Fair action & failure in transcultural artistic collaboration

Why we do what we do

For over five years, we have been engaged in an ongoing development process with bridgeworks, marked by both learning successes and many moments of failure. Committed to working as transparently as possible and in alignment with ethical principles of fairness (fair cooperation), we actively strive to resist the hierarchization of cultures.

Our network now encompasses over 100 artists and creatives from around the world, including musicians, dancers, media professionals, theater makers, and authors, whose fundamental mindset is shaped by open-mindedness. Together, we engage in constant efforts, guided by the spirit of fair cooperation*, to promote cross-border and equal networking.

From romanticizing to reality, let's face it...

Fair cooperation is still too rarely a reality in the international and transcultural artistic cooperation culture, despite many efforts. This is evident not only in the composition of juries and decision-making structures, the diversity of personnel (including in our core team), the audience, and the program, but also in questions such as:
 

• Who cooperates with whom and with what ideas?
• What conceptions exist regarding power dynamics and competencies?
• What views are held about canon, methods, and structures?
• What (financial, temporal, knowledge...) resources are available?
  
  

When we talk about perspective shifts, participation, and the redistribution of knowledge and power, as well as our audience, we want to address these questions earnestly.Before a new annual theme, linked with our partners, is implemented and made public, we have already worked intensively with our partners, both domestically and internationally, for 1-2 years:

• We have found each other through research trips and initial meetings
• We, each party separately, have decided to work together
• We have collectively discussed and established expectations, possibilities, and core values of fairness
• We have familiarized ourselves with each other's political, societal, and social contexts
• We have jointly selected an annual theme relevant to both parties.
  
  

However, taking this seriously also means being honest about the fact that we often fall short of the demands of fair cooperation. As actors in the independent scene, we can often respond flexibly and quickly to changes, but we are often forced to act quickly and 'as simply as possible' due to resource constraints and funding constraints.

Our idea of fair transcultural cooperative relationships that enable genuine exchange and perspective shifts is anything but simple. Committing to a culture of fair cooperation brings about changes in systemic and structural ways of working. It challenges us to continuously discuss new methodological knowledge, question established knowledge, and break structural habits.

Spaces with reduced hierarchy or perhaps just transparent hierarchy, as well as careful, barrier- and diversity-sensitive work settings (in projects, meetings, rehearsals, and events), are initially incredibly labor-intensive - they require time, attention, and relationship-building).