Europe-wide multimedia events on identity and community
The European Club Nights
by Farid Tabarki
What?
A series of serious club nights in cities throughout Europe at large, combined with an exchange between them
About what?
The strengths and challenges of identity and community
Where?
Amsterdam, Belgrade, Berlin, Istanbul, Rome, Skopje, Tbilisi
When?
September 2010
On identity and community
The community perspective may be the nation state, or the world – or what people see as a cool community to belong to. On the political side, questions of self-determination and conflict resolution will be tackled, but also global problem solving and a common future cosmopolitan vision.
The second area is about the subtleties of identity, and the sometimes less subtle reactions to it. In dealing with the issue, a rights-based approach should be combined with a social one, focusing both on overcoming discrimination and fostering inclusion. Vulnerable groups to deal with include racial, ethnic and national minorities, women, GBLT and, given the target group of the project, young people. On the cultural side, this area is the place to discuss the role of the avant-garde, and the proper place of the subculture.
It should be noted that Europe is central to the theme of the project, but rather in terms of the locus than as the focus. In other words, we don’t focus on institutions, but compare and exchange between very different European cities and finding common ground in the process.
Club Nights and more
The European Club Nights in six cities are the panacea of the project. They are held on separate days in Spring 2010. Each of them has an audience of at least 100 people. These figures are modest – we aim at large-scale, vibrant events.
The content of the club nights – ranging from music via art to discussion – are decided in detail by all partners during the International Meeting of Curators. Each event invites a varied group of artists, VJs, opinion makers and others from the other participating cities.
The project will have a strong internet presence, relying on existing social networking portals to help shape a community, and the availability of video, photos and text to this community and the outside world.
The project results, including a research, many of the opinions expressed and the content created during the project, will also find its way to a printed publication.
Read the future impressions of a Club Nights guest from the Belgrade event in April 2010.
Organisers
Empowerplant and Studio Zeitgeist BV in co-operation with the "A Soul for Europe" Initiative
Contact
Project coordinator: Rindert de Groot, director of Empowerplant, member of Worldconnectors
Research coordinator: Farid Tabarki, director of Studio Zeitgeist BV, member of the "A Soul for Europe" Strategy Group.
