About
Urban Camp is part of the "WARning the City/Zens" project
dedicated to discussing the challenges that cities are facing today due to wars.
The project aims at rethinking the possibilities
and actions of active citizens and urbanists in this situation.
The Camp is based on an interdisciplinary approach and non-formal education methods. It welcomes initiative, active participation,
and peer-to-peer learning.
Urban Camp is part of the "WARning the City/Zens" project
dedicated to discussing the challenges that cities are facing today due to wars.
The project aims at rethinking the possibilities
and actions of active citizens and urbanists in this situation.
The Camp is based on an interdisciplinary approach and non-formal education methods. It welcomes initiative, active participation,
and peer-to-peer learning.
Urban Camp
aims to inspire participants
aims to inspire participants
- to share their experiences, ideas, plans and resources with each other
- to provide them with new perspectives and tools, showing different approaches to city research & action
- to initiate new projects and spark collaboration
What can you expect?
3 creative directions to dive in and explore
8 experienced team members to guide you in the program
60 participants with diverse backgrounds
5 days of creative cooperation
Program and timeline
Urban Camp takes place in Tskaltubo, Georgia
May 29
Arrival of participants
May 30
— June 2
— June 2
Urban Camp program
It contains workshops, peer sessions, lectures, guided walking tours, etc.
It contains workshops, peer sessions, lectures, guided walking tours, etc.
Workshop on filmmaking
The hands-on filmmaking workshop of Sasha Semkina aims to showcase various storytelling techniques and approaches. While filming, participants will be able to put theory into practice by incorporating considerations of context and location. Sasha will guide participants, dissecting classical narrative structures and offering insights on thinking outside the box. Through a series of engaging exercises and collaborative discussions, participants will explore the nuances of storytelling, uncovering the unique stories each of them can tell. Each narrative has the potential to serve as a catalyst for change.
Performative workshop
In this workshop led by Natasha Borenko, we will artistically explore ourselves in the new town through performative practices, dérive methods, small (and careful) interventions, and participatory art techniques. By the end of the workshop, each participant will choose or invent a suitable artistic practice for themselves and will have the opportunity to share it with the rest of the participants at our summer meeting.
Artistic research workshop
The particularity of the places like Tskaltubo among many other things implies the following: we know already before arriving that we come to leave after a few days; just like (trans)migrants do. And we know, that our status of presence in such a place will „include the exclusion": we could be excluded from our own "normal' everyday life, but also - from the daily life of local inhabitants. Being IDPs we could be excluded in one way, being artists – in another; we could be excluded being poor or mentally deviant, etc. How to act and interact during cruising in such a situationistic context of presence with an artistic awareness? Together we will undertake an artistic research that includes collecting audial, visual and other types of data, participant observation, sensual impressions, artistic forms of (interactive) presence as a witness of time and others we don't know yet. The methods applied will be modified to the site and the context, we are working in. The workshop is offered by Prof. Dr. Helga Therese Georgen and Prof. h.c. Wolfgang Knapp.
*The three workshops will take part simultaneously, meaning – you will only be able to attend one of them. You can prioritize them in the application form below.
The hands-on filmmaking workshop of Sasha Semkina aims to showcase various storytelling techniques and approaches. While filming, participants will be able to put theory into practice by incorporating considerations of context and location. Sasha will guide participants, dissecting classical narrative structures and offering insights on thinking outside the box. Through a series of engaging exercises and collaborative discussions, participants will explore the nuances of storytelling, uncovering the unique stories each of them can tell. Each narrative has the potential to serve as a catalyst for change.
Performative workshop
In this workshop led by Natasha Borenko, we will artistically explore ourselves in the new town through performative practices, dérive methods, small (and careful) interventions, and participatory art techniques. By the end of the workshop, each participant will choose or invent a suitable artistic practice for themselves and will have the opportunity to share it with the rest of the participants at our summer meeting.
Artistic research workshop
The particularity of the places like Tskaltubo among many other things implies the following: we know already before arriving that we come to leave after a few days; just like (trans)migrants do. And we know, that our status of presence in such a place will „include the exclusion": we could be excluded from our own "normal' everyday life, but also - from the daily life of local inhabitants. Being IDPs we could be excluded in one way, being artists – in another; we could be excluded being poor or mentally deviant, etc. How to act and interact during cruising in such a situationistic context of presence with an artistic awareness? Together we will undertake an artistic research that includes collecting audial, visual and other types of data, participant observation, sensual impressions, artistic forms of (interactive) presence as a witness of time and others we don't know yet. The methods applied will be modified to the site and the context, we are working in. The workshop is offered by Prof. Dr. Helga Therese Georgen and Prof. h.c. Wolfgang Knapp.
