OUR COMMON GARDEN

forthcoming

OUR COMMON GARDEN is a transnational co-operation project for the purpose of developing new formats in the performing arts. The two-year project with successive workshops culminates in a three-week, permanent and simultaneous performance in three museums in Riga, Bonn and Venice, will enable especially young performers to contribute their perspective, creativity and courage to the challenges of Europe’s future. In terms of content, it utilises and refers to the metaphor of a common garden that needs to be developed. It is inspired by the ideas of French landscape architect and philosopher Gilles Clément. In his reflections on the garden he describes it as a political place, a place of migration, diversity, and utopia, a place of exchange and sharing, of constant change. We break his idea down to Europe: Understanding Europe as a shared garden means focusing on themes of shared responsibility, community and diversity. With its international teams, OCG focuses on the principle of co-creation and sharing in all its work steps. We are interested in interaction, constant exchange and the different perspectives of all those involved, including the visitors. Audience engagement is fostered through a scout-building process that empowers local participants to become active co-creators and ambassadors of the project within their communities. Preparatory workshops will be held with all these groups in the three countries. Digital tools will ensure a permanent exchange between the three locations during the three weeks. The permanent, interactive and intercultural performance is an innovative format which can be used as such or in a modified form as a prototype in the CCS for formats of encounters, exchange and creation. For the partners of the consortium, this project forms a sustainable basis for further joint projects due to its democratic and experimental form and an accompanying evaluation by the scientific partner.