During the Corona pandemic, residency programs for artists have proven themselves to be viable structures for international cultural and knowledge exchange. Especially in such a time of crisis, the enormous importance of international cooperations has become increasingly evident. As laboratories for a shift in perspective, residency programs often serve as approach models to the question of how we want to live together.

Cultural and knowledge exchange thrives on polyphony and diversity. How can this be guaranteed in the long term? The presence of artists on site is indispensable for interactions in culture and society. How can the mobility of artists be preserved - even in periods of crisis? What kinds of spaces does social cohesion need in times of upheaval, and how can residency programs contribute to facilitating these?

The Working Group of German International Residency Programs (ADIR) invites you to a digital symposium on June 23, 2021 to discuss the future of international artistic exchange after or during the pandemic. Following an opening statement by Minister of State Michelle Müntefering, Members of the German Bundestag Claudia Roth and Ursula Groden-Kranich, DJ and producer Sarah Farina and writer Deniz Utlu will explore the requirements of future forms of encounter in conversation with ADIR speakers.

How does local presence impact on cultural exchange and social understanding? What are the benefits of digital encounter formats, how much personal contact does international dialogue need? How do we maintain protected spaces for artistic-creative thinking, acting and research?

The digital symposium will be opened by Johannes Ebert, Secretary General of the Goethe-Institut and include an address by Michelle Müntefering, Minister of State for International Cultural Policy at the Federal Foreign Office.

The Artists Are Present. Künstlerresidenzen im Kulturaustausch from Akademie Schloss Solitude on Vimeo.

Taking part in the livestream discussion will be:

Claudia Roth, Member and Vice President of the German Bundestag and Chairwoman of the subcommittee on Foreign Cultural and Educational Policy
Ursula Groden-Kranich, Member of the German Bundestag and Chairwoman of the subcommittee on Foreign Cultural and Educational Policy
Deniz Utlu, writer and journalist, former fellow of Akademie Schloss Solitude and the Goethe-Institut
Sarah Farina, DJ and producer, Musicboard Berlin fellow in Detroit

The discussion will be moderated by ADIR speakers:

Elke aus dem Moore, Director, Akademie Schloss Solitude
Silvia Fehrmann, Director, DAAD Artists-in-Berlin Program
Stefan Hilterhaus, Artistic Director, PACT Zollverein Essen

Post your questions via Slido: 

The Working Group of German International Residency Programs (ADIR) unites representatives of around 20 institutions active in Germany and abroad. Residency programs for artists, cultural workers, media makers and scientists endorse and facilitate creative processes, productions and a sustainable dialogue through a shift in perspective.

#ADIR2021

For further details on the ADIR and its members, see www.kuenstlerresidenzen.de