re:creating europe - programme

contentsVI.

Run-up

VII. Re:Thinking

Europe - An Anthology

&Info + Tickets

Locations

Organisation

Partners

Timetable

3

I. Introduction

II. Contributors

III. Public

Programmes1 JUNE / 2 JUNE / 3 JUNE

IV.Exhibitions

V. Expert

Sessions

FORUM

We live in disquieting times. Europe’s future is hanging in the balance. What are the cultural values that unite Europeans? How can art and culture offer creative solutions for urgent issues? How can European artists shape the future of Europe?

On 1, 2 and 3 June 2016, innovative artists, visionary thinkers, politicians and economists from all over Europe gather in Amsterdam for Re:Creating Europe, the first Forum on European Culture. Together they will explore the role, value and impact of art and culture for Europe—in the past, present and

4 I. INTRODUCTION

future—during a three-day programme of debates, performances, lectures, film screenings, exhibitions and expert sessions.

We invite you to join us in our exploration.

We would like to thank all our partners for making this Forum possible.

Yoeri Albrecht (director De Balie)

Cees de Graaff (director DutchCulture)

5

&

I. INTRODUCTION

6 II. CONTRIBUTORS

Rem Koolhaas (architect, The Netherlands)

Stefan Hertmans (writer, Belgium)

Benjamin Barber (political theorist, United States)

Ulrich Seidl (film director, Austria)

Marjolijn van Heemstra

(writer and theatre maker, The Netherlands)

Chantal Mouffe (political theorist, Belgium)

Ene-Liis Semper & Tiit Ojasoo

(theatre directors, Estonia)

Arnon Grunberg (writer, The Netherlands)

Laurent Binet (writer, France)

Milo Rau (theatre director, Switzerland)

György Konrád (writer, Hungary)

Philipp Blom (historian, Germany)

Ivo van Hove (theatre director, Belgium)

Slavenka Drakulić (writer, Croatia)

Joan Nederlof (actress, The Netherlands)

Larry Siedentop (political philosopher, United Kingdom)

Tom Holland (historian, United Kingdom)

Ruth Mackenzie(artistic director Holland Festival, United Kingdom)

Luc Tuymans (artist, Belgium)

7II. CONTRIBUTORS

Luuk van Middelaar (political theorist, The Netherlands)

Rüdiger Safranski (philosopher, Germany)

Jet Bussemaker(politician, The Netherlands)

Tom Lanoye (writer, Belgium)

Claudy Jongstra (artist, The Netherlands)

Vasyl Cherepanyn (director of the Visual Culture

Research Center, Ukraine)

Taco Dibbits (director of collections Rijksmuseum,

The Netherlands)

Myriam Sahraoui (theatre maker, The Netherlands)

Frank Westerman (writer, The Netherlands)

Wende(performer, The Netherlands)

Ignacio Evangelista (photographer, Spain)

Jaïr Stranders (theatre maker, The Netherlands)

Mathieu Segers (historian, The Netherlands)

Dries Verhoeven (artist, The Netherlands)

Stella Ghervas (historian, Switzerland)

Phillip Blond (political philosopher, United Kingdom)

Jonas Staal (artist, The Netherlands)

and many othersFind out more about all contributors and their work at cultureforum.eu/forum-contributors/

ProgrammeRe:Creating

Europe

8 PROGRAMME

ProgrammeRe:Creating

Europe

Amsterdam1, 2 and 3 June

2016

9PROGRAMME

10 DAY 1

Re:Creating Europe: Official Opening

Join us to experience the highlights of Europe’s past and the visions that have shaped it. In a performance directed by Ivo van Hove, Europe’s most significant speeches are brought to life by European actors. Reflect with us on Europe’s identity, Europe’s defining moments, and find inspiration for a possible tomorrow.

What is Europe? Is it a continent, a collective culture, a bygone dream, a mutual feeling of solidarity, or the ability to forgive? In moments that have most defined European history, great thinkers—from François Mitterrand to Barack Obama—have found the words to express the very notion of Europe. Now, in 2016, a year that has seen Europe’s future hanging in the balance, we are kicking off Re:Creating Europe with a performance directed by one of the world’s leading theatre directors: Ivo van Hove.

This programme is made in association with Toneelgroep Amsterdam.

Date & time: 1 June, 16:00 – 17:30

Location: DeLaMar Theater, Mary Dresselhuys Zaal

Language: English

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12 DAY 1

If Cities Ruled Europe: Benjamin Barber

Can Europe’s future be found in the culture of the European city? A debate on the role of the cultural city with Benjamin Barber and Deputy Mayors for Art and Culture from various European countries. With music by Wende.

‘Cities are the future’, writes world-renowned political scientist Benjamin Barber, author of the influential work If Mayors Ruled the World. Cities are defined by a metropolitan culture that exceeds borders. Are European cities able to withstand the identity crises and rising nationalism that seem to be on a steady rise? And how does culture factor into this dynamic? Why, if at all, focus on the culture of European cities in our journey towards a shared European culture and identity?

With: Benjamin Barber and various Deputy Mayors for Art and Culture including Kajsa Ollongren (Amsterdam), Ritva Viljanen (Helsinki) and Berta Sureda ì Berna (Barcelona). The Dutch singer Wende will add colour to this special evening with a variety of European songs. Moderated by Daphne Bunskoek.

This programme is made possible by the City of Amsterdam, in association with the World Cities Culture Forum.

