Narratives for Europe
‘Narratives for Europe’ is ECF’s over-arching theme from 2010 through 2012. It will be the connecting thread for our grants and activities.
A new web space brings together all work, insights and debates that arise in our search for new perspectives capable of crossing, and not defining, borders. The discoveries will also be showcased during a Narratives for Europe event in the autumn of 2012 in Amsterdam.
The Search: narratives and visions for today's Europe
People often do not see the need for Europe in a world often divided into the local and the global. This disconnection between Europe and its citizens is being filled with new versions of old nation-based narratives. So what are the new perspectives of Europe at the beginning of the 21th century? Which new narratives inspire young generations? There is a clear, urgent need to share our stories; to create new narratives for Europe – for today and tomorrow. Visit ecflabs.org/narratives and share those stories that keep Europe moving forward.
The Action: bringing it all together
In developing this initiative and web space, we are working with artists, young video-makers, writers, scholars and cultural activists from across Europe and beyond. The Narratives for Europe website is a space where experiences, and memories and perspectives and questions are being asked and reflected on - highlighted below - keeping you up-dated on all narrative-related activities.
Voices features columns from such prominent thinkers as writer Abdelkader Benali and Ummayya Abu-Hanna who will write about their own search for narratives — and the stories that arise in the process.
Abdelkader Benali - ‘It's time to come up with a new idea of what Europe is, drawing on the humane Europe as defended and described by writers such as Thomas Mann and Bertolt Brecht. A Europe that newcomers consider a refuge and not a hell. If not, Europe will not die from a lack of immigrants; it will die from a lack of light.’
Billboard will cover all the latest updates. From short reviews of new publications, to announcements of such ECF offline events as the ‘Narratives for Europe: Stories that Matter’ series of interviews, lectures and dialogues taking place at Amsterdam’s SPUI25, with the next guest in the series, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie on 18 April 2011.
Stories welcomes writers, thinkers, activists and other creative minds to share their visions. We will present the many artistic and cultural projects ECF has initiated, sponsored or partnered with, that deal directly or indirectly with European narratives. As examples: the latest room created by artist Filip Berte for his house of Eutopia and his blog, or a new clip by a young video-maker from ECF’s VIMEO channel.
Reading Room will include longer texts, articles, critical analysis and debates around the subject of European Narratives from social scientists, writers and journalists. The reports of ECF’s reflection seminars can be downloaded here, as well as links to work arising from our partners at the Vienna-based Eurozine and our ‘European Histories 2.0’ project.
Osvald is the creation of the cross-border collective Comixiade, initiated by Platform Spartak, based on personal and social observations from unknown corners of the continent. In close collaboration with illustrators, scenarists and anthropologists, Comixiade aims to visualise and contextualise the more unheard stories of Europe through the eyes of protagonist Osvald.
Join our unfolding story…
