Art with Care: A discussion and networking format

We still have quite a long way to go before we will have achieve family- and care-friendly working conditions in the arts. Over the course of a discussion followed by a networking meeting, we would like to create a starting point for the various initiatives in Berlin and throughout Germany that have dedicated themselves to achieving greater visibility, equality and recognition of care work to continue to network amongst themselves, share experiences and to strengthen each other. 

Amongst other, the specific recommendations for action from the artist lab of the initiatives Beyond Re:Production and the Bühnenmütter e.V., the opportunities for support provided by the Berlin Performing Arts Program on the topic of being a parent and working in the arts and the results of the model project on the topic of a good balance between work and family in the theater from the Frauenkulturbüros NRW, the office for women working in the field of culture in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia.

As a space for feminist visions, room to maneuver and intersectional futures, the networking event will initiate long-overdue transformations in the production methods and event organization within the arts in order to remove barriers for parents and people with care obligations. All initiatives that support care work in the arts are warmly invited to present themselves and their programming and to take part in the preparation of a new alliance of artists and culture makers with care obligations.  As a function of the initiators, the focus is currently placed on initiatives working in the fields of the visual and performing arts. We would be very grateful if you could let us know about other initiatives in all disciplines (and their participation)!

This event is intended both for active members of the initiatives as well as for everyone who has always wanted to become active themselves or would like to inform themselves about specific steps for improvement within their own practice.

Schedule of Events

9:30 am Accreditation and Coffee

10:00 am Opening Greeting
With Teresa Monfared (Bühnenmütter e.V.) & Sarah Stührenberg (the Berlin Performing Arts Program)

10:15 am
Keynote Speech: Care Work in the Independent Arts – Where Are We
With Sascia Bailer (curator, author, activist)
The awareness surrounding the challenges of the compatibility of family and a primary professional activity in the (independent) arts is growing constantly. Interest groups, professional associations and independent initiatives are drawing attention to structural problems in terms of working hours and child care, compensation and increased poverty in old age, parental leave and non-extensions of contracts as well as numerous additional aspects regarding the lack of family-friendliness in the field of art and culture. The keynote presentation will begin with a definition of the term care work, a brief stocktaking of current discourses and an appeal for more solidarity in the art – across all disciplines and across all roles.

10:30 am
Keynote Speech: Workloads, Needs and Challenges Facing Mothers Who Work in Theater – A Pilot Study on the Living Situation of Stage Artists with Children
With Annika Sophie Mendrala (opera singer, founder and board member of Bühnenmütter e.V.)
The singer and vocal instructor Annika Sophie Mendrala will present the initial situation, methodology and results of the study conducted in 2021. She will provide insight into specific problem areas within the performing arts and sketch out suggestions for solutions that will be able to be discussed during the rest of the networking meeting.

10:40 am
Keynote Speech: Recommendations for Action – Results of the Artist Lab of the Initiative Beyond Re:Production
With Teresa Monfared (Bühnenmütter e.V., project management of With Care Action Lab Between Theater, Audiences and Care work, Beyond Re:Production)
Over the course of four days, the initiative Beyond Re:Production investigated the complex of topics revolving around care work in the independent performing arts with a wide variety of members of the community and elaborated recommendations for action for future transformation processes. Co-initiator Teresa Monfared will present the work and the results of the research project.

10:50 am Coffee Break

11:00 am
Table Conversations: What Requires Urgent Action?
With representatives of interdisciplinary initiatives, including, amongst others, herspective, fairshareforwomenartists!, kunst + kind Berlin as well as &other writers need to concentrate, das bündnis, mehrmütterfürdiekunst, Journalistinnenbund, ProQuoteFilm, Female Photoclub and otheres (invited)
At three tables, we will enter into conversation with each other over the course of three 20-minute rounds of discussion. The primary focus here is placed on the transfer of experiences and knowledge: where do you see structural challenges? What are your experiences with the compatibility of family and career? What strategies for the improved (re)distribution of care work and mental load have you already found? How can working hours and work phases be planned and structured in order to make rehearsals and acclimation to childcare, shooting days and visits to the doctor, regular meetings and family logistics work with each other? How do you negotiate your fees and do family-friendly funding instruments exist? We invite all of the participants to bring their own questions and topics into the discussion and to form new alliances with each other!

12:15 pm
Keynote Speech: The Berlin Performing Arts Program – What Opportunities for Support Exist?
With Christin Eckart (Information Center of the Berlin Performing Arts Program)
A number of support opportunities are also offered in the Information Center of the Berlin Performing Arts Program for members of the independent performing arts community with care obligations.  Christin Eckart will provide an overview of the opportunities including advisement, further education and mentoring and will answer questions about the program.

Lunch and Open Exchange Beginning at 12:30 pm

1:00 pm End of the Event and Informal Discussion

 

Information About Accessibility

Language
This event will take place in German spoken language. We will offer personal simultaneous interpretation into English. The table conversations can, as long as this is possible for all of the participants within the conversation, also be conducted in a different language. It is also possible to speak to the moderators and organizers of the event in German, English or French spoken language and to ask questions.

Directions & Parking
Travel using public transportation
U Weberwiese (U5) (1 minute walk, ca. 50 meters)
Bus 347 Station Wedekindstraße (7 minute walk ca. 500 meters)
Accessible parking space are located ca 20 meters away from the entrance to Alte Feuerwache.

Room & Seating Options
At the main entrance, there are three steps, a railing on both sides and a ramp of wheelchair-accessible access. There is also a stair lift. The entrance doors (105 cm wide) open to the outside, either manually or also automatically on the ramp. The event space is located on the 2nd floor and is accessible via an elevator. There are 99 seats in the event space, 20 of those are suitable for wheelchairs. There are also two large beanbags available on-site that can be used as alternative seats. Wheelchair-accessible restrooms are accessible on the ground floor by using the ramp.

Childcare
You can receive information about childcare by sending an email to care [at] pap-berlin.de.

Food and Drink
Coffee, tea and tap water will be provided during the event and there will also be fruit and cookies. We will provide a small vegan lunch toward the end of the event.

Contact persons for any questions regarding possible barriers and accessibility:
If you have any questions regarding Alte Feuerwache, please contact: Kerstin Ottersburg, projektraum [at] kulturamtfk.de, 30 / 29 34 79 426

If you have any questions about the event itself, please contact: Sarah Stührenberg, sarah.stuehrenberg [at] pap-berlin.de, 30 / 20 45 979 14 (reachable via telephone on Thursdays between 12:00 pm and 5:00 pm).

The networking meeting is a cooperation between the Berlin Performing Arts Program and the Bühnenmütter e.V. and Beyond Re:Production ias part of the exhibition about motherhood and producing art We care. Do you? in the Alten Feuerwache.