Sønderborg2017: Final Application forEuropean Capital of Culture in Denmark - Programme by Sønderborg2017

June 2012

SĂ¸nderborg2017: Final Application for European Capital of Culture in Denmark - Programme

COUNTRYSIDE METROPOLIS

Bridge the Cultural Changes...

M, page 10

: ArtFAR s rt A n a rb U l/ ra th in Ru

Energize You

Creative Networks Build Capacity: BRANDI, page 18 Art/Business Synergy: HUB, page 20

II. Structure of the programme 1. What structure does the city intend to give to the year’s program if it is designated European Capital of Culture (guidelines, general theme of the event)? How long does the program last?

a place where diversity, difference and distinctiveness intermingle with the beauty of the environment. Where citizens and especially the young are actively shaping their future. Where the many companies and low and high tech industries whose products and services are exported to the rest of the world are supported. Where creative and cultural sector workers find the space to explore but also to wind down and enjoy life intensively.

Throughout history, from Aristotle to Alexis de Tocqueville or John Stuart Mill, intellectuals have stated “that democracy itself depends on active engagement by citizens in community affairs.” This is why our European Capital of Culture programme is directed to actively involve the citizens in the implementation stage as well as in the activities during 2017 and beyond.

A European Capital of Culture grows through its citizens through the active cooperation of many community members.

3 guidelines we had in mind during the design

How long does the programme last? The programme starts directly after possible designation and lasts until 2020. It has all started during this candidacy with asking ourselves: Why do we urgently need change through culture? So far we have come to the conclusion that it is the young leaving, the image of the countryside, the fear of diversity and some of the border issues. And this is what we will continue to explain over and over in the next years and hope to focus on even further together.

The general theme “Creating the Countryside Metropolis” is not about a physical location but a change in the state of mind: it stands for that mental state where cosmopolitan thinking is possible in a rural area as long as you dare to be open to possibilities limited only by your imagination, and take responsibility to make at least the first steps yourself. It is a modern development project that makes use of culture in a broad sense to create a strong community that is sustainable environmentally, culturally, socially and economically, and it provides a ‘third way’ alternative to the traditional rural/ metropolitan choice. Working on the perception of the countryside is universal and of all eras. As early as 1784, Benjamin Franklin stated in his ideals: “the People of the Trading Towns may be rich and luxurious, but the Country possesses all the Virtues, that tend to private Happiness and public Prosperity. As for the Towns, they are not much regarded by the Country; they are hardly considered an essential part of the States”. This is another principle we work with. To create a Countryside Metropolis is - with active involvement of citizens - to create

an impact and a legacy. Where possible we aim at specific legacies in projects, but in the programme one of the most important potential impacts is the increase in cultural intelligence. This is essential since it combines interests on different levels: in people themselves, in the companies, in minority communities, in the municipality, in the region and in relation to our European peers. The 3rd guideline we have taken into account during the design of every project is the City and its citizens and the European Dimension. The latter factor is not as naturally achieved as the first, and therefore we have always started with the EU dimension. As you will see it has led to many initiatives that incorporate both dimensions.

Therefore the 1st important guideline for the design of the program is to appeal particularly to our target groups of the young, the (g)old, the marginalized and the minorities. We also reach out to our citizens and encourage people who do not consider themselves culturally active to become involved, because only through their involvement does the urgently needed change of mind occur. We pay special attention to the creative and cultural sector to gain a strong position in our region since they especially attract young people. The 2nd guideline is that we want our projects to be original and authentic to this part of Europe. They should be a direct response to the past and present but in service to the future, and this response should respect the economy, the social fabric, and the business environment. Essential in the programme is that it leaves

In order to be prepared for 2017, we are immediately ready to set the snowball effect in motion over the next 2 years. A snowball that starts small and focused and eventually pushes many other initiatives forward that will start successively in the years leading up to 2017. The thinking behind the program is to create a cohesive process of cultural events that reflects the human scale in our city and the communities of our region in the borderlands, and has relevant European themes to work on. Our program develops the much needed capacity of artists, art workers, creative entrepreneurs and cultural operators, and thereby leaves a strong legacy in creative activity that is self-sustaining well into 2020 and beyond.

Photo: JV

II. Structure of the programme

Easy Reference Guide

Literature

Visual arts

Performing arts

Music

Science

Business

Sustainability

Capacity building

History

Design

Film

Food

Community

Diversity

Tourism

Sport

Movement

Art in public spaces

Architecture

Education

Technology

Environment

Legacy

CONTENTS 1 Introduction 9 CONNECT 10 ArtFARM 13 Aabenraa Artweek; Joana Vasconcelos 14 Fatamorgana 15 Life Boats; The Persian Journey 16 Youth Extreme Sports Challenge 17 European Minority Games 18 BRANDI 20 HUB 22 Chinatown of Tomorrow 23 “Manhattan, ewich tosamende ungedelt” 24 BRIC-a-Brac 26 WOMAD 28 Street Art Posse 30 Design for Change; Artopia X-Change project 32 Platform 11 33 Give Me Five 34 Images Festival 35 EUNIC 36 Wind Art Skulp Tour 37 Winds of Dance 38 The Universe of Science, Education & Culture 39 KulturHanse; A Ship Will Come/MAP 40 Theatron 42 Motorway Music 43 Mapping a CO2 Neutral Future; Design for a Countryside Metropolis 44 CONFRONT 45 Fighting Memories; ‘Bommelboom’; John Kørner 46 Red Cross multimedia memorial 48 Théâtre du Soleil 49 Rimini Protokoll 50 We Invented Porn 51 Signa Theatre 52 iOpera 54 Time Machines; How Do We Want to Live?; Future Borders 56 Twin Peeking

57 The King’s Fall 58 Set Sail Explore the Sea 59 Confront It! film festival 60 A Sculpture Path 61 Cultural Hack 62 Nordic Literature Festival; Siegfried Lenz residencies; Travelling Library/Kids’ Own

A European Capital of Culture grows through its citizens through the active cooperation of many community members.

3 guidelines we had in mind during the design

“Creating the Countryside Metropolis” is not about a physical location but a change in the state of mind: it stands for that mental state where cosmopolitan thinking is possible in a rural area as long as you dare to be open to possibilities limited only by your imagination, and take responsibility to make at least the first steps yourself. It is a modern development project that makes use of culture in a broad sense to create a strong community that is sustainable environmentally, culturally, socially and economically, and it provides a ‘third way’ alternative to the traditional rural/ metropolitan choice. Working on the perception of the countryside is universal and of all eras. As early as 1784, Benjamin Franklin stated in his ideals: “the People of the Trading Towns may be rich and luxurious, but the Country possesses all the Virtues, that tend to private Happiness and public Prosperity. As for the Towns, they are not much regarded by the Country; they are hardly considered an essential part of the States”. This is another principle we work with.

Front cover photo: Søren Petersen Cover photos: JydskeVestkysten (JV), Patricio Soto, Borderpress, MAP, Ulrik Pedersen, Lars Tholander, Casper D. Schrankenmüller

To create a Countryside Metropolis is - with active involvement of citizens - to create

The general theme

63 CELEBRATE 64 ‘Lightmarks’ - S2017 Opening Night 66 Mythical Beasts 67 Festival 2017 - Theatre for Young Audiences; European Children’s Theatre Festival 68 Kitchen, Art, Culture - a festival of food 71 International Food on Film Festival 72 Sønderbugs; Seventeen Places to Remember 73 West Indies Video Portrait Project; Big Dance for Life 74 ‘The Fairyteller’ - Franco Dragone 75 International Sand Sculpture Festival; DV8 Physical Theatre 76 Define Electronic Music Festival 77 European Spoken Word Festival; Trucker Stories 78 The Bridge and Nordic Expressionism 79 Luther’s North; Faith, Places, Art 80 Manchester International Festival 81 The Waterfall 82 Bricks and Clay 83 The Organ Culture; Rare Piano Concertos; The Asta Nielsen Story 84 ‘Party’ - Back to Back Theatre 85 ‘Moments’ - a Glad Theatre production 86 folkBALTICA 87 European Cultural Week 88 Closing Night S2017 Appendix: project overview chart, project timelines

1. What structure does the city intend to give to the year’s program if it is designated European Capital of Culture (guidelines, general theme of the event)? How long does the program last?

Photo: JV

II. Structure of the programme

Easy Reference Guide

Literature

Visual arts

Performing arts

Music

Science

Business

Sustainability

Capacity building

History

Design

Film

Food

Community

Diversity

Tourism

Sport

Movement

Art in public spaces

Architecture

Education

Technology

Environment

Legacy

A European Capital of Culture grows through its citizens through the active cooperation of many community members.

3 guidelines we had in mind during the design

Front cover photo: Søren Petersen Cover photos: JydskeVestkysten (JV), Patricio Soto, Borderpress, MAP, Ulrik Pedersen, Lars Tholander, Casper D. Schrankenmüller

To create a Countryside Metropolis is - with active involvement of citizens - to create

The general theme

1. What structure does the city intend to give to the year’s program if it is designated European Capital of Culture (guidelines, general theme of the event)? How long does the program last?

Photo: JV

A European Capital of Culture grows through its citizens through the active cooperation of many community members.

3 guidelines we had in mind during the design

How long does the programme last?

The programme starts directly after possible designation and lasts until 2020. It has all started during this candidacy with asking ourselves: Why do we urgently need change through culture? So far we have come to the conclusion that it is the young leaving, the image of the countryside, the fear of diversity and some of the border issues. And this is what we will continue to explain over and over in the next years and hope to focus on even further together.

