Our society is diverse. But this diversity is not visible or sufficiently represented in all areas of society. With this event, we are taking a closer look at the field of art and culture, which interacts with social developments like no other field, because it can reflect and criticise society and show other (sometimes still unimagined and irritating) views, perspectives and visions. Art and culture offer space to deal with questions of belonging, de/identification and diversity in formats that can reach and address people on other levels of perception and offer new food for thought. It is all the more crucial to actively promote diversity in art and culture, to use its potential and to enable participation.

In our event on 22.9.2021 at the Weltclub Dresden (Königsbrücker Str. 13, 01099 Dresden), we would like to enter into conversation with citizens and experts from the art and culture sector (especially from eastern Germany). We will explore questions such as: Is the diversity of (East German) society sufficiently represented in art and culture? What is the significance of diversity in art and culture for our society? What cultural policy course must be set for a more diverse and participation-oriented art and cultural landscape (especially against the background of the upcoming Bundestag elections)?

We will involve the audience in the discussion via various (digital) participation formats in order to make a variety of perspectives visible. We cordially invite you to participate in our event and get involved.

To register for the events, please contact Juliane Kopitz by E-mail.

Round table with

Katharina Warda • freelance author & sociologist

Born in Wernigerode (Harz) in 1985, Katharina Warda lives and works as a sociologist and freelance writer in Berlin. In terms of content, her focus is on the topics of East Germany, racism, classism and punk. In addition to her doctorate at the Friedrich Schlegel Graduate School for Literary Studies, Warda is working on the audio project "Dunkeldeutschland", which tells of blind spots in German historiography after reunification. She is also currently designing a panel for the German Studies Association conference planned for autumn 2021. This will focus on East German non-white individuals and perspectives.

Anna Zosik • Research Associate, Federal Cultural Foundation

Anna Zosik is a research associate at the Federal Cultural Foundation, where she is responsible for the programme 360° - Fund for Cultures of the New Urban Society. She was also project manager for cultural education at the Zukunftsakademie NRW, is co-founder of "eck_ik büro für arbeit mit kunst" Berlin and teaching artist at the Carl von Ossietzky University Oldenburg.

Kanwal Sethi • filmmaker, political activist and chairman of the Dachverband sächsischer Migrantenorganisationen e.V.

Kanwal Sethi is a filmmaker and political activist born in India and now living in Leipzig (he is, among other things, chairman of the Dachverband sächsischer Migrantenorganisationen e.V.). While still in India, he founded a theatre group and at the same time wrote for literary and film magazines. In 1992 he moved to Germany and studied political science and economics at the TU Dresden. After several short films and documentaries, he made his feature film debut in 2011 with "Fernes Land". His next feature film "Once Again - Eine Liebe in Mumbai" was made in 2017/18 as part of a planned trilogy.

Ramin Büttner • Initiative 'Postmigrant Radio'

The Initiative "Postmigrantisches Radio"  exists since 2020 and the group describes itself as (post-)migrant, queer, BPoC and wants to give more representation to such voices. Diversity in a democracy is the starting point of the work, which is critically and artistically thematised through discourse, politics and pop culture and through the medium of radio. Because of the biographies and places of residence that are shaped by the stories of the former GDR, the project is currently aimed primarily at those who live, work, were born in and/or migrated to the new federal states. Due to their own experiences, the young, East German, migrant generation in particular lacks role models in politics. In addition to his work with the initiative "Postmigrantisches Radio", Ramin is involved with the project "Music Of Color", which was created through his own efforts, and is programme coordinator at Radio Corax in Halle an der Saale.
"Music Of Color" emphasises the promotion and visibility of black people and people of colour, the building of a community, and thus giving a chance to people whose perspectives are marginalised and who have little opportunity to participate in economic, cultural and political life. By promoting music, art and culture, "Music Of Color" wants to give these very people a voice and thus contributes significantly to diversity in the music scene in Leipzig. So far, this has taken the form of a regular series of events at the Institute for the Future in Leipzig. A place for networking and exchange as well as a stage for underrepresented people and music genres has been created. The events try to bring the club and dance scene closer together and focus on sharing and experiencing sound instead of line-ups and big names.

Moderation
Rudaba Badakhshi • ZEOK e.V.

Rudaba Badakhshi is a speaker, trainer and moderator specialising in: Transcultural education work, diversity, anti-racism, migration, flight and work, intersectionality and feminism. She studied art history and Romance studies in Jena, Berlin, Lyon and Leipzig (M.A.). Until 2020, she worked full-time at the City of Leipzig, in the Department for Migration and Integration. Since 2020, she has been working for the Dachverband der Migrantinnenorganisationen (DaMigra) as regional coordinator for Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia. She is currently studying part-time for a Master's degree in Public Management. She is active in various alliances, networks and advisory boards.

Further information on the event series "Townhall meets University" can be found on the website.

The kick-off of the event series can be viewed on YouTube.