2013 European Forum of History and Arts

The third project from the series „European Forum of History and Arts“ entitled „Global Cultures – New Ways of Living Together“ took place in the South of Luxembourg, an area which offers a new, future-oriented focus on migration, on world cultures and on the search for new ways to coexist in harmony. The city of Differdange, which is famous for its steel industry, was chosen as the project site. In this area about 50 % of the population has a migrational background and the industrial and migrationial history is an important aspect of contemporary life in this part of Luxembourg. The city of Dudelange, where „Le Centre de Documentation sur les Migrations Humaines“ (CDMH) is located, as well as the Cité de Sciences in Esch-Belval.

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Significance 

With the Forum being held in Luxembourg new perspectives on the topic of “migration” are examined. Philosophical and ethical considerations on migration are placed further into the foreground of discussion.
This way recent and European migration, prejudices and their outlook for the future are analyzed sociologically, art-historically, philosophically and historically as well as being treated artistically.

The key goal of the project was to create a correlation between history, sociology, political sciences, art history and art.

The knowledge-based accession to the topic inspired and funded the artistic engagement. Other goals pursued include

// raising awareness for historical and cultural processes and for the historical heritage that emerged from them

// creating perspectives in an increasingly connected Europe

// a transnational dialogue and cooperation // a sustainable integration of those working in culture and
art as well as of educational and cultural institutions in Europe

// broadening of the intellectual horizons of all participants

// possibility of intercultural encounters and interdisciplinary exchange

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Approach and method 

Main Activities >>
The artistic workshops and the historical workshops worked closely with each other. The participants have developed project strategies without being tied to just one discipline. The leaders of the workshops have worked together in the interdisciplinary teams and supervised students from different disciplines (sociology, history, political sciences, architecture, landscape architecture, product design, multimedia, performing arts, visual arts, phonetics, language, photography). Scientific Preparation >>
Contrary to the previous projects, the development of the historical subject structure of the topic took place before the start of the intensive program. In the winter semester 2012/2013 the professors and the students of the scientific disciplines (history, political sciences) worked together on understanding of the topic. One of the educational objectives for the students of the scientific fields was the processing of the historical topics with regard to the artistic application at a later stage. Historical Workshops >>
The students of history, sociology and political sciences were invited to the intensive program in order to accompany the artistic workshops while providing scientific support as contact persons and advisors for historical matters.

The thematic introduction facilitates the preparation of the artistic engagement and it enabled the students to reflect on possible concepts and techniques even before the start of the project.

Artistic workshops >>
Video / Film / Sound
Photography
Space Art
Sculpture Metal
Paper Art
Visual Art Transdisciplinary fields such as graphics, painting, drawing, collage etc., staged with medial means, with a focus on installation and performance.
Performance Art, Dance, Body language Lectures/Interventions >>
Specific interventions in the form of short lectures by invited and participating lecturers and experts in accordance with the topic of the project and in the context of contemporary art during the intensive program were planned.

Project files

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Partners 

Patronage  >>
Octavie Modert
Minister of Culture, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg Thomas Egger
Counsellor for economy, tourism, culture, public safety and order in the city of Trier
President of the association Culture Space Greater Region in 2013 Claude Meisch
Mayor of Differdange, Luxembourg

Cooperating Universities  >> Hochschule Trier / Germany
École Supérieure des Arts de la Ville de Liège / Belgium
University College Dublin / Ireland
École Supérieure d’Art de Lorraine, Metz / France
Akademia Sztuk Pięknych Kraków (ASP) / Poland
Akademia Sztuk Pięknych Gdańsk (ASP) / Poland
Uniwersytet Opole, Instytut Sztuki / Poland
Université Luxembourg / Luxembourg

Invited Universities  >> Université du Québec à Montréal / Canada
State Academy of Arts / Georgia
Academy of Fine Arts and Design, Bratislava / Slovakia
Accademia di Belle Arti di Brera Milano / Italy
Kansas University, USA
Hochschule der Bildenden Künste Saarbrücken/ xm:Lab / Germany
National College of Art and Design Dublin / Ireland
Miami University John E. Dolibois European Center / Luxemburg
Bergen School of Architecture / Norwey

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Organization and support 

Organisation & Coordination  >>
Prof. Anna Bulanda-Pantalacci Assistance  >>
Jennifer Zietek, student
Mirko Luxenburger, Intern Support, Local Organisation  >>
Service culturelle de la Ville de Differdange, Luxembourg
Tania Brugnoni
Réjane Nennig Le Centre de Documentation sur les Migrations Humaines, Dudellange, Luxembourg
Antoinette Reuter (DEA)
Marinella Rinaldis Organisation of Artistic Workshops  >>
Prof. Anna Bulanda-Pantalacci (University of Applied Sciences Trier, Germany) Support  >>
Katharina von Christen
ArtEtCulture ASBL, Wellenstein Luxembourg Coordination of history Workshops >>
Le Centre de Documentation sur les Migrations Humaines (CDMH)
Antoinette Reuter (DEA)
Marinella Rinaldis
Université Luxembourg
Dr. Denis Scuto Documentation (Graphics, Editing, Layout)  >>
Dipl. Des. Simone Scholtes