The general theme

Photo: JV

Connect - is about things people do when they want to bring their ideas to reality: they connect. We connect the young with the authenticity of our region so they feel that Provincial is just as cool as Metropolitan. We connect artists, cultural workers and industry throughout our region first and then in Europe to create art in many different and new ways that are authentic and relevant to specific groups of Europeans. We connect people in specific European communities with culture, also those that are not so connected at the moment. We work so people realize that the European Capital of Culture process forges lasting change and new thinking in communities, but only if the citizens and the community are engaged, generate energy and feel connected to the process. This energy is reflected in many of the projects of the cultural program. During the process over the last 2.5 years it has become clear that we need to improve and build our creative capacities, and our ability to produce events to a level of excellence found elsewhere in Europe. To do this we have developed a strategic capacity building plan called BRANDI (the Borderland Regional Artist Network Development Initiative). It establishes increased producer capacity and cultural intelligence. It strengthens existing links and creates new and active ones between members of the artistic community across the whole region and their peers in Europe. And it fosters all forms of creative expression and promotes creative collaboration with industry and cultural solutions to problems in the region. Interventions such as BRANDI support and encourage all people whether professionals or amateurs to enjoy and connect through culture. These interventions are not just needed in our region, but are challenges faced by Cyprus and many other parts of Europe where our peers live. An important part of BRANDI is to cooperate with other ECoC cities, since many of them have similar programs for capacity building. We especially look forward to cooperation in the creative and cultural sector. Our program includes a mentoring program, a toolkit of resources and a Producers Development Program with a short course. We look forward to facilitating exchange of experts, participants and professors since we feel there are many similarities in sharing problems and solutions within the ECoC family. The ArtFARM is another flagship project that makes an important contribution to building the reality of the Countryside Metropolis through supporting the development of an active and vibrant creative culture. It will include visual and performing arts

programmes, a celebration of local food and food production, and various nature and environment projects for children. The site of the ArtFARM is an agricultural college with facilities for seminars and a large working farm area with livestock and teaching facilities. Sønderborg2017 representatives have visited the Tsumari Artfield Triennale in Japan in May 2012. Fram Kitagawa, the worldrenowned general director of Echigo-Tsumari, has agreed to mentor the development of the ArtFARM with us. We plan to have a lively and active exchange program of artists and projects between the ArtFARM and the Tsumari Artfield as an ongoing programme of activity. In 2012, 2 Danish artists already exhibit at the artfield in Japan as a first step. We believe there are some similarities between the environments in which we are both working and that we may have a common understanding about cultural intervention and a shared philosophy of artistled change.

and the European Center for the Arts Dresden (D).

Another example in the C of Connect that especially explains our openness for abstract ideas is a flagship project called Mapping a CO2 Neutral Future. S2017 shares the mission of a Carbon neutral world. The idea is that an emblematic convoy of eco-friendly vehicles drives a route through the city in the shape of a ‘CO2’. The project is visually traced live via a smartphone GPS tracking application that will be live-streamed on big screens in cities on 5 continents and connect the artistic creation of the globe.

Third example is a travelling library that encourages children in the Countryside Metropolis and in Cyprus to write and illustrate their own stories into children’s books of a professional standard. The aim is to raise cultural intelligence. Through the Kids’ Own Publishing, they share their experiences in workshops for the teachers in the area that makes this project a sustainable working tool for the years after 2017.

Confront

- There is much to celebrate in the program of Sønderborg2017. It is what people do after they have changed: they celebrate. We wish to celebrate the importance of young people in the region, and we reflect this desire in the many youth culture projects we have created for and with young artists and community participants.

- We confront our present and our past through the cultural program in order to unwind and go forward. Wherever this is: in our personal lives, in our social contacts, in our communities, in our regional and cross-border contacts or with our European partners. Confront is about things people do in their rich, confused and demanding human relationships: they confront and they challenge. In this C there is the project iOpera that involves marginalized youth in a creative project aimed at introducing young people across Europe to each other through direct involvement in creating a contemporary opera project. Partners are the Sønderjyllands Symfonieorkester (DK), Royal Danish Theatre (DK), Deutsche Oper Berlin (D), Opéra national de Paris (F), and the Wiener Sängerknaben (A). In the field of theatre we have a similar initiative that provides a European platform for amateurs and professionals working together to develop more activity, and focused productions, with the aim of encouraging greater audience involvement in the theatre sector across Europe. This initiative called the Theatron Project involves European partners like Divadlo Archa (CZ), Théâtre de Gennevilliers (F), Uppsala Stadsteater (S), Odense Teater (DK), Freie Universität Berlin

A flagship initiative is the Red Cross project in which a very local and authentic issue is dealt with of the 1864 war between Denmark and Germany that took place on the Dybbøl battlefield. During this battle it is the first time that the Red Cross was active in assisting the casualties of war. Unfortunately this is more relevant than ever in the world. In a show of mutual respect and support the Red Cross will work with the Red Crescent organization and Sønderborg2017 to create a large-scale, visual arts installation. It involves thousands of citizens from 27 member states writing messages of peace and reconciliation on crosses and crescents that will then be installed on the contentious battlefield. The project will extend to a global event on the web, with people invited to place messages and crosses/crescents on battlefields of their choice all around the world.

Celebrate

The Youth Extreme Sports Challenge is one such project that celebrates youth and family culture with events ranging from music to BMX races to skateboarding, and underground culture that starts slowly in the coming year with a peak in the whole year of 2017. In summer, the program is located at the outdoor centre in Flensburg, and in winter, at the indoor skater park in Sønderborg. The ECoC process is a perfect chance for the extreme sporters and their fans to hook up with their European friends and organize events in our region. We celebrate the diversity of cultures and the power of diversity through languages and nationalities coming together in the year of culture. There are already many events happening to celebrate the minority and marginalized groups in our community. And they are strengthened by S2017. (continued on page 5)

StruCCCture For the structure of the programme we have selected three strategies on which to base the cultural programme, because we believe they bring the change we need. We call these strategies the three Cs - Connection, Confrontation and Celebration: - We have to connect to each other as Europeans to reach our full potential. Only together can we bring along the change we envision for our citizens, our artistic community, our region and our friends and peers in Europe. - We want to confront differences and challenges in human relationships to promote new ways of thinking. We canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t risk getting stuck in our old habits and closed-minded thoughts. - And we will celebrate cultural diversity and difference because we believe that culture is the strongest vehicle for change. Along with the three Cs, we are following the challenging but rewarding path towards Creating a Countryside Metropolis.

Photos: JV, Casper D. Schrankenmüller, Karin Riggelsen, H.C. Gabelgaard, Lars Tholander, Kultur i Syd, Tønder Kommune, Gitte Bjørn-Lüthi

(continued from page 2)

For example, the flagship project Mythical Beasts is a three-year long project involving school children, employees, minority and marginalized groups, in a large-scale community performance. This interdisciplinary project employs the key symbolic and heraldic beasts of the region as key characters in a site specific performance event. Teams of performers converge on Sønderborg Castle from all directions of the city to create a theatrical performance involving parkour, dance, music and video projection. In the next years we look forward to developing a link with the network of European film schools since they can connect us to professors, students, operators and festivals in former and future ECoCs and former and future ECoC candidates, for example the Festival du film documentaire d’Istanbul (TR), Festival du film fantastique de Bruxelles (B), International Student Film Festival Potsdam (D), Cinestud Amsterdam (NL), International Short Film Festival Hamburg (D), Fresh Film International Student Film Festival Karlovy Vary near Pilsen (CZ), Festival International de Cinéma San Sebastian (E), DocLisboa Lisbon (P) and the Festival du film francophone de Namur near Mons (B). The local broadcast/television TV Syd, makes a documentary series in which they follow the RICH-ART music and Pilkentafel theatre workshop teams through three years of production.

What next?

We have developed a programme for the Sønderborg2017 European Capital of Culture that creates energy by connecting people with diverse backgrounds and ways of thinking. Through the artistic confrontation of a combination of Nordic and Northern European issues of our times, we create space for new perspectives. We compare it with the kid that has placed 250 films on Youtube that would never be broadcast on an international channel like CNN or BBC, but then one of his/her films is downloaded 5 million times. We believe in the power of our authenticity and originality. This much-needed development can’t be realized only by Sønderborg. We have the support of the cultural workers, individual artists and creative entrepreneurs from Vejle to Hamburg and from Odense to Esbjerg to provide critical mass. We need the assistance of the European Union, the support of the jury, and most of all the involvement and participation of our citizens. Only together can we build a genuine partnership that uses culture to create the necessary change for Sønderborg, for Denmark and for a growing group of worried Europeans. Together we set sail on a process that will have a legacy, is able to continue and grow into the future, and that demonstrates the power of culture.

