Navigating Collective Landscapes

A seminar on the collaboration with self-organized migrant community art spaces between Berlin and Bremen

Nika Grigorian together with Ximena Gutiérrez Toro
Univeristy of Arts Bremen 

The transition from individuality to collectivity becomes an integral part of artistic practice. This process leads to the formation of new landscapes blurring the boundaries between individual arts and fields of knowledge. We collaborate and take on multiple roles, from artist to researcher, from curator to activist - navigating through collective landscapes.   

Collectivity involves different methods of sharing and ways of co-making. Such co-making adapts to changing contexts and leaves space for collaborative experimentation. This is how collective spaces emerge, creating an environment for participatory thinking and transformations. The seminar "Navigating Collective Landscapes" provides an insight into the artistic community practices of Bremen and Berlin's self-organised spaces, mostly focused on the ones powered by migrants. Guided by the principles of collaborative knowledge, we will look at diverse artistic landscapes through the lens of decolonial and feminist approaches. We collaborate and talk with collectives/collective spaces such as Frauen machen Druck (Berlin), Nachbarschaft Moabit (Berlin), Circa 106 (Bremen), Kultur im Bunker (Bremen). At the end of our seminar we all share our collective knowledge within the group and compile a list of collectives and methods together.

Based on practical learning, this seminar emphasizes non-hierarchical dialogue and collective experimentation. Through the practice of routing collective visits and interactive discussions, we will talk about the complexities of collective art practices and make connections to Bremen and Berlin's art spaces. 

Informed by the critical literature of scholars such as Adrienne Mareen Brown, Katja García-Antón, Helmut Draxler we will analyze the collectivity locally and globally. By applying flexible methodologies, the seminar gives us the opportunity to experiment, to co-create within self-organized artistic spaces. Additionally, we talk about building partnerships and integrating our artistic practices into community frameworks. 

Timetable: 
Bremen
26.October 2024, Saturday, 10.00 - 18.00 
Day 1: Sewing Theory Location Bremen 

27.October 2024, Sunday, 10.00 - 17.00 
Day 2: Visit spaces in Bremen 

Berlin 
9.November, Saturday, 10.00 - 18.00 
Day 3: Visit spaces in Berlin 

10 November, Sunday, 10.00 - 15.00 
Day 4: Back to our collective fabric