Date & time: 1 June, 20:00 – 22:00

Location: Het Concertgebouw,Kleine Zaal

Language: English

Photo: Steve Hopson

13DAY 1

14 DAY 1

1 Night, 12 Hours, 100 Questions – Interview Marathon

Architect Rem Koolhaas and political theorist Luuk van Middelaar will conduct a nonstop, 12-hour interview marathon with a list of exciting guests. Within a single night, over the course of 12 hours and armed with 100 questions, Koolhaas & van Middelaar will search for an answer to the complex question: What is Europe?

What is Europe? This question can be answered in countless variations on the theme. Rem Koolhaas and Luuk van Middelaar will go in search of the answer within the brackets of 12 hours, hoping to find it in nonstop conversations with impressive guests from the worlds of art, philosophy and politics. What does Europe mean to them? Is there such a thing as European culture and identity to begin with, and if so, what should define it?

This programme is made in association with Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam.

Date & time: 1 June, 18:00 – 06:00

Location: De Balie, Grote Zaal

Language: English

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15DAY 1

“I understand that, of course: politics is extremely

complex and coloured and difficult to address at

this particular moment. But a certain raw honesty

could work wonders in terms of creating an

urgency for Europe other than as something that is in permanent crisis and slouched on a couch.”

(Rem Koolhaas in The Mind and Body of Europe: A New Narrative, 2014)

16 DAY 1

Nationalism: The Virus That Went Viral

We are seeing a rise in nationalism throughout all of Europe. Will this mean the end of the European Union? Is nationalism a virus spreading through Europe that must be fought against?

Even in countries previously thought least likely to harbour such sentiments, people are turning inward, looking at their own country, culture and language. Nationalist thought is dominating the European discussion on the refugee crisis. It feeds into an increase in racism and explains the current popularity of right-wing, populist parties. Where do these nationalist sentiments originate? Is nationalism a shared European issue, or should we explain its popularity per region? Is nationalism a virus that must be fought against, and if so, the question remains: How? Thinkers from all over Europe will come together to discuss this European phenomenon.

With: Croatian writer, journalist and essayist Slavenka Drakulić, English political philosopher Phillip Blond, and others.

Date & time: 1 June, 20:30 – 22:30

Location: De Balie, Salon

Language: English

Re:Creating Europe. But how?

A young generation of creative European thinkers and makers is converging in Amsterdam. What do they have in common? What do they want to achieve? How will they contribute to shaping tomorrow’s Europe? In a meeting of experts lead by director, presenter, entrepreneur and performer—or as he would rather put it, ‘creator’—Lucas De Man searches for answers.

There is no escaping from the negative narratives surrounding Europe nowadays: Europe is in crisis, Europe is a long gone past, it is history. Yet, simultaneously, a group of young, creative thinkers and makers have decided now is the time to reimagine a future Europe for themselves and others. Europe desperately needs these ‘creators’, according to Lucas De Man. For his art project In Search of Europe, De Man travelled to 17 European cities in order to engage with this creative generation. Young creators from all over Europe are converging in Amsterdam for Re:Creating Europe, encouraging De Man’s search.

With: Marilli Mastrantoni, Ahmet Polat, Grzegorz Jankowicz, Paris Legakis, Anoek Nuyens, Eva Salmerón, Merlijn Twaalfhoven and many others.

This session is closed to the general public. Interested in participating? Send a short motivation to [email protected].

Date & time: 2 June, 10:00 – 13:00

Location: Rijksakademie van beeldende kunsten, ‘t Schip

Language: English

17

* Please note that the

expert sessions are

not open to

the public

DAY 2 - EXPERT SESSION*

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18 DAY 2

Europe Through the Eyes of Our Neighbours

When are you Europe’s ‘neighbour’, and when are you ‘European’? What does Europe look like through the eyes of artists who, in person and through their art, have crossed the borders of Europe? Old and new neighbours from Eastern Europe, North Africa and the Middle East will discuss the borders of European identity.

We live in a rapidly globalising world. Art and artists continuously cross Europe’s borders. However, what happens when, as an artist from outside of Europe, you come to work in Europe? Are you then still considered Europe’s ‘neighbour’, or European? Has Europe lived up to the expectations of these artists? And how does one’s art and one’s identity change after the moment of ‘crossing over’? Today, with Europe’s population being more diverse than ever, old and new neighbours from Eastern Europe, North Africa and the Middle East will discuss the ever-changing borders of European identity.

With: Vasyl Cherepanyn (Director of the Visual Culture Research Center in Kiev), Sam Samiee (artist, Iran/The Netherlands), Kareem Lofty (artist, Egypt/The Netherlands) and other residents from the Rijksakademie.

This programme is made in association with the Rijksakademie van beeldende kunsten and their residents.

Date & time: 2 June, 15:00 – 17:00

Location: Rijksakademie van beeldende kunsten, ‘t Schip

Language: English

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Investing in European Culture

To what degree are civilians and private businesses responsible for stimulating culture and cultural progress in Europe? Boudewijn Poelmann, chairman of the Goede Doelen Loterijen, talks about the value of private investment for Europe.

The most significant investment made by 3.5 million Dutch households in art and culture is done through the Netherlands’ Nationale Postcode Loterij. While a great part of the Dutch people support European culture in this way, it is not a fact that is often actively considered. What is the importance of this indirect investment in culture? What is civil society’s role in stimulating social and cultural initiatives? These questions will be discussed by Boudewijn Poelmann, CEO of Novamedia and Chairman of the Nationale Postcode Loterij, the Vriendenloterij, and the BankGiro Loterij. What do private businesses like the Nationale Postcode Loterij—the world’s third biggest private charitable donor—contribute to Europe’s art and culture?

With: Boudewijn Poelmann (Chairman of the Goede Doelen Loterijen) and others.