II.3. How does the city plan to choose the projects/events which will constitute the programme for the year? Choosing the projects is done by a combination of generating project proposals through an open call, and lots of personal contacts in order to manage expectations and stimulate collaboration. Absolute independence of any artistic decisions and the independence from any political influence on the selection of the programme is essential. Involvement and participation of the citizens are the values we make sure to take into account in the selection of projects for our programme. Young people especially have been asked to develop projects for the 2017 program. The initiative “The Movement of Doing Something About It” is S2017’s platform for young people who want to enforce change. The close cooperation established during the last years will be continued to ensure that S2017 offers events that are based on the young people’s needs and ideas. However, we are aware - and the experience from other European Capitals of Culture has shown this repeatedly - that there is a dilemma in reconciling large-scale involvement, the necessity for a clear concept, artistic standards, and the limitations of resources. Indicators for the selection of projects are as follows: • A uthenticity (relevant to the region, to the lives of people, coming out of the history, having a flavour of locality, reaching across the border) • European Dimension • Involvement, citizen participation • Artistic excellence and standard • Being cohesive in terms of the Countryside Metropolis • Leave a legacy (new learning, networks, standards of excellence and ongoing projects) The following procedure has been followed so far: 1. W e have had two rounds of idea conferences and workshops generating 370 project proposals. “The Movement” has exchanged ideas regularly and developed projects via social media; 2. In many one-to-one sessions and workshops these ideas have been analysed, developed further and a first selection for this bid has been made; 3. Where projects have been selected those

proposing the projects have been asked to connect with other partners and combine their project proposals; 4. After further analysis and meetings a final selection for this document has been made and detailed planning has been done. First commitments have been made. 5. Nothing is final at this stage. A number of projects have not been finally assessed yet and will be processed when/if the title is granted. Those people behind the ideas that will not be developed further are still important participants, audience and collaborators. We make sure they get a clear message about their proposal. It is essential to be transparent and avoid misunderstandings and at the same time be grateful for the proposed collaboration. If granted the title, we expect to organise once more the steps as described before, but then with a smaller group of potential partners. A special focus will lie on the further development of projects together with “The Movement”. After that, we start with the detailed planning in the next two years. The goal is to focus even deeper on the programme and stay open for the ingenious idea that always comes along at the last moment, but needs to happen anyway because of its excellence. This is especially important since our main target group is the young and their preferences change fast. Moreover it is expected that even after the final choices have been made, 10% of the programme might still change due to financial or staffing bottlenecks or the like. In order to be able to manage some financial flexibility we have put aside a reserve fund of 3% for 2015-2017. 15% of this reserve fund can be used to micro-finance initiatives that are not selected but that decide to proceed anyway without being a part of the S2017 programme. Those who show their interest and delivered ideas matter to us. Concerning contents, the way to go is to be uncompromised towards the concept of “Creating the Countryside Metropolis”. The themes Connect-Confront-Celebrate may change over time, especially when the programme enters the phase of marketing and ticket sales. Our programme selection will not be based on the ‘rave-party-principle’ - moving productions in and out again that just leave ‘a dirty field’. There is no doubt that we need people from outside for inspiration and to build capacity but whatever is part of the programme has to be rooted in the community. This is the key principle.

(continued on page 8)

1: Alsion Culture and Education Centre - education, research and culture under one roof. Also the home of the University of Southern Denmark.

9: Jousting Field Sønderborg The green space in the city centre is used for yearly fiveday ‘Ringridning’ tournaments, and for town festivals, concerts, circus etc.

17: History Centre Dybbøl Banke Museum and activity centre around the second Schleswig war and 1864 - a bruising defeat for Denmark with significant historical impact.

Alsion 2 6400 SønderbOrg

Ringridervej 30 6400 SønderbOrg

Dybbøl Banke 16 6400 Sønderborg

2: Alsion Concert Hall One of Europe’s premiere concert halls. Home of the South Jutland Symphony Orchestra.

10: Augustenborg Castle One of Denmark´s most beautiful and historic Baroque castles - the former duchy headquarters, now a psychiatric hospital.

18: Nordborg Castle Now a boarding school. Has also been used for years as venue for the Nord-Als Music Festival, folkBALTICA and other events.

Alsion 2 6400 SønderbOrg

Storegade 2 6440 Augustenborg

Slotsgrunden 1 6430 Nordborg

3: Frank Gehry Harbor Project Masterplan to transform 50,000m2 of harbour front. The first buildings are taking shape.

11: Augustenborg Park Beautiful park, and one of Hans Christian Andersen’s favourite places. Used today for large-scale open-air concerts with up to 15,000 people.

19: Gråsten Castle Summer residence for the Danish Royal family and former residence of the Schleswig Holstein duchy.

SønderbOrg Harbourfront

Storegade 2 6440 Augustenborg

Gråsten Slot 6300 Gråsten

4: Sønderborg Theatre Venue for the popular longstanding Sønderborg Summer Revue, showing to 25,000 each summer. Also used for many theatre shows by Sønderborg Theatre Association.

12: Augustiana An Arts Centre and Denmarks largest sculpture park, in a mansion belonging to Augustenborg Castle.

20: Sønderborghus Culture and community house for concerts, meetings and workshops as well as rehearsal space for bands.

Rosengade 2a 6400 Sønderborg

Palævej 12 6440 Augustenborg

Løngang 1 6400 Sønderborg

5: Sønderborg Castle National and regional history museum.

13: X-Bunker Originally a railway tunnel later an underground air-raid shelter. Now an experimental art space.

21: Diamanten Culture and sports centre, newly renewed with prize winning architecture and energy saving style, with room for up to 3,000 people.

Sønderbro 1 6400 Sønderborg

Underground at the crossroad Herman Bangs gade and Kongevej 6400 Sønderborg

Gyden 100, Fynshav 6440 Augustenborg

6: Dorothea’s Chapel Chapel in Sønderborg Castle one of Denmark’s oldest from the Renaissance. One of the few preserved reformation-era chapels of the duchy; with rare organ.

14: Danfoss Universe Hands-on science theme park for the whole family.

22: Sønderborg Skate Hall Indoor skateboard arena.

Sønderbro 1 6400 Sønderborg

Mads Patent Vej 1 6430 Nordborg

Kongevej 49a 6400 Sønderborg

7: The Great Hall of Sønderborg Castle Sønderborg Castle’s Great Hall is an atmospheric venue for concerts and conferences.

23: Gråsten agricultural school Boarding school including a nature school which is open to the public. Future ArtFARM.

Sønderbro 1 6400 Sønderborg

15: Brickworks Museum Cathrinesminde Old brickworks, now South Jutland’s museum for Danish brickwork and South Jutland industrial history. One of Denmark’s 25 national industry heritage sites since 2007. Illerstrandvej 7 6310 Broager

8: Sønderborg Castle Courtyard The Courtyard of Sønderborg Castle is used as an openair venue for concerts and performances.

16: Dybbøl Mill Significant national memorial at the now-protected battlefields of 1864 and the second Schleswig war. With preserved entrenchments.

24: Mølleparken Large outdoor venue for concerts, with 5,000 capacity.

Sønderbro 1 6400 Sønderborg

Dybbøl Banke 7 6400 Sønderborg

Mølledammen 6400 Sønderborg

Kongevej 49a 6400 Sønderborg

Harbor Beach 18

Park

Harbor Front

Beach Promenade/ Walking trails

Alsstien N.

Church Nørreskoven

12 33 Gråstenskovene

10 11

Augustenborgsstien 1

17 16

27 25

24 20 13 22 7

Sønderskoven Als

Sønderborg Rambla

Gendarmstien

Alsstien S.

25: Benniksgaard Hotel, conference and culture centre with small concerts and events Sejrsvej 101, Rinkenæs Gråsten 26: Dyvig Badehotel Hotel which hosts small concerts and events. Dyvigvej 31, Holm, Nordborg 27: Gartnerslugten Rinkenæs Open-air venue for up to 700 people. Rinkenæs, Gråsten 28: Knøs Farm Local venue for small concerts and meetings. Vestervej 1, Høruphav, Syddanmark 6470 29: Nette Jensen Countryside culture centre with concerts and jam sessions. Midtballe 1, Skelde

30: Nørherredhus Venue for concerts, events and comedy, for up to 400 people. Mads Clausen Vej 101, Nordborg 31: Stevning Kulturhus Local culture house for small concerts, meetings etc. Skolevænget 12, Stevnig 32:The Little Theatre Small theatre and concert place. Ladegårdskov, 6300 Gråsten 33:The Local Scene Local venue for small concerts, meetings etc. Kværs, Gråsten

Voluntary Cultural Associations: • Sønderborg Theatre Organization • Sønderborg Music Organization • Sønderborg Jazz Club • Nord-Als Music Festival Cultural Education Associations: • Music Academy Sønderborg • Public Music School of Sønderborg • The Dance Academy of Southern Jutland • The Art School of Southern Jutland • Danish-German Brass Academy • 157 Educational Institutions • 9 Public Libraries • 53 Sports Facilities • 9 Community Houses

(continued from page 5)

We will invite specialists and excellence from the rest of Denmark and abroad, always emphasising however those relationships where we can find as partners artists and organizations for whom the area or the whole thinking of the Countryside Metropolis can be relevant. A guiding principle is finding relevance in an international programme. For example: A company like Ariane Mnouchkine’s Théâtre du Soleil is asked to premiere a

new piece in Sønderborg about the killing fields in Cambodia linking to the theme of ‘healing the battlefields’ that we deal with in Sønderjylland/Schleswig. Partners from outside infuse the energy which is lacking, they complement and support what is there and inspire. We have many local partners who gladly connect their projects with partners coming from elsewhere and seem to adhere to the spirit: nothing should stop a small city like Sønderborg being part of these kinds of big things. We will keep an open mind for

good projects that will come in further down the road. In Sønderborg we have made it a rule that you should never stop people from having big ideas. Taking a look at the preliminary programme for our European Capital of Culture as presented in chapter II of this application, it becomes unmistakably clear that Sønderborg as a small city among small cities in this part of Europe is able to think locally as well as globally.

European Partners

Notes: • European networks are not included in this map • International partners include Africa, Asia, Australasia, North and South America. You will find them listed in the individual projects

Connect ”People who like to connect are stimulated by the power of diversity - they link up and share with others to create something new.”

