpád Schilling (activist and 
theatre director, Hungary), Igor Stokfiszewski 
(literary critic, Poland) and Teodor Celakoski 
(cultural worker and activist, Croatia) discuss 
the tactics and strategies in their fight against 
undemocratic parties and growing nationalism.

The European Cultural Foundation (ECF) and De 
Balie bring together three passionate cultural 
change-makers, each of them facing democratic 
challenges and increasing illiberalism in their 
own societies.

Árpád Schilling, activist and artistic director 
of Krétakör (Hungary), who recently received the 
ECF Princess Margriet Award for Culture 2016, 
will speak in De Balie about the challenges the 
Hungarian society is facing today, and Krétakör's 
community-developed projects that reflect the 
changing political landscape and social urgencies 
in today's Hungary.

Following his talk, Árpád Schilling will enter in 
conversation with Igor Stokfiszewski (Poland) and 
Teodor Celakoski (Croatia) to discuss the 
socio-political reality in these emerging 
illiberal democracies across Central and Eastern 
Europe, and the role and impact of culture.


Participants:
Árpád Schilling, artistic director of Krétakör, Hungary
Theatre maker Árpád Schilling is the founder of 
Krétakör, an internationally acclaimed theatre 
group and laureate of the ECF Princess Margriet 
Award for Culture 2016. The group uses dramaturgy 
as a means to bring different perspectives into 
debate and conversation. Since 2008 Krétakör has 
made a determined shift from theatre as a 
stage-based experience to theatre as a social 
forum. They work as a collective that enters into 
direct dialogue with different communities and 
settings in regional Hungary.

Teodor Celakoski, Culture 2 Commons, Croatia
Guided by the idea that culture can be an agent 
for transformation, Celakoski has brought 
together and mobilised a broad range of citizens 
to explore new forms of public agency. He took is 
a former laureate (2014) of the ECF Princess 
Margriet Award for Culture. The many initiatives 
for which he has been a catalysing force include 
the Multimedia Institute with its cultural centre 
MaMa as a junction of various communities 
focusing on digital culture, human rights and 
critical theory; Clubture, a collaborative 
platform which connects independent cultural 
organisations in Croatia; and Right to the City 
(Pravo na Grad), an alliance engaging citizens 
and communities against the privatisation of 
urban commons. Celakoski is a pivotal figure in 
shaping Croatia's independent cultural scene and 
committed to making real democratic processes 
possible.

Igor Stokfiszewski, Krytyka Polityczna, Poland
Igor Stokfiszewski (1979) is a literary and 
theatre critic specialising in politically 
engaged art. Since 2006 he has been a member of 
the Polish leftwing movement Political Critique, 
where he works as activist, editor and 
journalist. He was a member of the team 
overseeing the 7th Berlin Biennale (2012).

This program is part of the run-up towards 'Re:Creating Europe'
From June 1-3 2016 De Balie and DutchCulture 
organize a Forum on European Culture entitled 
"Re:Creating Europe" about the value and impact 
of arts and culture for Europe and its future.


In the context of the ECF Princess Margriet Award for Culture 2016:

http://www.culturalfoundation.eu/pma-2016