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CITIZENS ART-LAB
Youth Exchange
PROTEST ART
IN URBAN SPACE
20 - 26 August 2022
Georgia
about Art-Lab
Five days of reflection, mental enrichment, exchange of experience and search for new strength and insight. A safe space in Ateni, Georgia, for those who create protest art in urban public spaces.
WAR IN THE CITY,
CITY AT WAR
It is important to reflect on the Russian military invasion of Ukraine and its consequences, to analyse the prerequisites for the nationalist, imperialist and colonialist attitudes which have caused a series of wars in recent decades. Their reflections can be seen in our cities: in their appearance, history, in memory and oblivion, and in relations between citizens.
How to show civic engagement in times of global upheaval through artistic practices?
How to express dissent and contribute to the anti-war movement?
How to initiate a public debate on complex topics in challenging times?
ART-LAB goal
To explore and reflect together on these issues and related topics, to exchange anti-war and protest experiences among participants, to support each other and develop new (project) ideas
Art-Lab approach
The lab focuses on an exploratory and interdisciplinary approach and horizontal interaction. Open-end approach does not imply an instant result: ideas for joint projects, their form and content will be defined together during the Art-Lab.
Program and timeline
Art-Lab will be located in the city of Ateni, Georgia (100 kilometres from Tbilisi and 180 km from Kutaisi)
20 August '22
Arrival of participants
21-25 August '22
Art-Lab program
The ArtLab program will last five full days. During this time, we will discuss current topics, try performative walks and other activities in the urban space, develop our own formats for working with public spaces, and also go on two trips together to the oldest Georgian city of Gori and Tbilisi.

The final program of the laboratory will be formed by curators and organisers who will take into account the background, motivations and experience of the selected participants. The program will also include proposals from participants, which are collected in the registration form.
26 August 22
Departure of participants
We invite to apply
  • People who live in Georgia, Poland, Germany and Armenia
    Including those who have relocated to these countries from Ukraine, Belarus and Russia.
  • Profile
    People whose projects are connected with the symbolic field and artistic practice in the city (artists, art activists, performers, researchers, participatory artists etc.);
  • 18 - 30 years old, but not only
    We are open to participants of older age as well. The age limits are justified by the availability of targeted funding, which is allocated for the ArtLab.
  • Motivation
    We are looking for those who share our willingness to interact with other artists, build international connections and continue to contribute to the anti-war art and movement.
  • Experience
    People with experience in implementing art initiatives in public spaces are welcome, especially those with experience in anti-war and protest art projects.
Terms of participation
  • The application form must be submitted by 17 July 2022.
  • 20 participants will be invited. Five people from each country: Georgia, Poland, Armenia and Germany.
  • Working language - English. Translation will be provided.
  • The main transport costs, accommodation and meals are covered by organisers.
  • In the selection process, the organisers and curators of the laboratory will pay attention to the applicants' motivation and connection to the art in urban space, as well as the interdisciplinarity of the group and gender balance.
Art-Lab Curators
The work of the participants will be guided by curators
  • Natalia Vatsadze
    Tbilisi, Georgia
    Artist, curator
    Bouillon Group

    Focus on the topic:
    ART AND POLITICS: WHERE AND WHAT ARE THE POINTS OF INTERSECTION OF THESE TWO SPHERES
  • Denis Esakov
    Berlin, Germany
    Multimedia artist and writer

    Focus on the topic:
    LANGUAGE STRATEGIES OF RESISTANCE: FROM IMAGINATION TO DECLARATION
  • Olga Sezneva
    Amsterdam, Niederlande
    Urban sociologist at University of Amsterdam, author, member of the international artists collective Moving Matters Traveling Workshop

    Focus on the topic:
    AGAINST ERASURE: ERASURE AND SILENCING IN THE CONTEXT OF WAR
Team of facilitators and organisers:
  • Lilia Voronkova
    Berlin, Germany
    Social anthropologist and curator. Member of the CISR eV team
  • Anastasia Puschkarewa
    Berlin, Germany
    Coordinator of non-formal educaitonal, socio-cultural and urban projects
    Member of the CISR eV team
  • Pasha Andreev
    Berlin, Germany
    Facilitator, producer of urban, cultural and educational projects. Member of the CISR eV team
  • Natalia Pavlenko
    Tbilisi, Georgia
    Facilitator, project manager. Director of Interra Saqartvelo
Registration form
Application forms are accepted until July 17, 2022
(information will be sent to the address you provide)
Your country of residence *
English language level *
Your age *
This is due to partial funding of our project aimed at working with young people. And there are also a few places for participants who are over 30 y/o.
if available
300-500 words
The results will be announced no later than July 20, 2022 (one month before the start of Art-Lab)
Organisers
  • CISR eV - non-profit organization, founded 2015 by social scientists, experts and civil-society actors. Its main goals are: to support and conduct sociological research, capacity building, educational, exchange and other projects and to promote civil-society developments in post-socialist states. Current projects of CISR e.V. are directed at approaching war challenges and supporting activists and communities from the project countries and in exile.
  • Interra Saqartvelo (Tbilisi)
    develops educational programs and trips as well as cultural events.
Partners
Citizens Art-Lab takes place in the framework of the project "A different city: war in the city, city at war" ("Stadt mal anders" - German)
Funded by the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union
The author is solely responsible for the content of this publication. The German Foreign Office/the Commission is not liable for the further use of the information contained therein.
Contact
If you have any questions, please contact

Anastasia Pushkareva
a.puschkarewa@cisr-berlin.org
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