The International Dresden Dialogue 2017 starts with a workshop conference consisting of three half-day sessions, each comprising of a panel discussion, interventions from the relevant practice and a subsequent round table (1/2 October 2017). In the following mayors dialogue, European municipal representatives take on the conference issues (2 October 2017). The International Dresden Dialogue 2017 concludes with a summarizing panel discussion (3 October 2017).
Conference languages are English and German. Interpretation will be provided.
11 a.m. | Entrance and registration
Deutsches Hygienemuseum Dresden, Foyer Marta-Fraenkel-Saal
2 p.m. | Deutsches Hygienemuseum Dresden, Marta-Fraenkel-Saal
Welcome and opening of the International Dresden Dialogue 2017
2:30 to 5:30 p.m. | Deutsches Hygienemuseum Dresden, Conference rooms 2 and 3
Panel discussion, interventions and round table
Panel 1: Social cohesion and cultures of conflict
What really makes a city is formed in the interchange of citizens with each other and with the world around them: in daily public discourse. In the discussion about past, present and future. In the debate on interests and convictions. If the quality of urban communication no longer allows for a mediation between the diverse groups of the urban community, then cohesion and democracy are in danger.
We are discussing: How can peaceful and democratic communication in our cites succeed – in the face of growing disparities and tensions? Which structural conditions are required? Which players and resources are needed?
Host: Matthias Neutzner. Dresden (DE) / MEMORARE PACEM. Association for a Culture of Peace
Guests:
Kusminder Chahal. Coventry (UK) / Centre for Trust, Peace & Social Relations, Coventry University
Matthieu Damian. Grenoble (FR) / Ecole de la Paix (former Director)
Detlev Janetzek. Nürnberg (DE) / City of Nuremberg, Representative for discrimination issues
Ruth Longoni. Coventry (UK) / Lord Mayor of Coventry’s Committee for Peace and Reconciliation (Chair)
Hilde Scheidt. Aachen (DE) / Stadt Aachen, Mayoress
Thomas Schmelter. Würzburg (DE) / Würzburg Peace Prize Committee
K. Margrethe Kvam Tingstad. Lillehammer (NO) / Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (International Vice President)
Panel 2: Democratic debate and participation
Democracy proves itself above all in the local – in the daily lives of the inhabitants of municipalities. When social groups don’t get a hearing in the urban discussion, when they are excluded from the organization of their living environment, when their interests in local politics are insufficiently represented, then all of this damages the trust in democracy, deepens social fragmentation, provoking tensions or even violence.
We are discussing: Which problems impede democratic participation in European cities? How do cities try to make social action transparent and enable participation in decision-making? How can productive communication be organized between citizens on the one hand and municipal institutions and local politics on the other hand?
Host: Prof. Ralf Evers. Dresden (DE) / Evangelische Hochschschule Dresden – University for Social Work, Education and Care
Guests:
Frank Firsching. Schweinfurt (DE) / Initiative »Schweinfurt ist bunt«
Dieter Jetschmanegg. Potsdam (DE) / Landeshauptstadt Potsdam (Leiter Kommunikation, Wirtschaft und Beteiligung)
Kepa Korta. Donostia / San Sebastián (ES). The Office of Strategy of Donostia / San Sebastián (Director)
Frens Kroeger. Coventry (UK) / Centre for Trust, Peace & Social Relations, Coventry University
Diana de Marchi. Milano (IT) / City of Milano. City councillor. Committee on equal opportunities und civil rights (Chair)
Prof. Pericles Mitkas. Thessaloniki (GR), Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (Rector)
with Dresden institutions, initiatives and activists
8 p.m. | Kunsthaus Dresden Gallery
An urban culture of peace (in the sense of the pursuit of freedom from violence and the protection of human rights) has to be recognized as a collective learning process for all social groups of a city community.
We are asking: How can a municipal culture of peace be learned in exchanges with each other? Which civic initiatives and formats support the city community pedagogically and politically towards peace? Which local political frameworks and aids would be helpful? Which concepts and experiences of peace-oriented learning in non-formal or informal education have proved to be of value?
9 a.m. to 12 a.m. | Deutsches Hygienemuseum Dresden, Conference room 2
Panel discussion, interventions and round table
Host: Prof. Uwe Hirschfeld. Dresden (DE) / Evangelische Hochschschule Dresden – University for Social Work, Education and Care
Guests:
Philip Brown. Coventry (UK) / United Nations Association Coventry Branch
Kristina Jorgić. Kragujevac (SER) / Memorial Park »October in Kragujevac«
Larisa Kasumagic-Kafedžic. Sarajevo (BIH) / University of Sarajevo
Prof. Reinhold Mokrosch. Osnabrück (DE) / Universität Osnabrück, Institut für Evangelische Theologie
Nicole Rieber. Tübingen (DE) / Berghof Foundation Operations GmbH, Onlineportal frieden-fragen.de
Cities define themselves essentially through their culture – more precisely: through the plurality of their cultures. Side by side or together, the lifestyle and forms of expression of its inhabitants can enrich cities, can make them creative, powerful, peaceful. In conflicts about interests and influence, however, cultural communication becomes a medium for dispute. This is especially true for art with its symbolic and communicative potential.
We are asking: Which role does artistic communication assume, when in European cities identities are being discussed and conflicts are being waged? Who enables, produces and mediates art? Can art become an instrument – for example to help overcome social polarization and spatial segregation?
9 a.m. to 12 a.m. | Deutsches Hygienemuseum Dresden, Conference room 3
Panel discussion, interventions and round table
Host: Christiane Mennicke-Schwarz. Kunsthaus Dresden
Guests:
David Brückel. Dresden (DE) / Staatsschauspiel Dresden, Bürgerbühne (Stellvertr. Leiter)
Dieter Jaenicke. Dresden (DE). HELLERAU – European Center for the Arts Dresden (Artistic Director)
Prof. Cornelia Mothes. Dresden (DE) / Technische Universität Dresden, Institut für Kommunikationswissenschaft
Nina Tsoneva. Kubrat (BGR) / Global Art Project for Peace (Regional Coordinator)
Juan Venditti. Santiago de Compostella (ES) / 7H cooperativa cultural
Social Cohesion in the cities: What are the challenges cities in Europe facing? Politicians report on problems and controversies, strategies and approaches.
2 to 6 p.m. | Dresden City Hall, Plenary hall
Host: Dirk Hilbert, Mayor of the City of Dresden
Chair: Greg Clark, London (UK)
7 p.m. | Albrechtsberg Palace
Reception for the participants of the workshop conference
Panel 1
Democracy 2.0 – Does (social) media divide communities?
The social media offer entirely new opportunities for direct communication and participation. At the same time, hatred and disinhibition arise. How should a communal social media strategy take these developments into account? And how should politicians and civil society sensible deal with the hatred in the comment lines?
Panel 2
The art of living together – Can culture and art unite communities?
Art and culture are crucial to the identification of inhabitants with their city. Does this impose a special social responsibility? How can culture contribute to the co-existence in a city and make people (again) talking to each other?
8.45 a.m. to 12.15 p.m. | Dresden City Hall, Plenary hall
Host: Dirk Hilbert, Mayor of the City of Dresden
Chair: Greg Clark, London (UK)