Filed under Art & Politics

CULTURE KLATCH | Indonesian government focuses on the nexus of culture and sustainable development in Bali forum

CULTURE KLATCH | Indonesian government focuses on the nexus of culture and sustainable development in Bali forum

Everyone knows that by investing in the arts and incorporating arts and culture into their economic development plans, counties can reap numerous benefits — economic, social, civic, and cultural—that help generate a more stable, creative workforce; new tourism; and more livable communities. But as long as cultural sustainability is framed in terms of promotion, national image, tourism and economic advantage alone, there will never be a true paradigm shift. Continue reading »

CULTURE KLATCH | Trans Europe Halles grapples with art for social change in Europe and the Arab world

CULTURE KLATCH | Trans Europe Halles grapples with art for social change in Europe and the Arab world

Twenty-five artists and cultural operators from Egypt, Jordan, Iran, Palestine, Lebanon, Morocco, Tunisia and Turkey will be guests at Trans Europe Halles Meeting 76. They will offer inspiration and examples of how they work in independent culture under harsh conditions and to share their stories of how culture actions can lead to social change and a more open society. Continue reading »

DISSENT VS. DIPLOMACY | Did the US exact revenge against Bulgarian-German writer Ilija Trojanov for his critique of America’s NSA surveillance powers?

DISSENT VS. DIPLOMACY | Did the US exact revenge against Bulgarian-German writer Ilija Trojanov for his critique of America’s NSA surveillance powers?

Ilija Trojanov, a Bulgarian-German author, was on his way to a Denver conference of the German Studies Association, and had been issued an invitation to appear at the Goethe-Institut’s “New Literature From Europe” Festival in November. “Barring Mr. Trojanov, an outspoken critic of America’s controversial surveillance powers, from attending an academic conference in the United States will hardly calm the anxiety our colleagues around the world are feeling about America’s electronic spying,” said Suzanne Nossel, executive director of PEN American Center. Continue reading »

REVOLUTION 2.0 | You must remember this: Egypt’s artists drove its Summer of Mass Re-Awakening

Make no mistake: artists led Egypt’s Revolution 2.0, which moved to depose its first freely elected Islamist president. The military’s action to oust Morsi was, in fact, but the final moving piece in Egypt’s complicated political domino. It should be remembered that this Summer of Mass Re-Awakening began as a culture war. It was a fight for free expression. It was a battle for Egypt’s soul. Continue reading »

Congolese choreographer/director Faustin Linyekula dances solo after profound dialogue with director Peter Sellars

Congolese choreographer/director Faustin Linyekula dances solo after profound dialogue with director Peter Sellars

Tonight, September 18, Linyekula returns to Florence Gould Hall to debut his autobiographical new work, Le Cargo, which tells of his 2011 return to Obilo, the Congolese village where he spent part of his childhood. Co-presented by “Crossing the Line” (the French Institute Alliance Française’s annual fall festival) in association with the Museum for African Art. Continue reading »

Putin’s Pussy problem |  As world awaits Russian court’s verdict, “Free Pussy Riot” protest actions become global

Putin’s Pussy problem | As world awaits Russian court’s verdict, “Free Pussy Riot” protest actions become global

Activists in more than 40 cities around the world (Dublin, Odessa, Melbourne, Barcelona, Tel Aviv, San Francisco, Vienna, London, Paris, Moscow and so forth) have joined forces on this very same day to organize political and performance actions that demand the freedom of Pussy Riot. A complete list of events around the world during “Free Pussy Riot Global Day” appears here. Continue reading »