Saving hope: theatrical artivism in spaces of conflict – Wroclaw

In the last two days of the Eco-Arts Residency in Poland, an important symposium was organized by the Instytut im.Jerzego Grotowskiego (Grotowski Institute) together with the Theatre in Conflict Zones Network of the International Theatre Institute of UNESCO about the work of various artists in conflict zones. The symposium was in a hybrid form as many artists participated online and also the public could watch the interventions via streaming. In the Symposium very important speeches of artists from Palestine, Israel, Syria, Romania, Sri Lanka, Kurdistan, Ukraine were made. They spoke about their work in the conflict zones as art and theatre practitioners. Also, the second day was dedicated to an open dialogue between the participants about the meaning of saving the power of theatre, giving voice to and broadening the field of visibility of individuals and groups who have been deprived of their right to a safe life, including creative processes and relationship building. The schedule of the symposium included not only various interventions from artists or artistic groups that come from conflict zones or from artists that have worked in places with war, but also the screening of the documentary about the situation in Ukraine named as Hamlet Syndrom, the performance/installation “Border”  by Olena Matoshniuk, Antonina Romanova, Monika Wachowicz and also the work representations of Theatrical Rehabilitation Centre – Koma Şano (Rojava, Syria) named as “Umbrella of Hope”,  of Komîna Şano Afrin (Rojava, Syria) named as “Shadows”, and of  Active Theatre Movement (Sri Lanka) that presented their work in “Theatre of Pain in Northern Sri Lanka” and the performance preparation Under the Starry Afgan Sky (Afghanistan/UK/Germany). During those two days, the participants had the chance to exchange ideas and learn about the perspectives of artists from different parts of the world who, using theatrical and performative tools, work with people with refugee experience, ethnic groups whose rights are violated, women experiencing patriarchal violence and the most vulnerable victims of crimes against humanity – children, war-affected communities and minorities. The idea was realized by Jarosław Siejkowski with the cooperation of Roberta Quarta, Rezan Saleh, Agata Siwiak, Fabio Tolledi and with the participation of Thomas Engel (ITI Germany and ITI Action Committee for Artists Rights).

More information on: http://en.grotowski-institute.pl/wydarzenia/saving-hope-theatrical-artivism-spaces-conflict/?fbclid=IwAR3Kgiyrs2K5wCGBL0mec9e_wKoayDsbfPMIoTAxU9aYfGCsgVj135nDBNI