Connect ArtFARM FORMAT: Interdisciplinary arts development programme TIMELINE: All year - many events over summer (2012 ongoing) LOCATION: Gråsten Agricultural College AGENTS AND NETWORKS: Gråsten Agricultural College, Kulturlandsbyen6300, Trapholt museum, Ribe art museum, Esbjerg art museum, Vejle art museum, Odense art museum Fram, Fyns art museum, Brundlund slot, Koldinghus, Kunsthallen Brandts, Fram Kitagawa (General Director of Echigo-Tsumari Artfield Triennale, Japan), Bundanon Trust (Australia), RESartis, Triangle Network BUDGET: 4.000.000 €

Aabenraa Artweek FORMAT: Public art initiative TIMELINE: 2013 - 2020 LOCATION: Aabenraa AGENTS AND NETWORKS: Ecoc cities 2000-2020, RESartis, Triangle Network BUDGET: 170.000 € (Coproduction)

Joana Vasconcelos FORMAT: Living craft exhibition

The ArtFARM is a flagship project that among other things provides visual and performing arts programmes, local food and food production, and nature projects for children. ArtFARM is an educational & creative platform in real space that takes place at Gråsten Agricultural College - it has academic facilities and international networks, as well as a large working farm area with livestock, for handson learning. The goal of the ArtFARM is to support development of an active and vibrant creative culture, with feet in both the town and the country. On location existing organizations and projects work wherever possible to create savvy, vibrant, sustainable artistic communities.

TIMELINE: End of November 2017 LOCATION: Tønder Folk Museum AGENTS AND NETWORKS: Iben Eslykke (Director Museum Sønderjylland Tønder) BUDGET: 22.000 €

FarmART or ArtFARM? The location of the ArtFARM is symbolic. It envisages the constant dialogue between countryside and metropolis, something we don’t want to see separated. Gråsten Agricultural College has several large barns that have ‘plug and play’ construction plans

in place for renovation - a large part of these will be for multipurpose exhibition and performance spaces. The school can host 130 guests in rooms with bathroom facilities and internet. Up to 30 rooms are used for artists in residencies.

Artwork: Kulturlandsbyen6300 Photo: Lars Tholander

Artwork: Kulturlandsbyen6300

The interdisciplinary nature of this flagship project is already notable in the structure of the building. The ground floor of one building wing is currently used as a Nature School, where children from schools in Sønderborg municipalities are taught nature-related subjects. This wing’s loft covers an area of no less than 1300m2 on the first floor, but is currently not in use. Plans are in place for this large attic wing to be reconstructed into working studios for artists of all kinds. There is also a space for a concert/lecture/exhibition/ meeting room. This space, along with the studios, will be known as ‘The Loft’. The second wing of the building contains a very old big barn with eccentric construction. This will be used for big concerts, conferences, exhibitions, theatre. It is known as ‘The Barn’. Glocal connection The world-regarded General Director of Echigo-Tsumari Artfield Triennale in Japan, Fram Kitagawa, is mentoring the development of the ArtFARM with us. We will have a lively and active exchange program of artists and projects between

ArtFARM and the Tsumari Artfield, as an ongoing program of activity. In 2012 two Danish artists will be exhibiting at the artfield in Japan as a first step. We also create a network with the artist in residency scheme Bundanon Trust Australia. We believe there are similarities between the environments in which we are working, and that we share principles around cultural intervention and a philosophy of artist-led change. Artists in Residency Curators from Brazil, China, India and Japan select artists in residence for the ArtFARM. Several Danes who want to be a part of it are a group of artists who have solid links to a gallery in Wales, where they were living and exhibiting, which has a similar theme to the Countryside Metropolis - combining urban sensibilities with the best of rural living. Art museums in the Region of South Denmark and Schleswig-Holstein are also asked to suggest interesting artists for the residencies, and are invited to collaborate with one of the artists each, to produce exhibitions of the works created on the

ArtFARM. There are 30 artist in residence spaces. ...and also the Pig Tango One of the key events at the ArtFARM is The Pig Tango - an example of our approach to create novel events in the region that are inspiring and amusing for European audiences. It is estimated that there are 7 pigs for every human in the Sønderborg region. Pig farming is critical to the economy of the region. To celebrate the pig’s affectionate position in our culture, a ‘Pig Tango’ is created in collaboration with the South Jutland Symphony Orchestra. Throughout July and August 2017 the specially trained dancing pigs will perform the pig tango for what might be the first time in the world. The music for the Pig Tango is supplied by live performances from orchestra members, who perform the tango pieces which are proven to get pigs on their feet and moving. At the end of each performance, the humans in the audience are invited to join the fun and dance... and then enjoy a special ‘pig-nic’, with food provided by local chefs and a Food Caravan from the S2017 Food Festival.

Aabenraa Artweek Brings contemporary art into public spaces Aabenraa Artweek is a European artistic invasion. An impromptu international symposium for contemporary art in public spaces - based at Aabenraa, with 7 satellite locations in border communities of Denmark and Germany, plus one in Cyprus. Artweek presents diverse types of artistic expression in public spaces, to fire people’s imagination and create greater awareness of art here. It brings contemporary art to the region, to strengthen the Countryside Metropolis appeal to new residents, young people, and the creative - to help make what is already an attractive region a place that people want to live and stay in. The scheme runs for May and September, with isolated events throughout the year. Expects 25,000 viewers. 8 Renowned International Visual Artists participate, in addition to artists selected, via word-of-mouth call directed to landart artists from the 2000 to 2019 ECoC cities. This encourages lively artistic exchange and establishes sustainable cooperations. Creative communication between artists and public is crucial - artists encourage public participation in projects via music, film, street art and performing arts throughout the region. Lasting links are made with the artists, who often don’t know anything about the region beforehand, and subsequently serve as its ‘ambassadors’. Schools participate - Kolding School of Design, Flensburg University and BGK Sønderborg oversee projects throughout the year, to include educational tours and community involvement. Photo: Peter Mallet

Joana Vasconcelos The city of Tønder is famous for its lace making tradition and houses a museum of historical craftsmanship and folk art traditions. Very few lace makers are still practicing this ancient craft, and can still create the distinctive patterns of Tønder Lace for which the area is famous, but which proudly survive. Joana Vasconcelos takes up residence at the ArtFarm, and at Tønder Folk History Museum, Museum Sønderjylland, to work with other lace makers and demonstrate the craft. She creates a work of art through these traditional techniques - knowledge and heritage across the generations to engage both the young and the old, and original artwork to

enhance the museum’s exquisite Tønder Lace collection, bringing it contemporary perspectives. This project continues Vasconcelos’ examination of the historical role of handcrafts, exploring anthropological perspectives of crafts and the idea of ‘women’s work’. Joana Vasconcelos is French, lives in Lisbon, and has an international reputation, network and audience, having shown work in Austria, Brazil, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Turkey and the UK.

Fatamorgana organa

Connect Fatamorgana FORMAT: IT airship TIMELINE: 23. June 2016 take off. Return: 13. January 2017 LOCATION: European border regions from Sønderburg to Cyprus AGENTS AND NETWORKS: X-Bunker, ARUP, Superflex, Ultragroen, KOLLISION (architects), Southern Denmark University (Syddansk Universitet), Mads Clausen Institute, Nicosia 2017, Association of European Border Regions (AEBR) BUDGET: 269.000 € (Coproduction)

Lifeboats FORMAT: Travelling culture project with floating sculpture boats; tour TIMELINE: 08. March - 08. June LOCATION: Sønderborg, European Canals AGENTS AND NETWORKS: Marit B. Norheim (artist), Geir Johnson (composer), Design school Kolding, Eugenio Barba (Odin Theater Holstebro), Lars Olsen & Erik Foldager (Boatbuilders), Mary Miller (New Opera Bergen), Holger Kofoed, Magni Jensen BUDGET: 120.000 € (Coproduction)

Persian Journey FORMAT: Touring exhibition TIMELINE: February 2017 LOCATION: Gottorp Castle AGENTS AND NETWORKS: Prof. Dr. Claus von Carnap-Bornheim (Executive Director Gottorp Castle), Goethe Institute, Department of Foreign Affairs BUDGET: 50.000 €

2017…. We want to put a ship in the sky. We want to go on a journey. We have a message The project Fatamorgana creates a science fiction airship: “like a Zeppelin, but rather like a Zeppelin with a special dress on” - a dress made of LEDlights, solar panels and display screens - an innovative and technological outer cover. The Zeppelin is around 50m long and 10m high, and travels on a 100-day journey from Sønderborg to Cyprus and back, from May to August 2017. It sets out from Sønderborg and heads south over Western Europe, stopping at 8 selected places en route to Cyprus. After the Cyprus visit, it makes its return trip across Eastern Europe, making 8 further stops, until eventually returning to Sønderborg. This Fata Morgana is an unexpected sight in the South of Denmark - an odd, pulsing UFO in the sky, inspired by Blade Runner, Jules Verne, H.G. Wells, Stanley Kubrick. A travelling

art project connecting stories, places, people. Something that crosses language barriers through its visual vocabulary. A beautiful fascinating sight, which will be seen and enjoyed in the sky by European people - and not only passively. Interactive IT means that spectators on the ground can communicate directly on the outer surfaces of the vessel, for example via mobile, iPhone, iPad, SmartPhone, Laptop, website, SMS, MMS, Facebook, Twitter, or whatever new technology is happening in 2017 - all allowing the public to send messages of hope and celebration to the zeppelin. It will beam the messages on its huge screens - interactive projection and display technology, to be seen over a massive radius, with live links and presentations, video, sound and music. It’s a mission with a message: to celebrate a culturally diverse Europe. By stopping at different cities and regions of Europe,

Life Boats

Three concrete sculptures of female forms are actually functioning boats - 12m long and 3m above the water - as if the figureheads have become the ships themselves. Each has her own identity and story - their names are: ‘My ship is filled with life’; ‘My ship is filled with longing’; ‘My ship is filled with memories.’

them and experience installations inside the sculptures, with music by Norwegian composer Geir Johnson. People are involved as both cultural creators and consumers young and ‘Gold’ engage in open dialogues about experiences and memories, to incorporate into the installations.