Date & time: 2 June, 16:30 – 18:00

Location: Het Concertgebouw, Koorzaal

Language: English

19DAY 2

20 DAY 2

We, the People of Europe

In recent years we have witnessed the rise of many civil movements in Europe, ones that circumvent conventional politics. Are these movements capable of transforming the people of Europe into Europeans? And what can culture contribute to the conversation?

When considering Europe, what comes to mind is usually bureaucracy or the accessibility of political institutions. Seldom does international collaboration or cultural diversity appear on the list. Though it seems the tides are turning: in times of ever-growing anti-European sentiments, the countering rise of movements that circumvent conventional politics is evident—movements that incorporate the ideas and wishes of European civilians, as seen in Spain’s 15M, or Varoufakis’s DiEM25. Can these movements unite the people of Europe, and reconnect them to their continent?

With: Slawomir Sierakowski (leader of Krytyka Polityczna, Eastern Europe’s largest network of institutions and activists), Jonas Staal (artist and founder of the New World Summit), and others.

Date & time: 2 June, 16:30 – 18:30


Language: English

“When parliaments become theatres, we have to turn theatres

into parliaments”(Miguel Urbán Crespo, Podemos)

Writing for Change Preview #2 Read My World

Can a writer’s words make a difference in Ukraine and Poland, two of Europe’s fastest changing countries? Together with the two young talented curators of Read My World 2016, journalist Laura Starink discusses the power of literature at Europe’s farthest eastern border.

Practically nowhere in the world can one find literature as important and influential as in today’s Eastern Europe. The region’s writers have been at the forefront of change for centuries, and they are all the more so today, with the war in Ukraine and Poland’s turn to the right. But what is the power and potential of literature in these two countries while undergoing major political change?Read My World selected two decisive and bold voices from the literary worlds of Ukraine and Poland to step into the role of curators. Journalist Laura Starink will discuss with them the role of the writer. How does a young generation of writers react to a rapidly changing political landscape?

With: Laura Starink (journalist), Grzegorz Jankowicz (philosopher and curator) and Iryna Vikyrchak (curator).

The Read My World Festival will take place on 6 - 8 October 2016 at the Tolhuistuin in Amsterdam. The festival is dedicated to introducing the writers and literature of Poland and Ukraine.

Date & time: 2 June, 17:00 – 19:00


Language: English

21DAY 2

22 DAY 2

On the Brink of History – Europe by Laurent Binet

Together with Laurent Binet, author of the bestseller HHhH, we travel through the Europe of the last century, analysing the effect of the past’s long shadow on the present day. What is the writer’s responsibility in representing European history?

In 2010, the French writer Laurent Binet published HHhH—a work that would soon become a worldwide bestseller. In his book, Binet brings to life a peculiar event in history: the assassination of the notorious Nazi official, Reinhard Heydrich. HHhH is a novel that deals with the author’s dilemma, stuck between the past and present, between fact and fiction. How should we remember Europe’s loaded history, and what can literature contribute to this remembrance?

Laurent Binet explores these issues in conversation with the Dutch journalist and non-fiction writer Frank Westerman. Travel along with these two authors as they navigate the planes of European history.

Date & time: 2 June, 17:00 – 19:00

Location: VondelCS, Studio A

Language: English

23QUOTE

“Once again, the writer stains the tree of history with his thoughts, but it is not for us to find the trick

that would enable us to put the animal back in its

carrying cage”

– Osip Mandelstam, The End of the Novel (epigraph, HhhH)

24 DAY 2

Made in Europe

Which contemporary artworks should we all know when thinking of the impressive, touching, shocking and innovative culture of Europe? Various ‘curators’ present their favourite artworks—new, forgotten, or unknown peaks of European art.

When we consider the highlights of European culture, often what comes to mind fits within Europe’s rich cultural historical canon: Aeschylus, Sophocles or Euripides’ riveting classic tragedies, famous Dutch landscape paintings and the grand masters of dramatic Italian cinema. How familiar are we, however, with the great works of our contemporaries, the ones that everyone should know? Which new artworks—music, theatre, installations and film—are important for today’s Europe? Various trendsetters from the world of music, theatre, and art will present new, forgotten, or unknown pinnacles of art in contemporary culture.

With: Taco Dibbits (Director of Collections, Rijksmuseum), Ruth Mackenzie (Artistic Director of the Holland Festival) Barbara Visser (artist), Wayne Modest (Head of the Curatorial Department, Tropenmuseum) and others.

Made in Europe (2014) is the title of a book by journalist Pieter Steinz on the cultural heritage of Europe.

Date & time: 2 June, 20:00 – 22:00

Location: Het Concertgebouw,Koorzaal

Language: English

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25QUOTE

26 DAY 2

The European Commissioner - Mugmetdegoudentand

In The European Commissioner, actress Joan Nederlof of the theatre group Mugmetdegoudentand takes the audience on a humorous journey through the thoughts and tribulations of the fictional European commissioner, Charlotte Hajenius. Is the dream of a democratic, united Europe a feasible one if each and every member state puts its own agenda first?

In her show, The European Commissioner, Joan Nederlof gives the audience a glimpse into the inaccessible politics and conflicting values of Europe. Is the dream of a democratic, united Europe a feasible one if member states keep putting their own agenda first? After the play, politicians and scientists discuss the dilemmas faced by European politicians, the gaps between European citizens and European politics, and the conflict between European ideals and national values. How can we create a sense of care and curiosity among the people of Europe for Europe itself, for its politics?

The play will be performed in Dutch, with simultaneous English translation in surtitles. The conversation afterwards will be held in English.

Date & time: 2 June, 20:00 – 22:00

Location: Melkweg, Theaterzaal

Language: Dutch with English surtitles and talk afterwards

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27QUOTE

28 DAY 2

Europe: Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité?

