Re:Writing the Future – in Berlin and around the world

Exiled artists from around the world, cultural institutions in Berlin, and ICORN have come together to produce the festival Re:Writing the Future as a response from the global arts community to the turbulent times the world is facing. The online festival takes place from 25 to 28 of February 2021 and is open to the public. The programme has something for everyone: from debates, presentations, concerts, performances and readings streamed live from multiple locations in Berlin to a series of digital workshops to connect artists, cultural practitioners and city officials from around the world.

Initially planned to be held in parallel to ICORN’s annual General Assembly in 2020, the pandemic forced the organizers to reschedule and reimagine the festival. The result is a testament of the creativity and resilience that flourishes in challenging times and to the commitment of the Berlin community to support artistic freedom world-wide. The digital format opens up the programme to an even larger audience to explore key questions. How are urban cultures shaped and revitalized by the experiences of newcomers? How can cultural institutions confront the double challenges of growing illiberalism and the ongoing shutdown?

“ICORN is thrilled that Allianz Kulturstiftung and the City of Berlin have gone ahead with the amazing Re:Writing the Future festival, and that ICORN artists and ICORN cities are so generously invited to take part. While we still desperately miss the chance to come together in Berlin in real life and time, we look forward to celebrate freedom of expression and to all the creative encounters the digital Re:Writing the Future festival will offer.”

Helge Lunde, Executive Director ICORN

The festival places an important emphasis on artists and cultural practitioners who have been threatened because of their art and on those who are committed to keep that from happening again. ICORN’s Executive Director Helge Lunde will join festival curators and other organizers for the festival opening on Thursday, 25 February at 11:30 (UTC+1). Later that day, artists, activists and ICORN administrators from Barcelona, Mexico City, Rotterdam, Krakow and Pittsburgh will lead a workshop titled “Fearless Cities” at 16:00 (UTC+1). Another highlight will be the encounter between former ICORN resident Svetlana Alexiewitch and her Nobel Peace Prize in Literature colleague Hertha Müller at 17:30 (UTC+1). Other current and former ICORN resident writers and artists will be sharing their experiences and vast knowledge at many other sessions and events of the festival.

The programme is free and open to all, but participants must pre-register through this form. To see the full programme, please visit the festival’s website. You can also follow the latest updates on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

The festival Re:Writing the Future is carried out by Allianz Kulturstiftung, in cooperation with the DAAD Artists-in-Berlin Program and Maxim Gorki Theater Berlin, in partnership with ICORN and is funded by the Senate for Culture and Europe of the City of Berlin.