The ‘Life Boats’ sail from Sønderborg and out onto the European canals, which lead them through the hearts of European cities built around old waterways. They launch on International Women’s Day.

Visits tie in with artistic networks started at the Camping Women project, ECoC Stavangar2008, which continue to be built before the voyage.

Fata

Connection through waterways is vital in European history. This project is about meetings en route - cultural exchanges daring to move into unknown territories and communicate. The striking boats dock in towns, attracting attention - locals board

Boats use electric motors, charged by alternative energies - to publicize the carbon neutral message. Ships return to Sønderborg for permanent exhibition. Artwork: Marit Benthe Norheim

The Persian Journey - Orient & Occident in the 17th century In 1633, Duke Frederick III of the SchleswigHolstein region sent a legation - a diplomatic mission - on a trade-related assignment to Persia. Its 125 delegates made stops and connections along the route. A reciprocal Persian legation visited Gottorp in 1639. Fatamorgana draws attention to problems and issues that countries and cities in Europe face, Sønderjylland-Schleswig being no exception - language barriers, cultural diversity, inequity, the effects of war and regional tensions. The ship stands for a humanist message of unity. The whole adventure, along with the messages and contributions from the public, is gathered together later for a multimedia exhibition in Sønderborg, a website and a documentary. 50 Danish, German and international artists come together to build this marvel, in collaboration with universities and leading ITcompanies. A gathering point, a common forum and a bridge builder in the sky.

Adam Olearius published an illustrated travelogue of the journey in 1656, which brought new awareness of the Near and Middle East to European readers. The route: They start at Gottorp Castle, visit Copenhagen, then cross the Baltic Sea - visit St. Petersburg and Moscow - trace the Volga River and the Caspian Sea - stop at Ardabil - with many more visits along the way. Isfahan, Iran is the final destination. The Persian Journey is a 2016-2017 touring exhibition to retrace a significant journey, and to raise awareness of the pioneering East-West connections from 17th century Schleswig-Holstein. It marks the 8,500km journey of the Gottorf legation, to celebrate these groundbreaking links between Northern Germany and the Middle East. The exhibition crosses Germany, Estonia, Russia, Azerbaijan and Iran.

The touring exhibition sets up at institutions, museums and cultural centres at 20 stops along the way - such as Tallinn Creative Hub, and Moscow’s State Historical-Cultural Museum. Individual artists and young cultural entrepreneurs from Schleswig organise the event, together with peers from each destination. Exhibition and artists work in partnership to tell both sides of the cultural story. Each institution retains a permanent exhibit to mark the connection. The touring project incorporates the whole experience, then returns to Sønderborg enriched, to display the exhibition and tell the story.

Connect A cross-border extreme sports satellite concept, to link and develop the cities’ sports communities and hold festivals throughout the region FORMAT: Network, sports facilities, competition events TIMELINE: During the whole year 2017 LOCATION: Skatepark Flensburg, Skatehall Sønderborg, Ewich tosamende ungedelt AGENTS AND NETWORKS: Skatepark Flensburg, Skatehall Sønderburg; Sportpiraten Flensburg, Dirk Dillmann (Director Sportpiraten/ Skatepark Flensburg) Volksbad Flensburg, Aktivitetshuset Flensburg, Kulturvereinbarung Sønderjylland and local initiatives BUDGET: 200.000 € (Coproduction)

European Minority Games recognizes cultures FORMAT: Network, sports facilities, competition events TIMELINE: 04.10.2017 (2013-2017) LOCATION: Ringriderpladsen Sønderborg AGENTS AND NETWORKS: The Association of North Schleswig Germans (BDN), Frisian Association, Southdanish Youth Organisation (SDU) Federal Union of European Nationalities (FUEN) BUDGET: 250.000 €

a trans-regional cutting-edge sports alliance cities - an exceptional ‘satellite concept’ in Both Sønderborg and Flensburg have firmly established extreme sports communities and facilities - but until now, the links between them have been occasional and haphazard. They exist largely in isolation from each other - which means that a potentially much stronger youth culture scene in the region remains atomized. Youth Extreme Sports Challenge builds real, permanent connections between the communities, to ensure unity, strength, growth and staying power: of an internationally celebrated scene and of a thriving youth community.

The project improves facilities in both cities, generates extreme sports fan energy, and guarantees excellence for the communities more sports options at both, such as extended ramp areas and new climbing walls. It puts structures in place for sharing facilities and expertise - such as skills exchange schedules for trainers, and timetables which take advantage of the full combined sports coverage: Sønderborg has indoor facilities, and Flensburg has outdoor facilities, so together they ensure year-round usage. The connection creates a critical mass, to enable exciting, strong new networks with European peers.

European Minority Games Sport as cultural identifier - lasting links between peripheral communities

There are many little-known sports to be found in European regions with minorities. This project gathers these often very old sports into a large-scale culture and games program - the first to take place here, over 5 days at 6-8 locations in the region, to attract at least 10,000. Each sports community benefits long-term from the connections, attention and resources. With over 300 recognized minority groups in Europe, one out of every seven Europeans is a minority. National minorities have a valid role in the cultural life of the Countryside Metropolis. Sports are a significant aspect of cultural identities - they create shared experience, cement solidarity and bring young people on board.

to drive a high-octane network between European extreme sports It also connects extreme sports enthusiasts of the region to wider communities, by taking Flensburg’s successful cutting-edge sports, music and family festival, ‘72.5 hours Schlachthof’, out to three more locations in Germany and Denmark. This is a key competitive event in the extreme sports timetable, which attracts fans and competitors from countries like Belgium, the Netherlands, Austria and Great Britain. It offers not just BMX and skateboarding, but many other cuttingedge or street sports and arts such as parkour, wakeboarding, break dance, sporthocker and graffiti. Thousands enjoy these inclusive community celebrations, with food, DJs, live

music and kids’ activities - inflatables, play bus, and extreme sports for beginners. The scheme encourages other local initiatives, such as the express SønderborgFlensburg intercity bus service, and plans colourful ad-hoc sports events around the cities, such as skate-offs at the harbours. International coverage of events and a permanently increased profile ensures that the Youth Extreme Sports Challenge expands into the future.

Photos: Patricio Soto

Sports to try include games like Basque Pelota from Spain and France; Irish Road Bowling; or ‘Nurdling’ from ancient Britain. Local examples are Sønderjylland’s ‘Ringriding’ - a form of high-speed ‘jousting’ on horseback; and ‘Bosseln’ - a North European, long-range throwing game, like a cross between golf and boules. Events are taken to spectacular levels - like the huge Bosseln range, started on the east and west coasts by separate Bosseln communities who meet in the middle. Also cultural presentations from the European regions and minorities - such as food, traditional dress and other customs. Individuals stay connected through their passion - the sports communities grow. Develops with established minorities organizations.

BRANDI: Borderlands Regional It’s about capacity building, stupid

Connect BRANDI: Borderlands Regional Artists Network Development Initiative. Taking creative networking to the next level FORMAT: Teaching, training, research, forums, industry programmes & mentorships, residencies, publication, network TIMELINE: 2012 - no end LOCATION: Countryside Metropolis AGENTS AND NETWORKS: Jan-Willem van Kruyssen (coordinator), Fabian Holt (Associate Professor), Anette Wad (producer consultant), Kim Nørballe (Director Augustiana), Nordicperformanceart, Spinderihallen Vejle, Performing Arts Employers Associations League Europe (Pearle), Trans Europe Halles,Triangle Network, CAE Culture Action Europe (CAE), European Network of Cultural Centres (ENCC), LAG-Soziokultur SchleswigHolstein, dansklive.dk, BUDGET: 1.900.000 €

BRANDI is artist-run and artist-driven, with a focus on capacity building, professional development and creating opportunities for action.

Borderlands Regional Artists Network

Sønderborg2017 spearheads a Borderlands Artists Network. This network provides a forum for artists to make connections between different art forms, get to know other artists working in a particular art form, and meet and collaborate with artists across borders, both physical and in terms of genres. It includes a living database of artists and producers in order to facilitate communication, networking, collaboration and project development between artists, cultural organizations and industries. To ensure success, Sønderborg2017 promotes the development of a network

upgrade local participation and build capacity in order to meet the huge task of arranging a whole year of cultural events. First steps are made but improvement is essential. Upgraded local workforces are also a must to ensure that the stronger cultural position Sønderborg gains from being European Capital of Culture continues to grow over the years, and converts into sustainable cultural growth in the region. What? The Brandi programme consists of 5 key elements: the muscles, the veins, the arms, the legs and the mouth.

