I am the Choice

PROJECT DESCRIPTION
In the project "I Am the Choice," young people explored the 2017 German federal election campaign through artistic means. They examined the aesthetics, intentions, and effects of election posters and campaign videos. Based on this foundation, participants created their own posters and video spots that addressed issues they personally cared about—taking on the role of experts in their own concerns. The workshops were led by visual artists and educators. The project was guided by the interests of young people: performance/disguise, participation, new media, and (perhaps) provocation. Through art as a medium, the project opened up new ways to engage with social and political issues such as elections, democracy, and participation.

Each participant’s engagement with questions such as “What do I want to stand for or against?” or “What is my utopia for the society I live in?” also meant reflecting on their own visions for life and personal goals.

A central element was the participatory approach: the youth decided on the themes and direction of the process-oriented project themselves. Implementation took place through accessible, age-appropriate workshop modules, offering a holistic approach to the topic.

The goals included, among others:

Participation - Young people as experts in their own right, defining their own focus areas and shaping the direction of the project. The content was oriented around their interests (new media, performance, participation).

Skills development beyond performance-based assessment, focusing on strengths and self-efficacy through individually chosen areas of interest. Topics: photography, video production and editing, Self-awareness and physical presence, creative writing and text development, fashion and styling, political education, and local excursions.

Cultural participation for educationally disadvantaged youth in a diverse group: Building friendships, discovering cultural education spaces, expanding their social environment, and encouraging extracurricular engagement and positive group experiences. Disadvantaged youth work alongside refugee youth and participants from more privileged backgrounds—learning with and from one another.

Knowledge transfer beyond performance-based assessment: art, media education, political education, and cultural excursions.

Enjoyment of art and artistic ambition in the resulting works, which were made accessible to a broad public through exhibitions—carrying the young participants’ messages and demands out into the world.

PARTICIPATING YOUTH
Johanna Bünning, Marcel Eichler, Xenia Haager, Levi Hepp, Merve Kaplan, Paul Klostermann, Béla Machemer, Jozef Marku, Yesenia Möhring, Meret Neske, Nicole Reisewitz, Karlotta Rolappe, Yulian Sevdinov, Luca Siemann, Nagham Soleiman, Osama Soleiman, Soma Soleiman, Mohammed Ali Vahdat, Abdisahel Yusuf, Tergite Zeqiri, Xhylsime Zeqiri, Entela Zeqiri und weitere

TEAM
Paulina Cortés, Donka Dimova, Ele Hermel, Ka Jahn, Lukas Klose, Dr. Adrienne Körner, Anastasia Lotikova, Mike Müller, Felix Reisel

PROJECT FORMATS

Introductory Workshops:
4 short workshops in April / May 2017 with practical exercises as an introduction to the project, including planning, scheduling, and registration.

ART & POLITICS / June 3–4, 2017
Visual art (image analysis, art examples), politics (electoral systems, party diversity, campaign research). With artist Paulina Cortés, Ele Hermel, and Adrienne Körner / democratic acting.

PERFORMANCE / June 9 & 18, 2017
Presence, posture, gestures, facial expressions, voice – imitation, interpretation, and scenic development of politicians. With theatre artist Felix Reisel.

TEXT & OPINION / June 17–18, 2017
Creative writing: developing slogans and scripts for the video spots. With writer Donka Dimova.

FASHION & STAGING / June 22–28, 2017
Fashion, styling, photo locations, props, makeup – preparing each visual concept. With fashion designer Anastasia Lotiko.

PHOTO & VIDEO / June 22 – July 4, 2017
Filming and photography with professional equipment: directing, camera, lighting, editing – all handled by the youth. With artist Paulina Cortés, Ele Hermel, and photographer Lukas Klose.

EXCURSIONS:

15.6.2017 / Bremen Parliament, including discussion with leading politicians

15.8.2017  / Angela Merkel campaign event

21.8.2017 / Martin Schulz campaign event

25.8.2017 / Visit and discussion with Bundestag member Sarah Ryglewski

28.8.2017 / Exhibition preparation with Ralf Perplies (Senator for Culture, Bremen)

PRESENTATIONS:

31.8.2017 / Bremen Parliament

15.9.2017 / Oberschule am Leibnizplatz

19.9.2017 / Day of Civil Courage

Participation in all workshops was free of charge.

PROJECT LOCATIONS

Kunsthaus KUBO, Kulturzentrum Schlachthof Bremen, Güterbahnhof Bremen, Bremische Bürgerschaft.

FUNDING

The project was funded by “Jugend ins Zentrum” of the Federal Association of Socio-Cultural Centers (Bundesvereinigung Soziokultureller Zentren e.V.) as part of the program “Kultur macht stark. Bündnisse für Bildung” by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research.

PARTNERSHIPS

The project was carried out in cooperation with Oberschule am Leibnizplatz, the transitional housing facility Otto-Brenner-Allee, Demokratisch Handeln, Künstlerhaus Güterbahnhof, the Bremen Parliament, and Mike Müller / Visual Communication.

WITH SPECIAL THANKS TO
Bremische Bürgerschaft, Carolin Bischoff, Ingo Charton, Susanna Dagny H. Mohr, Nico Deppe, Valesca Fix, Rainer Hamann, Mechthild Henneke, Meike Holsten, Stefan Jeep, Kirsten Kappert Gonther, Madlen Hinze, Annica Müllenberg, Margot Müller, Normann Neumann, Kristina Rahe, Camila Riveros, Claas Rohmeyer, Sarah Ryglewski, Lenke Steiner, Miriam Strunge, Nickolai Sokolov, Knut Walther, Jens Werner