New Narratives: THINKING ECONOMICS DIFFERENTLY

A Summit of Art, Theory, Politics + Civil Society
March 30 – April 2, 2017

Venue
Kunstgebäude Stuttgart, Schlossplatz 2, 70173 Stuttgart
www.kunstgebaeude.org
Video Archive including all contributions
Flyer/Program

Contributions by
Nabil Ahmed, Rheim Alkadhi, John Barker, Keti Chukhrov, Katja Diefenbach, Denise Ferreira da Silva, Gulf Labor Coalition / MTL Collective, Mohammad Abu Hajar, Srecko Horvat, Schorsch Kamerun, Hilary Koob-Sassen, PeterLicht, Neue Dringlichkeit, Boris Ondreicka, Dan Perjovschi, Elizabeth A. Povinelli, David Quigley, Simon Sheikh, Shuddhabrata Sengupta, Tools for Action, Enrique Matías Viale, We cannot build what we cannot first imagine, and others

Moderation
Peter Haury, Florian Malzacher, Katrin Mundt

Language
German, English (simultaneous translation)

Abstract
On the basis of a broad network of local cultural institutions—and strongly supported by the Ministry of Science, Research and the Arts of Baden-Württemberg—the establishment of a new annual “summit meeting” is planned for Stuttgart. It will be dedicated to the main sociopolitical lines of conflict and negotiate them in the spheres of the visual and performative arts, theory, and activism. The perspective here is expressly global.

The first edition of this new project will discuss alternative approaches to neoliberal financial capitalism that is based on algorithms, debt, and the myth of unlimited growth. How can such abstract structures be read, understood, and reinterpreted in face of their own contradictions? Which collective and individual forms of resistance are necessary in order to counteract the existing injustices and the mechanisms of exploitation and destruction? Which special potentials are harbored by poetry, imagination, and fiction for the concept of a different economy?

This first summit encompasses more than twenty lectures, performances, and music and film contributions from various academic, artistic, and activist contexts—regularly followed by workshops (including workshops for pupils). The main focus during the four days is on the exploration of diverse forms of articulation that go beyond the classical academic formats—and on an intense joint debate based on a wide spectrum of discourses.

In view of climate change, the neo-feudal drive of financial capitalism, increasingly strong nationalism and racism, as well as a populism that deliberately operates on the basis of disinformation and demagogy, our concern is to initiate long-term reflection on both political and aesthetic conceptions of societal change.

In so doing, we need to deal with the problem that a disturbing wave of political change is going on at present. With the growing number of demagogues who have been democratically elected (Donald Trump in the USA, Viktor Orbán in Hungary, Recep Tayyip Erdo?an in Turkey, Narendra Modi in India, Vladimir Putin in Russia, etc.), we are facing a shift toward societies in which nationalism, racism, sexism, and homophobia are politically implemented, and in which pluralism and freedom of speech are massively restricted. 

Thus, it is not a matter of fighting against neoliberal conditions only, but also against anti-democratic and neofascist tendencies, and it seems as if new languages, imaginations, and collective forms of agency are called for in such fight.

Moreover, the complexity of the current political, societal, and economic conditions requires a reconsideration of concepts such as class, solidarity, law, and justice, but also of our forms and tools of critique and resistance. The summit aims at offering a forum for exactly these concerns.

Further central elements are the Mediatheque-in-progress, which is to make materials on the various topics accessible, and a platform for local and international initiatives that wish to introduce their projects here and discuss them with others.

Program / (expected) Schedule
Thursday, March 30, 2017, 6 – 10 p.m.
Friday, March 31, 2017, 10 a.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 1, 2017, 10 a.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Sunday, April 2, 2017, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Entrance fees
free

Flyer and Program
New Narratives

Information / Registration / Press Contact:
gebhard_lehnerremove-this@remove-thiswkv-stuttgart.de
www.kunstgebaeude.org
Phone: +49 (0) 172 344 69 77

A Project by
Akademie Schloss Solitude, Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen, Schauspiel Stuttgart, Staatliche Akademie der Bildenden Künste, Theater Rampe, Württembergischer Kunstverein Stuttgart 

Idea and Concept
Christine Peters, Iris Dressler
In Cooperation with
Marie Bues, Hans D. Christ, Klaus Dörr, Martina Grohmann, Jan Hein, Jean-Baptiste Joly, Elke aus dem Moore, Katrin Spira

Main Support
Ministerium für Wissenschaft, Forschung und Kunst Baden-Württemberg

Supported by
Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen (ifa)

In Cooperation with
Die AnStifter
Fritz-Erler-Forum Baden-Württemberg
Hannah-Arendt-Institut, Stuttgart
Heinrich Böll Stiftung Baden-Württemberg
Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung Baden-Württemberg