The muscles: Producers Development Programme

A select group of 6 -10 highly motivated local cultural workers take part in the Producers Development Programme, prior to 2017 and on a continual basis. This enables

2012-13 - Establishment Year

2014 - Development

Invite regional artists

Deliver Time Out Borderlands to print

Create coordinator positions

Launch the network with programme of events

Artists in residence starts February 2012

Marketing campaign

Establish Time Out Borderlands sub-committee Website runs Producer Development Programme

and an infrastructure that works closely with the municipality to provide office facilities and funding, and uses a web portal in a Facebook-like environment for the artists to use. The Network is open to all who wish to join regardless of age and background. It is organized in art form genres, such as writers, visual artists, performing artists; encourages collaboration between genres, and assists the artists of the region in finding new directions. The coordinator is Jan-Willem van Kruyssen (pianist, composer, initiator of MUZtheater in Zaandam, Netherlands, manager of large-scale European collaboration projects in music, film, radio, TV and theatre, and educational projects, for example with the Opéra de Paris or MAGIC NET). A positive thing to note is that lessons learned from other places in Europe can be taken on board, and that liaisons with those networks are happening naturally. Why? During the prequalification round it has become clear that Sønderborg needs to

the Culture Producers to create, produce, coordinate, distribute and implement sustainable cultural events across the arts throughout the region on an ongoing basis. How? The Producers Development Programme has three priorities. Part one - Teaching Three-week intensive course on the following topics: Masterclass - selected experienced leaders from the different arts share their experiences. Managing creative people - understanding the creative mind. Innovation tools - how to conduct innovative processes. Project Management - leading the projects to fruition. Innovation sociology - who is playing which parts, placing responsibility in order to clear targets. Optimizing effects - event marketing.

Artists Network Development Initiative Economy - how to stay on budget. Value creation - adding value to existing and new events. Mentoring - one-to-one mentoring sessions with teachers from Masterclass. Part two - Training 2 months of practical experience - training within existing cultural festivals, cultural institutions or government measures. The Culture Producer works as an unpaid management-level intern. Offering free, highly qualified help is always much appreciated, and therefore it is a great head-start for the trainees to find jobs. Copenhagen International Literature Festival (CPH:litt), Copenhagen film festivals (CPH:PIX), Madkulturen in Roskilde, Copenhagen Marathon, Kulturhavn in Copenhagen, Images Festival, along with other opportunities with festivals, arts organizations and projects in a range of European countries are also arranged

The veins: Producers Forum

In conjunction with the artists’ groups, a producers’ forum is established. The forum provides opportunities for creative producers from around the region to plan joint programmes, establish tours and touring programmes and share costs for development of arts projects from film festivals to electronic music events. Sønderborg2017 assists by providing small amounts of funding, venues and marketing/ promotion to support the development of exhibitions, performances, publications, and other creative endeavours. Sønderborg2017 promotes the ideals and aims in supporting the Network’s establishment in 2013. By 2017, a vibrant Countryside Metropolis is connected with an organization of artists who actively play a major part in planning and delivering a large range of events and publications, which the artists themselves wish to present throughout 2017.

Psychiatric Hospital, becomes vacant, some time before 2017.

The mouth: BRANDI Time Out Borderlands

One of the limitations of the development of an active cultural programme in the borderlands region is the lack of a publication to give information regarding all the cultural activities occurring in the borderlands region. Sønderborg2017 changes this situation by publishing a Time Out Borderlands edition beginning in 2013, to be widely available where newspapers are sold throughout the borderlands region, and on a Time Out Borderlands website supported by Sønderborg2017. This project is produced independently, and modelled on the What’s on/Time Out publications found in many cities of Europe.

2015 - Consolidation

2016 - Full Activation

2017 - European Capital of Culture

2018 and beyond - Legacy

Time Out Borderlands online weekly, as a phone app and in regional newspapers

Invite Ichechi Igama ArtField artists for artistic exchange

BRANDI is major force in citizen activation

BRANDI continues to support and promote ongoing artists network

Various popular activities - including at ArtFARM and Frank Gehry development

Attracts a range of EU, Danish and German funding

BRANDI artists develop 2017 ECoC events

Artists in residency expands Active, sustainable activities all over the region

to provide the breadth of experience necessary for producers, and impart an understanding of working with cultural and organizational differences. Part three - Collecting knowledge, coordination, evaluation Producers Development Programme continues to meet on a regular basis workshops twice a year - in order to gain inspiration, collect and share important findings, coordinate across the arts/ events, and evaluate, in order to anchor all knowledge in the region and help future Capital of Culture cities. Who? Producers Development Programme is headed by consultant Anette Wad (Copenhagen Literature Festival; leading publishing programmes) and Associate Professor Fabian Holt (Roskilde University music and events) plus Masterclass teachers from across the arts and other ECoCs with similar programmes.

ArtFARM Country Metropolis Artist Festival in July- August 2017

The arms: BRANDI Artist in industry Program

An orientation program is established to support artists working in industry programmes, including an ongoing mentorship arrangement for employers and artists. This part works closely together with the HUB.

The legs: BRANDI Artist in Residency Programme

To support the ability of artists to spend time in Sønderborg working and collaborating with local artists, it is essential that there is a place for artists to live while working on creative projects. Therefore, Sønderborg2017 has negotiated an artist in residency programme at Augustenborg to commence in 2013. This will initially be on a small scale, providing 8 artists with accommodation. The residency scheme expands to a much larger program when Augustenborg Castle, now used as a

Continuing positive improvement to cultural landscape Local businesses and entrepreneurs support local artists and initiatives

Highlights of Time Out Borderlands are supplied to all regional newspapers, which are encouraged to publish details on a regular basis, rather than only events which affect their immediate area, as is the case in 2012.

The HUB

Professional platform to raise creativity in

Connect The HUB FORMAT: Artist/business interchange platform TIMELINE: 2012-forever LOCATION: Countryside Metropolis AGENTS AND NETWORKS: URS, WIREG, IHK Flensburg, Network for Change, Business clusters of South Denmark: food industry, Offshorecentre Denmark, Lean Energy Cluster, Design2Innovate, Welfare Tech Region, Windcomm, Live Science, Digital Economy, Food Industry, Maritime Cluster, Kunstgreb, Art Lab Denmark, TILLT, C2+i, Creative Clash, Spinderihallen Vejle BUDGET: 300.000 € (Coproduction)

The HUB is a methodology on how to build a solid, functioning platform for crossfertilization between arts and businesses. The HUB initiative is ready to start right away to develop between 2013 and 2016, to function as a strong operator in the area in the years to come, and lines up with the EU2020 initiative to raise creativity in companies. The creation of the HUB ensures that with the strong support of Sønderborg2017 business and arts cooperate sustainably. The HUB takes part in the network for artistic interventions Creative Clash, with a European meeting on the topic held in 2017 in Sønderborg. Overall focus for the HUB The HUB brings together individual artists, cultural operators and the business sector to develop joint projects for mutual development, and capitalizes on the local cultural life as a resource for developing public sector organizations and businesses.

2012 2012 - Create a Network for Change - development - crossfertilization: business and arts.

2013 2013 - Launch ‘100 Months’ project - see III.2, Finances chapter. Collaborations between designers and creatives from communication sector. Set up BRANDI project. Train artists in artistic interventions.

Creativity plans are written to show how artistic competence can enhance the needs of the organizations.

The HUB has several tasks 1. Gather the parts and develop the method The HUB motivates cultural operators, individual artists, business organizations and public stakeholders to join. It seeks out artists and organizations for joint projects, helping to specify the focus, assist in fundraising and provide support throughout the process. 2. Provide a space for relationships where every party is respected Successful collaboration projects are carried out when all stakeholders’ needs are respected. Therefore the HUB safeguards the specific values and buffers between the potential clashes. This includes translations into a common language in order to enable healthy collaboration through equality between groups. 3. Conduct Research; dissemination of results The HUB ensures that evaluation takes place and research is conducted. The results are presented at seminars initiated

by stakeholders, such as URS, WIREG, IHK Flensburg. Continuous communication with media takes place to put the issue high on the agenda and generates critical mass for visibility. 4. Guide the parties to take advantage of opportunities generated during the project The HUB´s work does not end when a project is finished. It guides the parties to take advantage of opportunities generated during the project, such as continuing the two-way relationship and implementing the results of the project. Who are behind the HUB? The initiative is a good example of a snowball effect: initiated by the municipality of Aabenraa, in December 2011 the Network for Change united the business centres of Sønderjylland in a platform for crossfertilization between business and the arts. During first pilot projects the cultural actors,

2013 2013 - Engage business networks.

2013 Spring 2013 - Gather cultural operators region-wide - through BRANDI - promote HUB.

some artists, businesses and municipalities of Sønderjylland-Schleswig quickly joined through the intervention of S2017. Then larger business networks URS, WIREG, IHK Flensburg also joined. The region then made a further connection with the ‘Golden Triangle’ - Sønderborg - Vejle - Svendborg. Since then, via the region, business clusters of Southern Denmark focusing on the food industry have joined. The Offshore Centre Denmark, Lean Energy Cluster, Design2Innovate and Welfare Tech Region are also engaged in the HUB, as well as the business clusters of SchleswigHolstein such as Windcomm, the Live Science, the Digital Economy, the Food Industry and the Maritime Cluster Northern Germany. It sounds like a lot of networking for the sake of networking, but as a matter of fact it is not. A core group of 18 enterprises is ready to start, and their best and worst practices will be communicated. These networks give the HUB access to more enterprises which wish to use creative competence to develop their organizations. The HUB is active all over the German-Danish Region in 2017. An advisory board is set up in 2014 to give the establishment of the HUB credibility and to open doors. The advisory board has members from URS, WIREG, Danish Industry,

companies through artistic interventions Region South Denmark, Sønderborg’s councillor for culture, one representative of a larger enterprise, one person from an SME and a senior artist. The development of the HUB in the region As things stand a prudent estimate is that there are around 100 member organizations by 2016, 60% representing the private sector, 20% the public sector and 20% cultural operators. The HUB is financed through membership fees from cultural organizations as well as businesses and municipalities. These fees are divided based on the number of employees of the member organization. In the beginning the collaboration projects are subsidised by public resources, for example from Creative Europe, innovation vouchers and regional funds relating to innovation capacity and sustainable development. But there is an exit strategy for public support from day 1. Public sector support diminishes each year, and the companies carry the

