Freedom and Democracy

About

Freedom is a central prerequisite for democracy - and at the same time one of its most vulnerable cornerstones. At a time of profound social, political and technological upheaval, this is being put to the test: authoritarian tendencies are gaining influence, democratic institutions are losing trust and social debates are becoming increasingly polarised. The cultural sector is not unaffected by this either. The question of how freedom can be secured, communicated and defended in democratic societies is now posed with new urgency.

In this context, the Henry Arnhold Dresden Summer School 2025 is dedicated to the interplay between freedom and democracy. It examines the role of art, science and cultural institutions in dealing with current social challenges. How free are cultural institutions today? What does freedom mean in the digital age, in which artificial intelligence, data policy and surveillance create new conditions for participation and autonomy? How can democracy be conceived - and experienced - as a living practice? And what responsibility do museums, theatres, archives and other cultural institutions bear in this process?
Cultural institutions are not only repositories of collective memory, but also places of debate, reflection and vision. As contributors to political education, they convey complex content, create access to historical and current perspectives and invite people to participate in society. However, their autonomy cannot be taken for granted. Political influence, economic pressure and cultural instrumentalisation jeopardise their independence. This is precisely why it is essential to strengthen their role as free and critical spaces - as places where contradiction is possible and ambiguity is permitted.

In close cooperation with leading cultural institutions in Dresden, the Henry Arnhold Dresden Summer School offers a multi-layered, practical programme for young cultural professionals and researchers from Germany and abroad who work at the interface of art, politics and education. Participants can expect a ten-day, multi-faceted programme of intensive exchange - with lectures, discussions, workshops and an accompanying programme that provides a look behind the scenes: this includes visits to current exhibitions, rehearsal visits to theatre performances and personal discussions with curators, artists and managers of important cultural institutions. The focus is not only on theoretical reflection, but above all on concrete dialogue about challenges and scope for action in the cultural field. The Summer School offers the opportunity to engage intensively with questions of freedom and democracy in a cultural context. It sees itself not only as an academic format, but also as a place to meet and work together on ideas for an open and democratic cultural practice.

Please send your application, consisting of a letter of motivation and a current CV.
The letter of motivation should not exceed one page and should clearly state the connection to the topic of the Henry Arnhold Dresden Summer School 2025. You will be notified of your participation by the end of August 2025 at the latest

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