Info

The international stage is experiencing significant upheaval. In countries like Hungary, Italy, and Poland, the arts have been under scrutiny for some time. Now, with an American president appointing himself as the head of the prestigious Kennedy Cultural Center and filling its board with members from his inner circle, the right’s influence on culture appears to be solidifying.

The power of art to evoke emotion, inspire, and mobilize is not immune to political agendas. Consequently, the pressure on artists and cultural institutions is noticeably increasing.

What does this mean for creators and organizations in practical terms? How does political interference impact their work?

During this event, VIERNULVIER’s Jong Panel, in collaboration with speakers Sara Leghissa and Orin Rodriguez, will explore these pressing questions. Instead of a traditional stage setup, we offer an intimate environment that encourages open and honest dialogue. Picture a kitchen table discussion, with speakers sharing insights from their personal experiences. How do they navigate change? How do we equip ourselves against political pressure? And how does the arts sector maintain its resilience?

We employ the ‘fishbowl’ method: a circular arrangement with an interactive inner circle where you are free to join or leave the conversation at any time. Interested in joining the discussion? Step in. Prefer to listen for a while? Leave a spot open and tune in.

This event will take place in English.

BIO Sara Leghissa

Sara Leghissa is an independent artist, Italian based. Their work embraces performing, making and curation and their practice arises from a need of connection and transformation with contexts and people. Through a principle of ecology of resources, they use as much as possible of what is already available in the space outside. They create systems and devices that try to be mimetic with the context in which they occur for intercepting different audiences. They have been co-founder of the collective Strasse, involved in site-specific production in public space. For the Italian scene, they co-organised Nobodys Indiscipline, NESSUNO and Sauna Never Dry, spaces for gathering, partying, community building and interdisciplinary practice exchanges. They have presented their artistic work in various contexts, such as Santarcangelo Festival (IT), ShortTheatre (IT), Triennale Teatro Dell’Arte (IT), far Festival (CH), Sareyett (PS), La Casa Encendida (E), Festival Parallèle (FR), Saal Biennal (EE), Mir Festival (GR), Beursschouwburg, Malta Art Biennial (MT), Fronteras Festival (MEX).

BIO Orin Rodriguez

Orin Rodriguez is an artist and performer who works around topics of queerness and transness, anti-imperialism and civic disobedience. They like working through various formats, drawing inspiration from collective storytelling and games. Currently, they are a member of the new four-person programming team in Studio Alta – a contemporary dance and performance platform in Prague.