2013 Autumn 2013 - Involve HR departments in local authorities, industry and health services.

2014 2014 - Address ‘The Golden Triangle’, develop creativity and innovation in the region.

costs for artistic interventions completely themselves from 2017. The HUB begins with an office in Sønderborg, then one in Vejle and finally one in Flensburg. The offices are situated at the business development centres in Sønderborg and Vejle and at IHK in Flensburg, with offices and staff financed by membership fees and regional support. The Hub provides three types of activities: • presentations at different events such as tradeshows, business events and breakfast/ lunch meetings, where communication of the value of cross-fertilization overlaps with values of cultural operators, and public/ private organizations are made visible. • mutual interests are defined and concrete projects are developed. Projects such as having an artist present in the company for two months; workshops; short-term, resultsoriented innovation projects as well as longterm open projects are carried out. Contacts have been made with Kunstgreb and Art Lab in Denmark, TILLT in Sweden and c2+i in Spain to receive more input concerning project development. • HUB projects are presented as a series of well planned events leading up to 2017,

culminating in large presentations in the public space in 2017. The presentations are dependent on the outcome of the projects. It is essential that the project ideas come from the stakeholders themselves - if this isn’t the case, the energy is diminished and will not bear fruit. Possible presentations held in the public sphere in 2017 could include: a truck ballet, a composition of sounds from ships’ horns, as well as statues made of bricks. They are dependent on the manner in which the companies wish to present their results.

The Hub uses three design methods: • Workshop interaction in conferences and seminars - this is a way to introduce culturebased creativity in organizations. An artist from a specific art form mirrors an issue or carries out a workshop on a topic. This creates an understanding of how collaborations can be established. To develop more knowledge

2014-2015 2014-2015 - Workshops - artists join business representatives to find solutions to business-based challenges. Varied threemonth projects. Singing workshops through Mythical Beasts project.

months the artist, together with the in-house project group, will decide which themes to focus on. Process support from the HUB is available throughout the project. Themes can be: raise self-esteem among employees; develop creativity and innovation capacity; or address corporate values. The project group and the artist decide upon an action plan which is carried out over the following eight months. In the last two months of the year, evaluation and a year-end summary take place, to create a strategy to sustain the effects within the organization. The Swedish organization TILLT has a long tradition in developing open projects of this kind. Contacts have been established with them and will continue through the development of the HUB. The Hub is a flagship project in S2017 since especially the combination between young and ‘Gold’ is made in a concrete way. The fact that the Hub has the potential

2015-2016

2016

2015-2016 - Continue to recruit members from the business, public and cultural sectors.

2016 - Open artistic intervention projects. Fatamorgana project begins - art, science and business in technical innovation. Mythical Beasts dance workshops - communication and teambuilding.

on these methods, collaboration with Artlab Denmark in Copenhagen takes place. • Results-oriented innovation projects - a challenge in an organization is chosen and an artist with a similar interest is matched to it. These might be: to develop sustainable energy with new talent; to develop workprocesses; or to develop the way employees approach customers, clients or patients. The Spanish organization c2+i has a long tradition in the development of these kinds of projects. Contacts have been established with them and continue through the building up of the HUB. • Open method - year-long projects are carried out which are open in their nature and are meant for brave companies who truly want to be challenged. The focus of the project is not set beforehand. An in-house project group is formed at the company which is used by the artist as a sounding board and as a way to better understand the organization. The first 2 months of the year are spent on research. The artist learns how the work is structured in the company and gives feedback from their perspective on what can be developed. After these two

2017 2017 - Projects in public spaces. Fatamorgana research results. European artistic interventions conference in Sønderborg. HUB now active all over the Region.

to make money for those involved on the side of the private sector, the artists, the cultural operators as well as the public organizations, is seen as a way to make the network sustainable, and helps the region in the crucially needed preparation of a creative and inspiring labour market of the future.

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Chinatown of Tomorrow Connect Chinatown FORMAT: New building / Chinalinked culture centre TIMELINE: 2013-forever LOCATION: Sønderborg Harbour AGENTS AND NETWORKS: J. MAYER H. Architects, Erik Werner Petersen, Aarhus School of Architecture, Huang Rui, Bérénice Angremy (International Art District in Beijing), Lv Pingjing (Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing), Danish Culture Institute Beijing BUDGET: 1.000.000 € (Coproduction)

Sønderborg2017 connects with China in a number of areas: culture, education and business. We expand our international relations by building a centre to reinforce collaboration capacity and connect with new global projects. Over the last decade, the Chinese government has established a number of Chinese Cultural Centres in cities of the world to promote Chinese language and culture, along with over 250 Confucius Institutes. These cultural centres, of which Europe currently has 3 Paris, Berlin and Madrid - tend to present a rather traditional, blunt image, not really reflective of the buzzing, pluralistic intensity of Chinese cultural life. Sønderborg’s Chinatown of Tomorrow interprets contemporary China, with its attractions, contradictions and dynamism, into one single striking, oriental-style building overlooking Sønderborg’s new harbour front. Inside are food, displays, residencies, intercultural dialogues, exhibitions, screenings and live performances - all as interconnected as they are in China. The building also hosts a Chamber of Commerce, which works to promote a better business climate and increase global commercial partnerships. China Town programmes are devised by Thinking Hands, a Beijing-based curatorial

Ewich tosamende ungedelt FORMAT: Inhabited temporary manmade floating island, the shape of Central Park TIMELINE: Whole year LOCATION: Flensburg Fjord AGENTS AND NETWORKS: Maurer United, Piet Oudolf (NL) – landscape design , Frank and Patrik Riklin / Atelier für Sonderaufgaben (SWISS) – art programme project Realities United (GER) – lighting plan Pike (SWE) – sculpture BUDGET: 1.700.000 € (Coproduction)

team headed by artist Huang Rui and art historian Bérénice Angremy, who have been responsible for the remarkable development of the 798 International Art District in Beijing, and curated a large scale performance festival in May 2007 in connection with the Louisiana Museum exhibition on contemporary Chinese art. In spring 2013, a student project launches at the School of Architecture of the Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing by the architect, Professor Lv Pingjing, Dean of the school, with a series of 17 workshops and lectures conducted by the Danish Cultural Institute in Beijing, and architectural professor Erik Werner Petersen. By May 2013, 150 Danish students of architecture from the Aarhus School of Architecture will go to Beijing to participate in a joint workshop with Chinese counterparts, organized by Thinking Hands, which gives input on the physical framework of the building. During the Danish Cultural Year in China from 2014 -15, the Danish Cultural Institute initiates 20 new activities within the field of fine arts, performance art, media art and music with Chinese partners. These have their Danish premiere in Sønderborg’s Chinatown of Tomorrow 2017, to showcase contemporary Chinese art and culture.

This project connects a think tank of local and European architects and visual artists in the creation of a manmade floating island for Sønderborg2017. The island is transported by the Danish and German Navies within the Sønderjylland-Schleswig waterways, and hosts over 50 cultural events, in front of Sønderborg on the water and in the fjords of the region. The floating island won’t be found on any physical map - but will put Sønderborg on the metaphorical map of international attention. The project criticizes our concept of the Countryside Metropolis from within - from a place which actually demonstrates temporarily that metropolitan thinking in countryside surroundings can be put into action, and that there is nothing wrong with that. Constructed of sand, earth, plants and even insects and animals from the SønderjyllandSchleswig area, this 12 month artwork installation in the shape of Central Park, NY, forms a piece of neutral land which doesn’t belong to any nation. The title: “Ewich tosamende ungedelt” - “That they shall remain forever undivided”originates from a proclamation made in the region by King Christian I of Denmark to German nobles. It symbolises our view on the constant dialogue between countryside and metropolis: we do not accept that they must be split apart. The huge floating island - 120m x 40m, or 4,800 m2 - is a safe, ingenious engineering marvel. It is home to 12 small buildings, with coffee bars, bakeries and activity centres, for happenings and social gatherings. Its hotels guarantee an unforgettable stay. A skate park develops together with the local skater scene, which brings skate culture back to where it began - inspired by surfers on the sea - and attracts the international skateboarding community to this unique setting. Sea water is pumped into a sculpted fountain on the island, which transforms at night into a spectacular laser display. Thousands of visitors to the island as well as viewers from the land witness and take part in these diverse cultural programs. Develops from 2014, with a network of renowned architects and visual artists drawn from Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden and Switzerland.

floating temporary island shows that the urban-rural dimensions cannot be split up

Photos: Lars Tholander Artwork: Jürgen Mayer, Maurer United

Buildings are a living cultural timeline. Sønderborg community celebrates cutting-edge architecture - as with the Alsion and Gehry harbour projects - but also treasures and reinvents architectural inheritance. This beautiful old ‘Packhouse’ is being converted into a ‘Multiculture Centre’, where organizations focus on “art, culture and learning”, and which provides spaces for future S2017 projects. It supports S2017 synergies but is a fully independent venture.

