FREIRAUM II - 2019-2020
An initiative of Goethe-Institut
[network] [platform] [projects] [conferences]

About FREIRAUM 

​Freiraum (Free Space) is a project of the Goethe-Instituts in Europe first launched in 2017, in cooperation with 53 actors from culture, science and civil society. For the first phase of the project (November 2017-March 2019), around 40 European cities explored the questions:

What is freedom in Europe today? Where is it endangered? How do we strengthen it? What are the issues that come up when citizens, sociologists and artists think about the concept of “freedom” in very local terms? What problems are observable in a city? 
​

FREIRAUM II

Launched from Thessaloniki in October 2019

In 2019, Goethe-Institut launches the second phase of the project.

The relaunch of Freiraum starts from Thessaloniki in October 2019, with a series of discussions and public events. In the following months, the Freiraum network continues the activities throughout Europe, deepening the creative research on the state of freedom in Europe and proposes new re-imaginings for the future through the vision of artists, creatives and public engagement.
Freiraum II in Thessaloniki, October 2019. Video: Citizenmotion Brussels.
Freiraum II in Thessaloniki, October 2019. Photos: Angelos Tsompanidis.

September-October 2019
​Freiraum II Relaunch - Pre-Events in Thessaloniki
In collaboration with ArtBOX's Project LABattoir ​​

Workshop: SANDMEN, dreaming in/of Europe - 30/9-2/10
​
​Led by actor-director Thomas Velissaris (monstare art group), the workshop is an introduction to “SANDMEN – dreaming in/of Europe”, a participatory performance realised on 9-10-11 and 20 of October at the Port of Thessaloniki’s Pier A -a popular hangout location- using LABattoir’s tools: the mobile studio and the mobile stage. 
​
Workshop: Post Europe - a work in progress - 30/9-2/10

​A workshop by artist Elli Chrysidou aiming to create an installation on our perception of Europe today and our dreams for Europe in the future. The outcome is presented as a work-in-progress during the Freiraum II activities in Thessaloniki, with an outlook to travel to Freiraum II’s partner cities in the upcoming months, where local artists can contribute to the work’s evolution.​

October 2019
​Freiraum II - Relaunch Events in Thessaloniki
In collaboration with ArtBOX's Project LABattoir ​​

Conference
Post Europe - 3 approaches for the future of Europe

​19/10, 17:00-21:30
​
The conference tackles “Post-Europe” through 3 approaches that could shape the future of Europe in relation to the global context: art for social change, commoning and post-industrial design. Besides, these approaches are central within the philosophy of Project LABattoir, and as such, have contributed, through talks, workshops, theoretical research and practice, to the conceptualisation and design of the project’s tools for the activation of community and public space: Freevolous City Stage and the Mobile Studio.

Thanks to the Mobile Studio, the conference is broadcasted live on LABattoir's YouTube Channel, providing the possibility to members of the FREIRAUM network and other audiences to watch and contribute to the discussion taking place in real time through the submission of comments or questions. 

The conference closes with a live music interaction with the installation “Post-Europe: a work in progress”.​

Participatory Performance in Public Space
Sandmen, dreaming in/of Europe

9, 10, 11 & 20/10, 19:30-21:30 - Goethe-Institut & Port of Thessaloniki
​
Conceived & Directed by Thomas Velissaris (monstrare art group)
With the dramaturgical contribution of theatrologist Janna Tsokou

​A participatory performance in public space, “SANDMEN, dreaming in / of Europe” seeks to record and represent the visions and dreams of the residents of Europe today: What do they want for Europe? What do they envision for it and within it? What kind of dreams do they have as citizens or residents of Europe in the era of Post-Europe?

Installation / Performance
Post-Europe - a work in progress

19-21/10

By artist Elli Chrysidou, with the contribution of workshop participants
​
The installation is loosely based on the workshop held in the context of the pre-events that took place earlier in September-October. The artist directed the workshop participants in the methodology of designing and art installation, and involved them in the process of producing parts of the installation content. 

Opening night improvisation: Giorgos Klountzos-Chrysidis (drums)

Live Audiovisual Performance
Freevolous City Stage - Bilal Yilmaz - AND.ID

21/10, 20:00

​A unique live audio visual performance created especially for LABattoir’s Freevolous City Stage by Bilal Yilmaz (among the most significant emerging artists in Istanbul, with participations in both the Istanbul Biennales - of Contemporary Art and of Design) AND.ID (one of the most established electronic music artists in Greece, often invited to play in big festivals and famous clubs around the world), and curated by Lydia Chatziiakovou (ArtBOX, LABattoir).
​
18:00-19:00 OPEN SOUNDCHECK
An electronic music performance production workshop presented by THEMA: before the show, the artists will showcase the techniques they use to produce it.

Exhibition
Poetry Meets AR

19-21/10
​
Curated by Anastasia Panagou
​
Photography, poetry and augmented reality are brought together in this exhibition, showing us around LABattoir project’s neighbourhood - as it is, as it could have been described by poets and as imagined by the participating creatives aided by technology.
​
FREIRAUM II
2019 - 2020
​The Freiraum network will deepen the creative research on the state of freedom in Europe’s cities and will propose new re-imaginings for the future through the vision of artists, creatives and public engagement.
Thessaloniki
19-22 October 2019
Pre-events: 30 September - 11 October 2019
PicturePhoto: Martin Ebert
Interview with the Secretary General of the Goethe-Institut Johannes Ebert
Freiraum partners at the second workshop in Bratislava in cooperation with Milan Zvada (Záhrada, Banská Bystrica) on 20-22.11.2019