From 8 to 11 June 2023, the SODAS 2123 team is taking part in the “Traditions and Transitions” conference of the Trans Europe Halles (TEH) network of cultural centres, which is being held in Leipzig, Germany, hosted by Moritzbastei and Halle 14 cultural centres.
During this conference the representatives of the cultural centres will discuss some of the pressing questions of the time, such as How do art and cultural work respond to the ongoing transformation processes in Europe and the world? Migration, digitalisation, climate change, war and crisis of resources are challenging everyone of us. How do we deal with our own history, the heritage of abandoned buildings and how do we transform our cultural traditions into the future without loosing our roots and values? The theme of the conference gives space to reflect, to exchange knowledge and experience and to question the work and behaviour of the cultural centres.
Thinking about the past, values, roots and their continuation into the future is particularly important this year, as the Trans Europe Halles network is celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2023, which is also the focus of the Leipzig meeting.
Trans Europe Halles is one of the oldest and most dynamic cultural networks in Europe. They have been at the forefront of repurposing abandoned buildings for arts, culture and activism since 1983. Based in Sweden the network now has 140 members in 40 different countries across Europe – from Spain to Georgia.
The three founding pillars of the network are People, Arts and Buildings. People are at the heart of the network. People are both the driving force of cultural centres and their primary focus. TEH works hard for the benefit of its communities. Its ultimate goal is to build a society where all people can thrive. Buildings are the micro-universes. Centres transform abandoned buildings with creativity and imagination into places where anything can happen. They use arts and culture to create spaces where people can have fun, feel empowered and get inspired. TEH and its members believe in the power of arts and culture to change the world for the better. The centres use art to transform the reality around us and the perception of this reality.
About Moritzbastei
The cultural centre Moritzbastei in Leipzig is located in an old bastion that is the only remaining part of the ancient town fortifications of Leipzig, seven meters below ground level. It was commissioned by Moritz of Saxony in the 16th century and named after him. The Moritzbastei survived 400 tumultuous years, only to end up as a ruin of the Second World War. In the 1970s more than 30,000 students rebuilt the bastion and made it one of the biggest students’ clubs in Europe. Today Moritzbastei is run as a cultural centre: everyday concerts, film screenings, theatrical performances, readings, discussions or simply a mug of hot chocolate in the café, entice people to spend time here. https://www.moritzbastei.de/
About HALLE 14
As a non-profit art centre, HALLE 14 is a place for the presentation of contemporary art as well as a space for reflection and communication. It has been operating since 2002 in a listed historic industrial building on the grounds of the Leipziger Baumwollspinnerei (Cotton Spinning Mill). Taking advantage of the “luxury of emptiness” in the generous halls of this late 19th century industrial building, a group of art enthusiasts has over time created unique spaces for the presentation and production of art. Today, a multi-functional visitor centre with library offers 600 m2 for learning, reading and lingering. A 2,400 m2 exhibition hall is available as a presentation space for contemporary art. There are also a workspace for art education, 16 studios for international and local artists and seven workshops. https://www.halle14.net/
More about TEH network https://teh.net/
SODAS 2123 project and activities of LIAA are supported by the Lithuanian Council for Culture and Vilnius City Municipality.
