In a time of growing global challenges, such as advancing climate change, the increasing use of limited resources, and the profound effects of the Corona pandemic, it is more important than ever to shape and advance the sustainability transformation together with all social groups. The cultural dimension of sustainability has so far received too little attention in terms of the importance of the arts and the aesthetic – including the artistic in sustainability discourse and research. Art and culture are predestined for change processes in which it is a matter of daring to do something new, crossing boundaries and exploring the unknown. Art and culture embody an attitude and provide a space in which images and symbols of sustainability can emerge.
Within the project “Transformationstandem Wuppertal,” the project participants therefore want to explore what good examples already exist in Germany and internationally in the context and interaction of art, culture and sustainability. One focus is on what can be learned from other cultural institutions and which concepts have already been implemented that serve as a blueprint or good example. In the course of the exploration, the participants want to work out what is special about the creation of sustainability concepts for the arts and culture sector in general and Wuppertaler Bühnen und Sinfonieorchester GmbH (WBS) as a case study in particular. The process of conceptualization is participatory and explorative. The researchers determine an initial status quo and develop measures that will enable WBS to implement its own sustainability concept. Using WBS as an example, the researchers of the Wuppertal Institute want to better understand the role of art and culture as an actor in the sustainability context and shape transformation from this perspective. With this project, WBS wants to anchor sustainability in its own operations in the long term as well as bring it onto the stage and thus inspire others.
Artist: Dan Perjovschi, Documenta2022
TRANSFORMATIONSTANDEM
WORKSHOP INVITATION – Opera House Wuppertal-Foyer Time : on October 18 at 6.30 p.m 2022.
How do we get to a whole-society dialogue about sustainability in culture?
We would like to invite you to a workshop on culture and peacebuilding on October 18 at 6:30 pm to open a space where we can start to think about and discuss solutions for our common and sustainable future in Wuppertal.
Place : Opera House Wuppertal-Foyer
Time : on October 18 at 6:30 pm.
*The workshop will last 2 hours.
Moderation : Burcu Eke-Schneider and Janneth Wegener
18 October 2022
Transformationstandem Workshop – Opernhaus Wuppertal to work on culture and sustainability. At the Peace Tables, we met with diverse cultures, identities and listened their interests in a neutral space. We discussed how to move away from the competitive side of human nature towards reconciliation. We wrote a report of common wishes and suggestions. This will open up a space for decision-makers to hear the voice of grassroots. We believe that culture and art institutions can take steps for a sustainable and common future together. We will continue our peacebuilding activities on the following days.
25 October 2022
We completed the Transformationstandem. The workshop on “Dialogue with Society for a Sustainable and Just Future” took place in the foyer of the Opera House. We discussed how we can start to work at micro, meso and macro levels. Culture plays a huge role in finding intercultural and sustainable solutions. The implementation of the Peace Tables has been published in our Policy Brief. We would like to thank all supporters and the Transformationstandem team for giving us such an opportunity to implement local Peacebuilding transformative methods.
Data collected from UNDP’s Human Development Report 2021-2022. Check out the original report.
