Art creates a space to change the world
As creators of culture in Germany, we are not above things, but stand on ground from which the greatest state crimes in human history were committed. In this country, art has already been defamed as degenerate and culture has been misused for propaganda purposes across the board. Millions of people were murdered or went into exile, including many artists.
Today, we see art and cultural institutions as open spaces that belong to the many. Our society is a pluralistic assembly. Many different interests come together and thus find themselves in the in-between. Democracy must be renegotiated on a daily basis - but always under one condition: it is about everyone, about each individual as a being of many possibilities!
Right-wing populism, which attacks cultural institutions as actors in this social vision, is hostile to the art of the many. Right-wing groups and parties disrupt events, want to interfere with performance schedules, polemicize against the freedom of art and work towards the renationalization of culture.
Their contemptuous treatment of people on the run, committed cultural workers and all those who think differently reveals how they intend to deal with society as soon as the balance of power changes in their favor.
- We, the undersigned NRW arts and cultural institutions, their interest groups and independent artists and cultural practitioners, take a clear stance against these attempts: The undersigned art and cultural institutions engage in open, enlightening, critical dialog about right-wing strategies. They shape this dialog with participants and the public in the conviction that the participating institutions have the task of further developing our society as a democratic one.
- None of the signatories offer a platform for nationalist propaganda.
- We reject the illegitimate attempts of right-wing nationalists to instrumentalize cultural events for their own purposes.
- We stand in solidarity with people who are being pushed further and further to the margins of society by right-wing extremist politics.
Racism is part of everyday life. Right-wing extremism is a symptom of it. This alliance not only wants to combat the symptoms, but also to have a profound effect. We are therefore examining our own structures and putting them up for negotiation. We must open up art and cultural spaces as well as our society so that we really become many!
Solidarity instead of privileges. It's about everyone. Art remains free!
Background
With this declaration, DIE VIELEN NRW wants to clearly articulate cohesion in art and culture as part of civil society against right-wing populist and nationalist tendencies. With this declaration, the arts and culture professionals are sending a socio-political signal that intervenes in our daily practice. Together, in NRW and nationwide, we are taking a stand for tolerance, diversity and respect.
Declaration of Die Vielen NRW - voluntary commitment
1. cultural institutions, art institutions, their interest groups or associations as well as independent artists and cultural workers are requested as signatories.
2. with their signature, the signatories agree to make the text of the declaration known within their own organization or working environment, e.g. among employees, ensemble members, curators, audiences and visitors, and to enter into conversation about it.
3. the declaration will be published on the website, in the program booklet, as a notice in the foyer and much more.
4. the signatories will be made visible on the homepage www.dievielen.de. A link is desired.
5. the golden glittering rescue blanket, the symbol of the many, should be used in connection with the declaration depending on the corporate design of the institution - whether as a flag, layout background, as an icon or golden shiny font (tool kit will be provided).
6. the signatories prepare information events, discussions and activities in line with the four levels of action of the declaration; the dates are communicated jointly via www.dievielen.de.
7. the declaration and the campaign will be published as part of their own press work and a central press conference with a deadline of November 9. Campaign launch activities such as the hoisting of the golden rescue blankets at cultural venues, initial information events, readings, etc. are realized independently and coordinated jointly.
8. the campaign for the Declaration of the Many has a regional character and is disseminated nationwide via regional associations of cultural workers as the "Berlin, Hamburg, Dresden, NRW and many more. Declaration of the Many" nationwide.
9 The signatories remain in contact with each other through regular meetings. They also undertake to critically review the mechanisms of exclusion in their own working environment as well as in the North Rhine-Westphalia Union of the Many. 10.
10. the signatories actively participate in a nationwide campaign with days of action, dialogue forums and the mobilization for a "Brilliant demonstration of art and culture - solidarity instead of privileges. It's about everyone. Art remains free!" in Berlin in May 2019 (probably Saturday, May 11, 2019).
11. the signatories commit themselves to mutual solidarity with cultural institutions and actors in the arts who are put under pressure by hate speech and vilification.
To sign the declaration or if you have any questions, please contact: nrw.erklaerung@dievielen.de
All information on the initiative and the list of signatories can be found at
