flow 2010

“fragile openness – the scopes of freedom in the Danube Region”

In 2010, the discussions and projects of the “flow”-community will evolve around the keywords “fragility”, “openness” and “freedom”. The picture of a young bird just out of the nest symbolizes these key-issues and their sometimes problematic complexity.

Definitions and meanings that relate to these keywords form into subtopics and touch upon problems that could be identified as relevant for the community on a local, regional and European level.

Transcending and moving through these three levels, group-discussions within the community will focus on the issues of: identity, social responsibility, open / closed spaces, ecological awareness, urban and rural dimensions, consumerism and initiative / solidarity. This will lead to statements with policy potential and concrete follow-up projects that will be presented on the last day of the festival.

The diversity of the “flow”-community, with its background in various fields of culture and science, guarantees fresh perspectives and up-to-date-discussions, assembling the bottom-up views and interests of this sub-cultural scene, showing what kind of energy comes from the bottom and thus influencing top-down interests.

subtopics:

In 2010, the discussions and projects of the “flow”-community will evolve around the keywords “fragility”, “openness” and “freedom”. The picture of a young bird just out of the nest symbolizes these key-issues and their sometimes problematic complexity.

Definitions and meanings that relate to these keywords form into subtopics and touch upon problems that could be identified as relevant for the community on a local, regional and European level.

Transcending and moving through these three levels, group-discussions within the community will focus on the issues of: identity, social responsibility, open / closed spaces, ecological awareness, urban and rural dimensions, consumerism and initiative / solidarity. This will lead to statements with policy potential and concrete follow-up projects that will be presented on the last day of the festival.

The diversity of the “flow”-community, with its background in various fields of culture and science, guarantees fresh perspectives and up-to-date-discussions, assembling the bottom-up views and interests of this sub-cultural scene, showing what kind of energy comes from the bottom and thus influencing top-down interests.

subtopics:

1. FRAGILE IDENTITIES – WHO AND WHERE AM I?

[First thoughts:] Since 1990, sped up by increasing globalisation, local, regional and European identities merge and fracture at the same time. The problems of inclusion, exclusion, cultural and collective identity are widely discussed. How can an artist/scientist deal with (their) personal and collective identity? How do these identity-issues influence science and culture locally, regionally, Europe-wide? [to be developed]

2. SOCIAL RESPONSIBILTY IN THE CRISIS?

[First thoughts:] The scope of social responsibility is changing. A term with formerly ideological implications needs redefinition, especially it times of an economic crisis, when the limits of an capitalistic system become visible. Is there a need or even necessity for artists and scientists – as individuals? – to take on special social responsibility, while it generally declines? [to be developed]

3. INFRASTRUCTURAL NET(WORK)S – BETWEEN OPENNESS AND CONTROL

[First thoughts:] How is the old cultural and scientific infrastructure in the Danube Region compatible with new agendas? In which way are new ideas controlled through the use of public money and infrastructure? How can an artist or scientist transcend this control and reach and open, broad-based discussion? How can the use of public space be a power-category and how can this control be counteracted to gain freedom of space and thus freedom of speech? [to be developed]

4. ACTING ECOLOGICALLY ON A LOCAL, REGIONAL, EUROPEAN LEVEL?

[First thoughts:] How is ecological awareness related to inclusion and exclusion? What kind of impact can this awareness have and how can it be actively achieved in a democratic society. How can scientist and artists raise awareness and influence society in this direction? How are urban ecology and ecological design related? [to be developed]

5. COMMUNICATING SPACES – URBAN / RURAL REFLECTIONS

[First thoughts:] Throughout Europe urban and rural life are different forms of living. How can this antagonism generate new ideas, how can this opposition impede creativity? In what way can urban and rural concepts differ in relation to social and cultural issues, democracy, openness… How can an artist and scientist position himself/ herself in this context? [to be developed]

6. CONSUMED BY CONSUMERISM

[First thoughts:] The „free market“ suggests freedom and openness, but at the time its mechanisms exercise another kind of control. Work and unemployment gain new dimensions. Spare time and therefore time itself is regulated by consumerism, while creativity and new thoughts decline. How is art and science part of this cycle? How can art and science keep their freedom and openness in a market-oriented society? [to be developed]

7. FREEDOM TO DO WHAT?

INITIATIVE ↔ ACTION ↔ SOLIDARITY

[First thoughts:] Freedom does not automatically generate initiative and (political) action. On the contrary, lack of individual action and also solidarity can be diagnosed, especially among young people. Or is this just a prejudice? Can there be too much freedom? How does the term “values” fit into this discussion? How can art and science redefine old terms and “activate” society? [to be developed]