Common Ground - practice and presentations on art and conflict

Common Ground - practice and presentations on art and conflict

We invite the general public to attend the Common Ground program - a series of presentations followed by discussions on the relationship between art and conflict, with the participation of Rusanda Curca - cultural, environmental and civic activist (Moldova), Bojan Djordjev - theatre maker (Serbia), Yulia Kostereva - artist and curator (Ukraine), Shoghakat Mlke-Galstyan - choreographer and cultural manager (Armenia), Anna Provozin - artist of Ukrainian origin based in Moldova and Vitalie Sprînceană - sociologist and journalist (Moldova).

Three sessions with the participation of these guests will be held between July 17-19, 2025 at Zpace (Casa Zemstvei), in close connection with the series of practical exercises organized in the first part of the day, within an art education program.

In this section of the program, guests will talk about the social movements and conflicts that preceded and created the conditions that led to a subsequent war, and about the role of artists, cultural workers and independent artistic initiatives in preventing and minimizing conflict in society.

The discussions will focus on the guests' artistic practice, and how it relates to the theme of conflict in their home countries (Armenia, Moldova, Serbia and Ukraine), thus providing further development of the theme Culture wars in times of polarization - a cycle of meetings held throughout 2023-2025, in the framework of the research project Contemporary art, popular culture, and peace-building in Eastern Europe. The project aims to understand the role that art and culture play in three different social and political conflicts (in Poland, Armenia and the Republic of Moldova).
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Presentations and discussions schedule:

Thursday, July 17, 2025 / 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

- Art as a space for dialogue and healing: reflections from Armenia’s post-war reality, by Shoghakat Mlke-Galstyan
- Art as an instrument of healing and holding space together: experience of working with vulnerable youth and Ukrainian refugee teenagers in Moldova, by Anna Provozin

Friday, July 18, 2025 / 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

- The evolution of Ukrainian artists’ artistic strategies in the last decade, by Yulia Kostereva
- Building cultural safe spaces in rural regions, by Rusanda Curca

Saturday, July 19, 2025 / 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

- LEFTovers, by Bojan Djordjev
- Transformation of public spaces in post-socialism, by Vitalie Sprînceană
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Participants are encouraged to adopt a proactive attitude during the meetings. We aim to ensure a relaxed and open atmosphere for discussing difficult topics, confronting different positions, opinions, in a safe, inclusive and welcoming environment.

See the detailed schedule of presentations here: https://zpatiu.wordpress.com/2025/07/15/puncte-comune/