[spectre] "Art and Activism" in Eastern and Central Europe, Amsterdam, 16 March

[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