Annual topic and cooperation 2025
the map is not the territory -
Constructs & Perception
The current social and political situation in Turkey – particularly the restrictions on freedom of expression and cultural spaces – highlights just how important it is to build bridges between artists from Germany and Turkey. The situation in Turkey is increasingly shaped by polarization and authoritarian tendencies. Many artists face repression and sanctions. These difficult conditions make artistic work more challenging, but also underline the urgent need for transcultural exchange and mutual support. Together with our partner Çıplak Ayaklar Kumpanyası from Istanbul, we will co-create an exchange in 2025 and 2026, guided by the central question:
How can we meet at all – across difference, distance, and perspective?
How real is real?
Our reality is not objective – it is told, interpreted, and constructed. Whether in Germany or Turkey, political narratives shape our thinking, form identities, and influence how we live together. The sentence by Alfred Korzybski – “The map is not the territory” – captures it precisely: what we perceive as reality is always a model, shaped by language, history and cultural constructs. Paul Watzlawick once said: “There is no objective truth – only different versions of reality.” And Yuval Noah Harari reminds us that nations, religions, and corporations exist only because we collectively believe in them.
Our reality is made – and that means it can be changed.
Who gets to speak – and who decides what may be said?
f everything is constructed, then we must deconstruct – including our own cultural conditioning. Our joint research topic with artists from Turkey is no coincidence, but the expression of a shared question. Across the world, public debates are increasingly shaped by populism and polarization.In Turkey, conservative narratives lead to growing repression of cultural workers. Critical voices are censored, and public discourse is tightly controlled. In Germany, it is disinformation and right-wing narratives that shift the boundaries of what can be said – often pushing them dangerously far to the right.
What is considered reality – and who gets to decide?
What happens when we start questioning those stories?
We want to encourage both artists and audiences to recognize simplified narratives – and to explore new ways of understanding the world.
Our Partners
Together with Çıplak Ayaklar Kumpanyası (ÇAK) – an independent arts collective based in Istanbul – we are bringing this collaboration to life. Since 2003, ÇAK has been shaping the contemporary dance and performance scene and engaging in international artistic partnerships.Together, we are creating a space for reflection and exchange – exploring perception, construction, and ambivalence.
Why Turkey – and why now?
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Artistic Freedom
Many cultural workers in Turkey face growing restrictions and are forced to find creative ways to continue their work.
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Dialogue & Perception
As a bridge between Europe and Asia, Turkey is a space of exchange – but also of projection. What images do we have of one another? What roles do media and history play?
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Cultural Connections
Germany and Turkey are deeply connected through migration and a shared history. These relationships offer a ground for artistic engagement with existing narratives.
