As part of the programme „new undiscovered narratives“, we are announcing a two-month project residency in Chemnitz for one person/a tandem in September/October 2019, who will design the central location of the festival „Uprising of Utopias“.
This location is positioned in the heart of Chemnitz, directly behind the Karl Marx Monument and consists of two rooms. The visitors of the festival, that takes place from 6th to 10th November 2019, will use it as an island of Utopian thoughts. During this time the fall of the Berlin Wall will be commemorated for the 30th year.
The festival aims at visualizing utopias, re-measuring utopian spaces of past and future and promoting utopian thoughts in the city. The guiding question of the festival is: Which stories shape our ideas about the future? How do they shape our view of today’s pressing issues? Which narratives provide meaning and orientation for pluralistic, peaceful societies? The festival includes various narrative and experiential spaces. The location that is subject to this call will serve as playground for several participatory happenings, including, for example, a futurelab and two exhibitions.
The place represents old utopias as well as current conflicts. „Working Men of all Countries, unite“ is inscribed in different languages on the outside wall of the six storey building. In the past, the place was part of a Marxist-Leninist educational center, later it served as a souvenir shop. Today, the house behind the monument is the seat of the Saxon State Office for Taxes and Finances. For a long time the place was empty. Last year, in fall, it became the scene of racist mobilizations and appeared in international media. Currently, it is being used as an Open Space to meet and exchange.
The project residence should respond to questions like the following ones:
How can the tensions between the emptiness of the place and its immense historic connotations be resolved and directed towards something meaningful? How to make space for new things?
How to create different spaces for listening, dialogue and participation in there?
How to make people come and stay for a while? Utopian spaces Create utopian spaces in Chemnitz behind the Karl-Marx-Monument!
We would like a person/tandem to work on the questions with creative ideas. The concept ideas do not have to be limited to the space alone, performative elements or the integration of public space are also desirable. Invited are people from all sorts of fields, from stage designer and performance artist to architect or decorator. The person is free in the choice of means and form.
Conditions:
The project period is September-October 2019. The reconstruction works take place from 28.10-5.11.2019.
Before the 28th of October the location is accessible but it is not yet possible to work in it.
With the opening of the festival on 6th November 2019, the place will be introduced as a temporary utopian space.
The consultant(s) will receive an allowance of € 3,500 (gross). Additionally, costs of accommodation and travel are covered (upon agreement). The equipment budget is max. € 3,000.
The ASA-FF e.V. accompanies the consultants and links them to the city (culture, civil society, science, administration).
The deadline for applications is 30.06.2019. We are especially welcoming applications from people who are not only located in Germany, who also think about utopian spaces in a transnational perspective. The selection from all applications will be made by a jury consisting of Chemnitz-based actors from the field of culture, civil society and science.
Please send a cover letter, short conceptual outline, portfolio and a CV to:
Franz Knoppe – (contact for call-related questions)
The „Uprising of the Utopias“ Festival is the third festival of the ASA-FF e.V. in Chemnitz and the region after the »Undiscovered Neighbor« Theatre Meeting (covering the right-wing terrorist group NSU, 2016) and »Uprising of Histories« Festival (covering the role of past transformation narratives in current conflicts, 2018).