How do we relate our own situation to the hard- won democratic principles from 1789? Is a democratic turn—as seen in the times of the French Revolution—imaginable in contemporary Europe?

In 1789, the French people abolished the monarchy and took power into their own hands. This historical moment became the launching pad of our modern democracy. What were the circumstances in 1789 that pushed individuals to join arms and charge en masse? What democratic values were being fought for? And how do we relate our own situation to the hard-won democratic principles from 1789? During Re:Creating Europe, we will investigate the legacy of the French Revolution and its relevance for today’s Europe. A conversation on the state of democracy in Europe and the lessons learned from the French Revolution.

With: Tomas Vanheste (journalist, The Netherlands), and others.

This programme provides context for the Holland Festival performance Ça ira (1) Fin de Louis by the French director Joël Pommerat. This programme is made in association with Holland Festival.

Date & time: 2 June, 20:00 – 22:00


Language: English

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29DAY 2

Re:Thinking Europe - An Anthology

Is there such a thing as a European culture and identity? Leading thinkers Larry Siedentop, Tom Holland, Philipp Blom and Stella Ghervas, discuss.

What connects Europeans? Is there such a thing as a collective European identity, or are Europe’s various cultures too different to have a common ground? Forum European Culture has put together a canon of answers from the past—from Isaiah Berlin to Jean Monnet—and invited leading thinkers such as Larry Siedentop, Tom Holland, Philipp Blom and Stella Ghervas to consider these in light of current-day European reality. These visions, both classic works and future classics, have been collected side by side in an anthology titled Re:Thinking Europe. During the official presentation on 2 June, various authors will share and discuss their insights.

With: Tom Holland (historian, United Kingdom), Stella Ghervas (historian, Switzerland), Larry Siedentop (political philosopher, United Kingdom), Philipp Blom (historian, Germany), and others. With an introduction by Mathieu Segers (historian, The Netherlands).

Go to page 61 to get to know more about Re:Thinking Europe - An Anthology.

Order Re:Thinking Europe - An Anthology online at www.cultureforum.eu

Date & time: 2 June, 20:30 – 22:30


Language: English

30 DAY 3

Import/Export by Ulrich Seidl

Dare we turn our gaze to the ultimate ‘outsiders’ of European society?

The 2007 film Import/Export, directed by the celebrated provocateur Ulrich Seidl, follows two wandering souls on the edge of society and confronts its viewers with the economic, political and cultural gaps that divide Eastern and Western Europe. An acutely meaningful film in today’s divided Europe.

Arnon Grunberg x Ulrich Seidl

What vision can be found in the grating, controversial films of Ulrich Seidl, enfant terrible of European cinema? Arnon Grunberg meets the Austrian director Ulrich Seidl.

As a young child, Seidl’s parents had set their hopes on his becoming a priest, but Ulrich Seidl would follow a different path altogether, becoming one of Europe’s most celebrated yet controversial film directors. What drives Ulrich Seidl in the making of these confrontational works? Famous Dutch writer Arnon Grunberg enters in conversation with the Austrian filmmaker, discussing his life, work and inspiration, touching on questions such as: What is the director’s role in Europe? And what is the current state of Europe’s society? How does Ulrich Seidl, with his unique view on societal issues, reflect on today’s Europe?

Before this programme begins, Import/Export will be screened at 11:15. Tickets are available separately. A combination ticket can also be purchased.

Date & time: 3 June,11:15 – 13:45

Location: De Balie, Filmzaal

Language: English subtitles

Date & time: 3 June,14:15 – 16:00


Language: German, with simultaneous translation in English

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Import/Export

32 DAY 3

György Konrád: Writing Life, Writing Europe

How does Europe shape a human life? The answer will be explored in a theatrical journey through European history by Marjolijn van Heemstra, following the life of Jewish-Hungarian writer György Konrád.

The Jewish-Hungarian writer György Konrád (b. 1933) is the ultimate embodiment of Europe’s tumulus 20th century. As a boy, he escaped the horrors of the Nazi concentration camps. In 1956 he saw at first hand the unfolding of the Hungarian revolts. He defended individual freedom during the Communist rule, and continued his campaign through and after the fall of the Berlin Wall as a determining voice in the Hungarian democratic opposition. Throughout it all, he remained a determined believer in European culture and its strengths. How might such a person, whose life story has been so defined by European history, view today’s Europe? It is this vision that György Konrád will share. Theatre maker Marjolijn van Heemstra will convey the life and oeuvre of this exceptional writer.

With: György Konrád (writer, Hungary) and Marjolijn van Heemstra (theatre maker, The Netherlands).

Date & time: 3 June, 12:00 – 13:45

Location: DeLaMar Theater, Mary Dresselhuys Zaal

Language: English

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33

“If we are looking for an answer to the question of

what holds Europe together, I would say without

hesitating: its symbolic culture, the arts, literature, including Europe’s religious and secular literature, all of which existed hundreds and thousands of years before our continent’s economic

and political alliance.”

(György Konrad, Why Europe?)

Photo: Lars van den Brink

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38 DAY 3

Culture for Nature Preview of Leeuwarden 2018

How important is our relationship to nature in considering Europe’s future? In a preview of Leeuwarden 2018, European Capital of Culture, artists like Claudy Jongstra draw attention to Europe’s rich but vulnerable natural environment.

The natural environment in which people live greatly defines their identity, and should be considered an important building block for our future. What is the relationship between nature and European culture? Can an increased awareness of Europe’s natural environment help us in creating a broader European identity? And how do we interact with nature in securing a sustainable future for Europe?

