Research in Society & Sustainability | Contemporary Art and Cultural Production
The major challenges of the 21st century and their effects – such as social inequality, the democracy and climate crisis, artificial intelligence – require fundamental and sustainable social transformations. Sustainability as a principle of action encompassing all areas of life and society and as a social practice requires complex thinking and action. In order to negotiate this complexity and the reasons, goals and strategies of sustainability, it is necessary to create open spaces for communication. In addition, collaborative action across different social groups in cooperation with interdisciplinary research, art and cultural production is essential.
Against this background, the focus area works in co-creative processes together with actors from various scientific disciplines, artistic and cultural fields of practice and civil society on the transdisciplinary research and development of open spaces for communication, education and action. On the one hand, these are intended to critically reflect on existing knowledge and enable new knowledge on urgent social issues and sustainable transformation. On the other hand, options for action for a sustainable society in line with the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (UN Agenda 2030) are to be developed. We seek to explore new ideas, spaces for action and strategies for cultural sustainability in the combination of theory and practice, as well as different critical and participatory cultural and artistic practices that are oriented towards everyday life and living environments. The focus is on socially engaged art and cultural work, cultural participation and mediation, democracy, diversity and planetary justice, which are particularly relevant as anchor points for a socio-ecological transformation and for processes of inclusion and exclusion.
In our understanding of art and cultural production as a critical and socially negotiable process, we assume that cultures and artistic productions can be tested and formed on a societal, social, ecological and economic level across disciplines and in cooperation with civil society – and that cultural change and social change in the sense of comprehensive cultural sustainability can thus be stimulated.
The focus area is aimed at artists, scientists and civil society actors who are interested in working together and would like to explore and develop questions, ideas and options for action for comprehensive cultural sustainability and a sustainable society. The focus area is open to (initial or already more concrete) ideas and considerations from interested people from MOZ and PLUS, which can be developed and implemented along a common interest – be it exhibitions, projects, new formats and collaborations, etc.
