Workshop | Kunst & Activisme: Breitner Studenten
Two young art students from the Breitner Academy share their experiences of artistic activism from their own perspectives. Drawing on the visual art they created as part of the ‘Dealing with the Real Stuff’ minor (Breitner Academy, Amsterdam University of the Arts), they explore how they, as artists, relate to social and climate-related issues.
Although both students feel a sense of commitment, they take different paths in this regard. One deliberately seeks confrontation and uses art to highlight urgent issues and make them open to discussion. The other, by contrast, opts for a gentler, more poetic approach, which leaves room for imagination, doubt and questioning. The art students do not always agree on how outspoken art should be or what responsibilities an artist has.
Following the personal stories and examples, we will engage in a discussion with the audience on this topic. Why do we choose to speak out or to remain silent in our work? When does art become activist? Should an artist take a stand? And how can different forms of engagement contribute to change?
Together, we explore what forms of engagement are possible and what different approaches to activism might entail. Building on this discussion, participants apply the questions and insights to their own practice: how can they create space in their own workplace for engagement with climate issues?
In this way, the workshop becomes not only a discussion about artistic activism, but also an invitation to examine one’s own position, explore new forms of engagement and reflect on how art and imagination can contribute to a different relationship with the climate.
Warming Up Festival: Culture Professionals Day
On Friday 20 November, Warming Up Festival, in collaboration with the Sustainable Cultural Sector Programme, is organising a special Culture Professionals Day. This event brings together the festival’s themes with the issues you deal with on a daily basis: just as with the wider program, everything here is intertwined.
After all, a great deal is also expected of the cultural and creative sector. We are hearing more and more about the role the cultural and creative sector can play in the sustainability transition of wider society. But what does that actually look like? Sometimes new regulations seem to clash with day-to-day practice. Not everyone creates work that focuses on environmental sustainability, and yet everyone can contribute to a positive climate footprint. How can you also ensure that environmental sustainability is fully integrated into your organisation’s policy, without compromising other important values?
The Art & Activism workshop is a free event taking place ahead of the Culture Professionals Day.
Description of the programme
- Introduction and getting to know each other – 10 minutes
- Discussion with students (led by lecturer Nathalie Roos) – 20 minutes
- Discussion with the audience – 20 minutes
- Hands-on activity in which the audience gets involved – 30 minutes
- Feedback and conclusion – 10 minutes
About our event partners
The workshop will be led by two students and one lecturer from the Breitner Academy, the teacher training programme in fine art and design at the Amsterdam University of the Arts.