In a preview of Leeuwarden 2018, European Capital of Culture, artists like Claudy Jongstra use their work to draw attention to Europe’s nature in times of political and economic unrest.

With: Claudy Jongstra (artist, The Netherlands) and others.

Date & time: 3 June, 15:00 – 17:00


Language: English

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40 DAY 3

Fort Europa

In 2005, Flemish author and playwright Tom Lanoye wrote his piece Fort Europa, a razor-sharp commentary on European values. For Re:Creating Europe, Tom Lanoye will once again perform his more-current- than-ever piece. What is there left to defend, if our belief in Europe seems to be gone?

The continent that considers itself the inventor of democracy and equality is standing on its last legs. In Fort Europa, Tom Lanoye brings to the fore a tired Europe, tarnished by wars, by the Holocaust and by capitalism. It is within this landscape that five individuals search, with little result, for the remains of a European civilisation. Now, Tom Lanoye’s more-current-than-ever Fort Europa is back on stage, supported by musicians Nicolas Rombauts and Teun Verbruggen.

Following the reading, Tom Lanoye will enter in conversation with thinkers and politicians on the urgent issues on which Fort Europa touches. What European values are worth protecting?

With: Tom Lanoye (writer, Belgium), Sophie in ´t Veld (politician, European Parliament, The Netherlands), Philipp Blom (historian, Germany) and Caroline de Gruyter (journalist, The Netherlands).

The play will be performed in Dutch. The conversation afterwards will be in English.

Date & time: 3 June, 14:00 – 16:00

Location: Theater Bellevue, Grote Zaal

Language: Dutch (performance) & English (talk afterwards)

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42 DAY 3

Beauty Verhalen Salon

Close your eyes, make yourself comfortable and listen to the intimate stories of the people of Slotermeer and Molenbeek.

Theatre company Zina | AdelheidFE and Belgium’s Kraaitheater respectively took to the streets of Amsterdam and neighbourhoods of Brussels to collect stories from locals and visitors: from those who came in search of safety and happiness, but often faced a harsh reality in the promised land. In the audio installation Beauty Verhalen Salon, life stories from both cities are explored.

Date & time: 3 June, 15:30 – 16:45&18:30 - 19:30


Language: Dutch

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43DAY 3

Molenbeek 2016

Can theatre unite us in times of fragmentation and radicalisation? As a theatre maker, director or writer, how can you react to very recent and emotionally charged events such as the attacks in Brussels? What can be said and for whom do you speak? We present two theatrical reflections on Molenbeek by Stefan Hertmans and Myriam Sahraoui.

A morning in Molenbeek, Brussels. Everything is quiet in suburbia. A young woman is on her way to the police office. She has a request of a specific sort that the kind officer cannot answer.

For Re:Creating Europe, Stefan Hertmans wrote the play Molenbeek 2016 which will be performed during the Forum. In the play, the sister of a radicalised boy speaks. She explores questions of violence, charity and responsibility. After the performance, we will start a conversation on the role of art, engagement, representation and the recent developments in Molenbeek.

After the play a discussion will follow with Stefan Hertmans (writer, The Netherlands), Myriam Sahraoui (theatre maker, The Netherlands), Johan Simons (theatre director, The Netherlands) and others.

Before and after the programme the audience can listen to intimate life stories from Slotermeer and Molenbeek in the audio installation, Beauty Verhalen Salon.

Date & time: 3 June, 16:45 – 18:30


Language: Dutch

44 DAY 3

Staging Democracy with Chantal Mouffe

What change can artists bring about in light of Europe’s failing democracy? Belgian political philosopher Chantal Mouffe, known worldwide for her radical notions of democracy, theatrical duo Tiit Ojasoo & Ene-Liis Semper and theatre director Milo Rau discuss.

Democracy, one of Europe’s cornerstone values, is currently facing difficult times: think of Hungary, Slovakia, Estonia, or more recently, Poland. High time to re-evaluate our notions of democracy. Can artists provide us with an alternative perspective? What can artists mean for Europe’s wavering democracy? And how do they envision a renewed European democracy?

Political philosopher Chantal Mouffe, known worldwide for her radical notions of democracy, will give a lecture. Afterwards she will enter in conversation with the Swiss-German theatre director Milo Rau, whose artistic work (from City of Change to The Moscow Trials) allows the audience to experience the theatre as a platform upon which citizenship and democracy can be played out, and also with the Estonian theatrical duo Tiit Ojasoo & Ene-Liis Semper, who founded a fake political party that managed to turn Estonia on its head.

This programme is made in association with Holland Festival.

Date & time: 3 June, 17:00 – 19:00


Language: English

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46 DAY 3

Look Into the Soul – Rüdiger Safranski on the State of Europe

What’s going wrong in Europe? Can the European ideal still succeed? The renowned German philosopher and writer Rüdiger Safranski analyses the character of European culture and identity.

The European character has never quite been analysed with the same care and vigour as shown by the renowned German philosopher and writer Rüdiger Safranski. Even though Safranski’s work is full of the beauty and knowledge that European culture has to offer, he is still concerned about the current state of Europe. During the Forum, Safranski will discuss the very soul of Europe as it is defined today, with the future of Europe in uncertainty. Is Europe’s great cultural variety a burden or a blessing? Should European countries put their national consciousness aside to give Europe a fighting chance? And what is Germany’s current position in Europe, considering their initially optimistic leadership is being put to the test?

This programme will be in German, with translation into English. This programme is made possible by the Goethe-Institut.

Date & time: 3 June, 17:30 – 19:30


Language: German, with English translation

47DAY 3

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Re:Creating Europe: Final Statement

Join us on the final evening of Re:Creating Europe, when artists, writers, thinkers, politicians and the public will come together in the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam for an interdisciplinary imagining of European culture in the past, present and future—the starting point for recreating Europe in the years to come.