*The three workshops will take part simultaneously, meaning – you will only be able to attend one of them. You can prioritize them in the application form below.
June 3
Departure of participants
The context of Tskaltubo
We believe that the context of Tskaltubo holds much to inspire and work with. The city reflects the consequences of Soviet colonial policies and the effects of war. We are inspired by its history, politics, aesthetics and by its potential future. And we are sure it can inspire you too! By exploring the city's context, we can apply some new approaches and tools to work in a complex and vulnerable urban environment.
During the Soviet era, Tskaltubo was one of the largest health resorts in the country. At those times significant complexes of buildings in the style of Soviet neoclassicism and Soviet modernism were built. After the collapse of the USSR and Georgia's independence, the resort began to decline. After the war in Abkhazia in 1992/93, around 10,000 displaced Georgians were accommodated in Tskaltubo. The IDPs were settled in former spa hotels and sanatoriums, which were transformed into gardens, cattle pastures, etc.
In recent years, there have been efforts to revitalize Tskaltubo, to attract visitors and investors to the area with the aim of restoring its former glory as a tourist destination.
During the Soviet era, Tskaltubo was one of the largest health resorts in the country. At those times significant complexes of buildings in the style of Soviet neoclassicism and Soviet modernism were built. After the collapse of the USSR and Georgia's independence, the resort began to decline. After the war in Abkhazia in 1992/93, around 10,000 displaced Georgians were accommodated in Tskaltubo. The IDPs were settled in former spa hotels and sanatoriums, which were transformed into gardens, cattle pastures, etc.
In recent years, there have been efforts to revitalize Tskaltubo, to attract visitors and investors to the area with the aim of restoring its former glory as a tourist destination.
Meet your team
- Natasha BorenkoGermanyfluid theater maker, queer feminist, migrant artist
- Tatevik GhukGeorgiafacilitator and bodymind practice trainer
- Prof. Dr. Helga Therese GeorgenGermanyart historian, curator
- Prof. h.c. Wolfgang KnappGermanysocial and educational scientist, сommunication and art education
- Josh NadeauGeorgiafacilitator, peacebuilder, journalist, researcher
- Oleg PachenkovGermanysociologist, urbanist, project coordinator
- Natalia PavlenkoGeorgiaproject manager, facilitator
director of Interra Saqartvelo - Anastasia PuschkarewaGermanycoordinator of non-formal educational
and urban projects - Sasha SemkinaGermanyfilmmaker
- Lilia VoronkovaGermanysocial anthropologist, curator, project coordinator
We invite to apply
- people living in Georgia, Armenia and Germany
- individuals interested in urban issues and willing to share their experience with others
- active citizens, urbanists, researchers, artists, educators
- those who would like to explore new approches and tools, have an idea for a new urban project and are looking for inspiration and cooperations
- age limit 18+*
*due to the funding structure, for participants from Germany the age limit is up to 30 years.
Terms of participation
- Deadline for applications – April 21, 2024
- The working language is English
- All costs of the Camp (accommodation in double rooms, flights, local transfers, alimentation, program activities) are covered by the organisers.
Registration form
Application forms are accepted until April 21, 2024
The results will be announced no later than May 1, 2024.
Organisers and Partners
Urban Camp will be organised by CISR e.V. Berlin, in cooperation with Tbilisi School for Social Research, Interra Saqartvelo, Georgia and Abastan, Armenia.
The project is funded within the Program
Expanding Cooperation with Civil Society in the Eastern Partnership Countries and Russia
and Co-Funded by the EU Program Erasmus +
*The content of the event reflects the views only of its authors. Grantors are not liable for any use that may be made of the information
contained therein.
The project is funded within the Program
Expanding Cooperation with Civil Society in the Eastern Partnership Countries and Russia
and Co-Funded by the EU Program Erasmus +
*The content of the event reflects the views only of its authors. Grantors are not liable for any use that may be made of the information
contained therein.
Contact
If you have any questions, please contact
Lilia Voronkova
l.voron@cisr-berlin.org
Anastasia Puschkarewa
a.puschkarewa@cisr-berlin.org
Lilia Voronkova
l.voron@cisr-berlin.org
Anastasia Puschkarewa
a.puschkarewa@cisr-berlin.org