What can art achieve in regions affected by crisis? How do artists engage in fostering human connections and peaceful conflict transformation, and what are the indispensable conditions for this? The «Art in Conflict» series explores fundamental questions of international peacebuilding through dialogues with practitioners and scholars from diverse disciplines and backgrounds. In the format of roundtable conversations, with two guests at a time, the series addresses specific topics in this field, drawing on both practical experiences and theoretical reflections. The discussions are moderated by the team of artasfoundation, the Swiss foundation for art in conflict regions, which has been initiating and organising art projects since 2012.

A vibrant civil society requires independent structures and networks. Their significance becomes particularly evident when state institutions are weak, being rolled back or authoritarian in nature. In a conversation with Vigen Galstyan (curator and founder ManBan Archive of Visual Culture), joining online, and Yifei Chen (artist, editors-in-chief Prickly Paper, co-initiator Tofu Stand), joining on-site, we explore how non-governmental cultural initiatives can take shape in China, Armenia, and beyond. The exchange between such initiatives, a mutual learning process grounded in their own resources, is more crucial today than ever.

Spontaneous participation on site is always possible. Online participation is possible with prior registration. Free entry. The event will be held in English.
For the event on 14. January, please register here.

Subscribe to the current programme of the «Art in Conflict» discussion series via this link.