On the last evening of Re:Creating Europe artists, writers, thinkers, politicians and the public will come together in the Stedelijk Museum for a final meeting. After three days of new encounters, important debates and inspiring exchange, this final evening is not a closure such as is customary. Instead it is a new beginning, an interdisciplinary imagination of what our European culture has been, is and, most importantly, could be. This evening forms a starting point for the recreation of Europe in the future.

Date & time: 3 June, 20:00 – 23:00

Location: Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam

Language: English

Songs for Thomas Piketty – Dries Verhoeven

What is the role of the needy in European society? In his installation, Dutch artist Dries Verhoeven brings the outsiders of European society into focus, confronting passers-by with begging ghetto blasters.

In recent years, Europe has seen an unprecedented cry for help. Waves of refugees are appealing to Europe’s hospitality, struggling countries are requesting financial aid, and poverty is on the rise among European citizens. According to the famous French philosopher Thomas Piketty, the gap between the rich and the poor will widen ever more in the coming decades. In his installation, Songs for Thomas Piketty, Dries Verhoeven demands that the act of asking for help gains public visibility. In and around the Leidseplein, one of Amsterdam’s busiest spots, passers-by are confronted with begging ghetto blasters and made to wonder: What role do the needy have in European society?

www.songsforthomaspiketty.com

Date: 1 - 3 June

Location: Leidseplein

48 EXHIBITION

After Schengen – Ignacio Evangelista

What happens to the European Union’s old border posts between member countries after they have fallen out of use? Over a period of three years, Spanish photographer Ignacio Evangelista explored the old borders throughout the European continent.

Starting in 2011, the Spanish photographer Ignacio Evangelista spent three years travelling through the European continent in order to document old border posts between countries within the European Union. In 1985, the Schengen Agreement enabled those within the European Union to travel freely. This meant that, over time, many border posts were deserted, neglected or repurposed. Evangelista photographed these relics of history. How visible are the old European borders?

On 2 June at 19:30, Ignacio Evangelista will talk about his exhibition, After Schengen.

50 EXHIBITION

Date: 1 - 3 June

Location: De Balie

Ruins of Europe – Lars van den Brink

Dutch photographer Lars van den Brink travels through the European continent in order to capture European culture. In his newest photography series, Ruins of Europe, Van den Brink presents European history through the imagery of 15 ruins.

In his new photography series, Ruins of Europe, Lars van den Brink presents European history through the imagery of 15 ruins: extraordinary places that bring to the surface European history and culture, connecting the past with the present and at the same time reminding us that the present will, one day, become the past. At a time when Europe appears to be splitting at the seams, Lars van den Brink focuses on connections: a shared European history and culture.

52 EXHIBITION

Date: 1 - 3 June

Location: DutchCulture

Propaganda by the People

Europe is in need of a new story—one not told by Brussels or national governments, but by Europeans themselves. It is from this starting point that documentary-makers Arnold van Bruggen, Rogier Klomp and graphic designer Janneke de Rooij travelled through Europe, collecting the stories of its people along the way, and allowing them the chance to create their own European story: Propaganda by the People.

For many, Europe nowadays is synonymous for the European Union and its unwieldy bureaucratic system of governance, overregulation, indecipherable laws and treaties. Propaganda by the People proposes a different European story, told by the European people, in the form of an animated propaganda film. Now, Amsterdam’s turn has come. What is your propaganda for Europe?

54 EXHIBITION

Date: 1 - 3 June

Location: De Balie, Foyer

56

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EXPERT SESSIONS*

Expert Session #1 – The Value of €uropean Culture

How can we measure the economic value of European culture?

In 2008, the financial crisis hit Europe. The fall of the stock market dragged the cultural market down with it, and culture budgets were the first to be hit by cutbacks. Theatres, orchestras, artists and cultural institutions were forced to close their doors. In times of drastic political and economic change, culture is often the most overlooked value: we tend to forget that the cultural industry is the third largest economic sector in Europe and accounts for 4.2% of the EU’s GDP. Time to rethink culture in economic terms. In cooperation with the European think tank Bruegel and the consultancy firm Strategy&, we investigate the economic value of culture for Europe.

With: Arjo Klamer (Professor of Economics of Arts and Culture at Erasmus University, The Netherlands), Elizabetta Lazzaro (cultural economist and Professor of Creative Economy at HKU, The Netherlands) and Luc Tuymans (artist, Belgium) and others. Date & time: 3 June, 9:00 – 12:00Location: De Balie, Salon

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Expert Session #3 – The Value of European Pop Music

What is the true value of European pop music?

The music industry is not only the third biggest employer in the European creative economy, but is also arguably the most democratic of cultural disciplines: one would be hard pressed to find someone who isn’t listening to music on a daily basis. Constant innovation is imperative. The European pop music market is made up of both national and international markets, contributing to the rich cultural diversity in Europe. But what is the true value of European pop music? This expert session has been organised in cooperation with Eurosonic.

With: Peter Smidt (Creative Director of Eurosonic, The Netherlands) and others. Date & time: 2 June, 10:00 – 13:00 Location: VondelCS, Franse Kamer

Expert Session #2 – Culture & Social Well-being

Why is culture essential for our social well-being?

In times of political distress and economic uncertainty, not many people will turn to culture. But isn’t culture an essential value, especially in times of uncertainty? Think, for example, of the enormous popularity of Ernest Hemmingway’s A Moveable Feast after the Paris attacks in November 2015. With that in mind, this expert session will focus on the immaterial value of culture. How does culture contribute to social cohesion and social well-being in Europe? To what extent are cultural practices able to connect people, or help them make sense of the world in times of crisis?

With: Pier Luigi Sacco (Chair of the European Expert Network on Culture, Italy) and others. Date & time: 3 June, 9:00 – 12:00Location: De Balie, Salon

EXPERT SESSIONS*

58 EXPERT SESSIONS

Expert Session #4 – History and Identity

What is the historical narrative of today’s Europe?

Europe’s history is an evolving narrative based on a story of wars and peace, unity and diversity; it is a story of prosperity, of a space of shared values open to the world. This is the European story we have shaped together and of which we should be proud. This representation of history and cultural heritage faces many challenges in a time of a rapidly changing Europe. With the arrival of new populations from all sorts of backgrounds and ethnicities, the question arises: How can we reflect on our cultural heritage at a time when Europe’s demographic is changing at a rapid pace? For this expert session we have cooperated with L’Internationale.

With: Charles Esche (Director of Van Abbemuseum, Eindhoven, The Netherlands), Bart de Baere (Director of Museum of Contemporary Art, Antwerp, Belgium) and Feran Barenblit (Director of Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art, Spain) and Diana Pinto (historian, France) and others. Date & time: 3 June, 10:00 – 13:00Location: Castrum Peregrini

Expert Session #5: The European Cultural City

What defines the European cultural city?

The city is the central cultural hub. It is the place where culture is explored, produced and enjoyed. More than being a magnetic destination for tourists, the city functions as an epicentre for locals as well: culture feeds the city. But what is quintessentially European about our cultural cities? What is the role of the cultural city, when compared to the cultural state? And how are European cities perceived from outside the continent?

With: Benjamin Barber (political theorist, United States) and others. Date & time: 2 June, 10:00 – 13:00Location: Castrum Peregrini

“It’s not totalitarian, it’s not a blueprint, but it’s having the self-confidence, time, and freedom to doubt. That is the essence of Europe”

– Mathieu Segers (Professor of Contemporary European History), Kiev, October 2015

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Run-up to Re:Creating

Europe

In the run-up to Re:Creating Europe, we travelled to cultural institutes in three important European cities: Kiev, Warsaw and Sofia. Dutch artists and thinkers teamed up with local artists, scientists and curators to exchange their perspectives on important European topics—from European borders to citizenship—and to explore the role of culture in various regions of Europe. The ideas and results of these exchanges are included in various ways in the programme of Re:Creating Europe.

RUN UP

“Great engaged theatre reminds you that you are a citizen with duties and responsibilities”

– Anoek Nuyens (theatre maker) at The Red House for Culture and Debate, Sofia, March 2016

60 RUN UP

“If not we, others will shape and imagine the future of Europe”

– Maria Hlavajova (Artistic Director of BAK) at The National Audiovisual Institute, Warsaw, December 2015

“Engaged theatre seems to be the only way to give voice to the outsiders of

European society” – Neda Sokolovska, (theatre maker) at Red House Centre for Culture and Debate, Sofia, March 2016

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61ANTHOLOGY

Re:Thinking Europe brings together leading international thinkers—from Philipp Blom to Kalypso Nicolaïdis and Larry Siedentop—in a feverish quest to better understand Europe’s present state. They engage in the paradoxes and puzzles of European identity and present new answers to the eternal question regarding ‘the essence of Europe’.

In addition to these current-day reflections, a selection of often-

What is Europe? This question is ever more pressing, as present day Europe wallows in crisis—its deepest since the process of European integration took off in the 1950s. This current state of affairs sets the stage for the anthology, Re:Thinking Europe.

Re:Thinking Europe – An Anthology

overlooked texts that have proved to be of fundamental importance for Europe has been assembled: speeches, essays and thoughts by Jean Monnet, Konrad Adenauer, Charles de Gaulle, Milan Kundera, Margaret Thatcher, György Konrád and Barack Obama, among others. During the official presentation on 2 June, various authors will share and discuss their insights. See page 29.

62 DAY 3

shop Re:Thinking Europe – An Anthology is available for purchase at www.cultureforum.eu

Published by Amsterdam University Press, thanks to the generous support of the European Cultural Foundation

“It is [also] transparent that our room for action is narrowing with every passing day, but instead of imagining and constructing the societies we want to live in thirty years hence, we are closing our eyes to the necessity of change.”

(Philipp Blom in Re:Thinking Europe – An Anthology, 2016)

63TICKETS & INFORMATION

• We recommend purchasing your tickets online at www.cultureforum.eu • Tickets are also available at the box office of De Balie. Open daily from 16:30 to 21:30. Kleine-Gartmanplantsoen 10, Amsterdam • Discounts apply for students, CJP, Amsterdam Stadspas, De Balie Cultural Pass and Museum Card members (only at Stedelijk Museum).

• Passe-partouts are not available for Re:Creating Europe. Tickets need to be bought for each programme separately. • More info: www.cultureforum.eu

TIP!Sold out? The Forum on European Culture operates with a waiting list for sold-out programmes. One hour prior to the programme, the waiting list will open at the specific location.

Plan Your VisitFor more information about public transport, last minute offers and frequently asked questions go to www.cultureforum.eu.

Forum Hub De Balie is the central meeting point for Re:Creating Europe. The information stand will be open:

June 1: 15:00 - 23:00June 2: 08:30 - 23:00June 3: 08:30 - 20.30

Stay UpdatedVisit our website and sign up for our weekly newsletter, and follow us on twitter and facebook to stay updated on the latest news and events.

• cultureforum.eu/newsletter• facebook.com/cultureforum• twitter.com/cultforum

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1 De Balie Kleine-Gartmanplantsoen 10 T 020 205 535 128www.debalie.nl

2 DutchCulture Herengracht 474T +31 (0) 20 6164225 www.dutchculture.nl

3 DeLaMar Theater Marnixstraat 402 T 0900 33 52 627www.delamar.nl

4 Concertgebouw Concertgebouwplein 10T 0900 671 83 45www.concertgebouw.nl

5 Stedelijk Museum Museumplein 10 T 020 5732 911www.stedelijk.nl

6 Theater Bellevue Leidsekade 90T 020 5305301 www.theaterbellevue.nl

7 De Melkweg Lijnbaansgracht 234aT 020 5318181www.melkweg.nl

8 De Rijksakademie van beeldende kunsten Sarphatistraat 470T 020 5270 300www.rijksakademie.nl

9 VondelCSVondelpark 3 T 035 671 7915 www.vondelcs.nl

10 Castrum Peregrini Herengracht 401T 020 623 528 7www.castrumperegrini.org

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Curators Yoeri Albrecht, Director De Balie Cees de Graaff, Director DutchCulture

Programme team Marije Ligthart, Project Manager & Programme Coordinator Anne-Marijn Epker, Project Officer Merlijn Geurts, Project OfficerRobert Kieft, Project OfficerKlaartje Bult, Project OfficerJulia Muller, Intern

Production David Nelissen, Head of Production Ka Yan Tang, Production

Communication & Marketing Lotte Kroese, Head of Communications Margot van Oosten, Communications Officer

Martine Willekens, International PR OfficerPeter Smet, Web Editor Kyrill Hartog, Intern

Advisory Board & Partners Adriana EsmeijerBarbara VisserCoen TeulingsMathieu SegersSimon ReininkKatherine WatsonLeendert van DrielPeter MensingTino Wallaart

Design Van Lennep, Amsterdam

WebsiteSPRIGS

ORGANISATION

About De BalieDe Balie is a well-known platform and centre for the freedom of speech, contemporary art, politics, culture, cinema and media, situated near the Leidseplein in the heart of Amsterdam. Through talk shows, cinema, art, debates and theatre, De Balie mixes several points of view in a wayward and creative fashion.

About DutchCultureDutchCulture is the strategic advice agency for international cultural cooperation, creating activities worldwide. DutchCulture works with—and for—the cultural sector, the government and the diplomatic network both in the Netherlands and abroad. DutchCulture is commissioned by the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science; the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the European Commission.

66 THANK YOU…

We would like to thank…

Forum on European Culture is an initiative of DutchCulture and De Balie.

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TIMETABLE←

Wednesday 1 June

Thursday 2 June

DeLaMar Theater

Het Concert-gebouw

16:00 – 17:30 Re:Creating Europe: Offi-cial Opening

10:00 – 13:00Re:Creating Europe. But how?

15:00 – 17:00Europe Through the Eyes of Our Neighbours

16:30 – 18:00Investing in European Culture

20:00 – 22:00Made in Europe

20:30 – 22:30Re:Thinking Europe: An Anthology

17:00 – 19:00Writing for Change - Read My World

20:00 –22:00Europe: Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité?

20:00 –22:00The European Commissioner

17:00 – 19:00On the Brink of History – Laurent Binet

16:30 – 18:30We, the People of Europe

20:00 – 22:00 If Cities Ruled Europe: Benjamin Barber

20:30 – 22:30Nationalism: The Virus That Went Viral

De Balie, grote zaal

10:00

10:00

16:00

16:00

22:00

22:00

12:00

12:00

18:00

18:00

00:00

00:00

14:00

14:00

20:00

20:00

De Balie, Salon

Rijks-akade

mieHet Concert-

gebouwDe Balie, Grote Zaal

De Balie, Salon

VondelCSMelkweg

18:00 – 06:001 Night, 12 Hours, 100 Questions – Interview Marathon with Rem Koolhaas & Luuk van Middelaar

SCHEDULE SCHEDULE

SCHEDULE

Friday 3 June

ongoing exhibitions

• Songs for Thomas Piketty – Dries Verhoeven / Location: Leidseplein• After Schengen – Ignacio Evangelista / Location: De Balie • Ruins of Europe – Lars van den Brink / Location: DutchCulture• Propaganda by the People / Location: De Balie

DeLaMar Theater

11:15–13:45 Import/Export (film screening)

14:15-16:00Arnon Grunberg x Ulrich Seidl

17:00–19:00Staging Democracy with Chantal Mouffe

12:00–13:45György Konrád: Writing Life, Writing Europe

14:00– 16:00Fort Europa

20:00–23:00Re:Creating Europe: Final Statement

10:00 16:00 22:0012:00 18:00 00:0014:00 20:00

De Balie, grote zaal

De Balie, filmzaal

De Balie, Salon

Theater Bellevue

Stedelijk Museum

15:30–16:45 Beauty Verhalen Salon

16:45-18:30Molenbeek 2016

expert sessions (not for public)

• #1 – The Value of €uropean Culture 3 June, 9:00 – 12:00 Location: De Balie, Salon

• #2 – Culture & Social Well-being 3 June, 9:00 – 12:00 Location: De Balie, Salon

• #3 – The Value of European Pop Music 2 June, 10:00 – 13:00 Location: VondelCS

• #4 – History and Identity 3 June, 10:00 – 13:00 Location: Castrum Peregrini

• #5: The European Cultural City 2 June, 10:00 – 13:00 Location: Castrum Peregrini

18:30–19:30 Beauty Verhalen Salon

17:30–19:30Look Into the Soul – Rüdiger Safranski

15:00–17:00Culture for Nature Preview of Leeuwarden 2018

re:creating europe - programme

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