Connect Music from the developing BRIC countries, plus conference on sustainability FORMAT: Concerts and conference TIMELINE: November LOCATION: Alsion, Sønderborg, Marie Church, Sønderborg Castle, Art Hall, Sønderborg Community Centre AGENTS AND NETWORKS: Claus Skjold Larsen (Director South Denmark Symphonical Orchestra – Orkesterchef Sønderjyllands Symfonieorkester), Finn Andersen (Danish Cultural Institute - DKI), Chief Conductor Vladimir Ziva of Russia (Artist), Terence Lewis (Artist), LarsUlrik Mortensen (Artist), Anoushka Shankar (Artist), Lang-Lang (Artist), Shanghai Arts Ensemble, Royal Danish Ballet, Marinskij Theatre St. Petersburg, The Male Choir of St. Petersburg, British Huddersfield Choral Society, ”Festival do Vale do Café” (Brazil), ProjectZero, Sustainable Villages, CO2 Green Drive, Tour de Flens, Klimapakt Flensburg, The Climate Positive Development Program (CPDP), Clinton Climate Initiative, Better Place, Sustainable Villages Initiative, Institute for Cultural Industries at Peking University BUDGET: 200.000 €

In November 2017 artists, policymakers, scientists and entrepreneurs from the fastest developing countries in the world, Brazil, Russia, India and China - BRIC - come to Sønderborg for a 10-day music festival and a conference on sustainable energy solutions. The Danish Cultural Institute invites musicians from the four BRIC countries, who present their rich musical and cultural heritages. The Brazilian program, in collaboration with the acclaimed rural “Festival do Vale do Café”, present a wide range of Brazilian genres: classical, jazz, bossa nova, samba and folk. Photos: Paulo Rodrigues, Faculty of Dance of Shanghai, Theatre Academy, Carrie Devorah, Erik Stein NCM Media Networks, Paulo Rodrigue

Former Russian head conductor Vladimir Ziva returns to Sønderborg with fine young Russian soloists. Dancers from the Royal

Danish Ballet and the Marinskij Theatre St. Petersburg stage a gala performance in Alsion, with the South Jutland Symphony Orchestra. The Male Choir of St. Petersburg perform a finale of Russian church music in Mariekirken, Sønderborg. British composer Gustav Holst was inspired by Indian culture and spiritual texts in his Choral Hymns of the Rig Veda, a work for choir, harp and orchestra. Performed by the region’s Philharmonic Choir and the British Huddersfield Choral Society. 30 dance talents from the region train for 6 months to perform in a fantastic Bollywood show - a tribute to Indian pop culture with the South Jutland Symphony Orchestra in Alsion.

Another concert sees famous Danish harpsichordist Lars-Ulrik Mortensen meet Indian sitar player Anoushka Shankar (daughter of Ravi Shankar and half-sister to Norah Jones) and friends at Sønderborg Castle, in a compelling duel: western baroque music against the classical music of the Indian maharajahs. Improvisation proves a cultural principle: world-class musicians inspire each other across continents, genres, and cultures. Shanghai Arts Ensemble presents contemporary Chinese music in the new Art Hall. A Chinese bamboo flute concert in Sønderborg Community Centre creates a meditative mood. A final concert is held when famous piano virtuoso Lang-Lang performs a

brand new piece by Tan Dun, with multimedia effects and the South Jutland Symphony Orchestra - to climax with Chinese fireworks over the Alssund strait. At the 2-day conference, policymakers, scientists and business partners of the BRIC countries present and discuss innovative projects on sustainable resources. Positive new directions are inspired by strong connections between regional sustainable initiatives like ProjectZero and international initiatives like Better Place, as well as environmental projects in Sønderborg’s sister city Bauding (China). Much of this conference is for workshops, where participants exchange new ways to implement sustainable energy strategies in their countries.

Through the Danish Cultural Institute in Beijing, first contacts have been established between Sønderborg Municipality and the Institute for Cultural Industries at Peking University. As a first step in the connection with BRIC countries, Sønderborg is one of two Nordic representatives at the first international Garden City / Farming City conference in China in August 2012. This initiative from the Chinese Ministries of Agriculture and Planning & Construction creates an international alliance of rural municipalities engaged in the development of sustainable green towns, with related industries. This partnership is the starting point of a deep cooperation, which works towards the BRIC conference in 2017.

Connect WOMAD, the longrunning, internationally renowned World Music Festival, stages its first Danish festival here FORMAT: International Festival for World Music, Arts and Dance TIMELINE: 7. - 8. July 2017 LOCATION: Als AGENTS AND NETWORKS: Chris Smith (Director WOMAD) BUDGET: 500.000 €

“Music is a universal language, it draws people together and proves, as well as anything, the stupidity of racism.”

- Peter Gabriel

WOMAD Denmark brings not just another music festival but a world-renowned international phenomenon, focusing on multicultural connection at every level of the arts. WOMAD’s first ever appearance in Denmark, at Sønderborg 2017. It is held on the island of Als, and attracts 20,000 visitors a day.

Photos: York Tillyer, Sidz Photography

The festival brings together artists from all over the world, and celebrates our planet’s many forms of music, arts and dance. It was founded by passionate artists including Peter Gabriel, and has been staging festivals since 1982 - first in Britain, and then around the globe.

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WOMAD worldwide has many different branches, but the aims are always the same - at festivals, performance events, through recorded releases and through educational projects, it excites, informs, and creates awareness of the worth and potential of an interconnected, multicultural society - for families, the young, and the gold generation too.

The WOMAD festival achieves these aims through several different mediums: Performance - musicians of all music genres from across the globe give world-class

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Special events for children - safe, interactive activities for children, both entertaining, culturally enlightening, and with lasting memories. They create masks, flags, costumes and scrapyard instruments, and work towards a giant Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Parade. performances. Audiences take away wider knowledge and awareness of world music often the musicians are well known at home, but less so worldwide. Interactive Dialogues - artists answer audience questions, to satisfy cultural curiosity - they share and teach techniques, tell stories from their homelands, and

connect with audiences of all ages in intimate surroundings. Taste The World - artists are invited to cook favourite dishes from their home countries in front of an audience. These friendly, informal sessions are a WOMAD innovation. Artists chat about their lives and influences.

A global village of shops - a worldwide range of arts, crafts and cuisines creates a global marketplace - another essential element of the WOMAD experience. Worldwide cultural mementos find their way into European homes, keeping connections alive.

Connect Street Art SønderjyllandSchleswig FORMAT: Touring art scheme TIMELINE: 1. May-15. June

LOCATION: Urban spaces in the

region

AGENTS AND NETWORKS: Mentalgassi, Academy of ugly Arts (AouA) streetutopia.com, Circostrada, Husk mit navn BUDGET: 70.000 €

Photos: Mentalgassi, Getxo

A team of street artists travels through the region, stops in communities, guides and assists local people to create original artworks

Street Art in the Countryside Metropolis stands out as something conspicuous in the region - you can find the odd tree wearing a crocheted jacket, or see some graffiti here and there. But the movement grows... The 2017 Street Art team explores the whole region, and holds interactive sessions in communities with local artists. The artists create pieces and present them on a project website - local photographers document the process through pictures. Web links to and from other street art websites strengthen international connections. The Street Art bus travels through the region. The bus is like a mobile ‘laboratory’, with the tools, materials and photography equipment to activate street art spontaneously, spreading it throughout the Countryside Metropolis. An official Sønderborg2017 sticker denotes that these artworks are authorized and legal. ‘Street Art’ is visual art developed in public spaces - ‘on the streets’. The term usually refers to unsanctioned art initiatives, and can include traditional graffiti artwork, sculpture, stencil graffiti, sticker art, wheatpasting and street poster art, video projection, art intervention, guerrilla art, and street installations. ‘Street art’ or the more specific term ‘post-graffiti’ is also used to distinguish contemporary public-space artworks from territorial graffiti, vandalism, and corporate art. This movement continues to gain traction in Flensburg, where the Academy of Ugly Arts (AOUA) works in partnership with the EXXE Flensburg youth centre, to paint public properties - as with the recent sponsored project with Stadtwerke Flensburg electricity company. Sønderborg2017 draws on these experiences and connections to widen the region’s Street Art base.

Connect Lives of design FORMAT: Large interschool design project TIMELINE: 2012-2018 LOCATION: Schools in the Countryside Metropolis AGENTS AND NETWORKS: University of Flensburg, Vocational College for trades and industry (EUC Syd),Højer Design School, Dr. Werner Jackstadt-Centre, Design for Change Network BUDGET: 100.000 € (Coproduction)

From 2012, Design for Change illustrates the innovation and design potential of children in Europe - it initiates a series of Design for Change projects with as many of the region’s hundreds of schools as possible, who work together across the region to create meaningful design solutions. It focuses on solving important social and environmental issues through design and European cooperation, and celebrates Denmark’s position as one of the leading nations in design. The initiative gives children the tools to express their own ideas for a better world and then put them into action.

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The Design for Change toolkit has been translated into 15 languages, making it one of the most inclusive movements of change today. It was the winner of the 2011 Index: Design to Improve Life award - and has expanded to reach 33 countries, 66,000 schools, and over 300,000 children worldwide. Sønderborg2017 helps to expand it further, putting permanent design project setups into schools, with particular focus on an interregional dimension designed to stimulate and enhance children’s cultural intelligence. This deepens cultural awareness across the region, and helps broaden the intercultural dimensions of the Design for Change programme.

Artopia – year-long series of inter-cultural art projects and exhibitions for children FORMAT: International youth art programme TIMELINE: Whole year LOCATION: Schools in the Countryside Metropolis AGENTS AND NETWORKS: Maritime Museum Flensburg, Tønder Art Museum, Cultural History Museum Aabenraa, Sønderborg Castle, Countryside Museum Schleswig, CFU-Aabenraa, Museum Angeln, Environmental Education Center of Salamiou Pafos, NAPA (Nordic arts project for children) BUDGET: 269.000 € (Coproduction)

Award-winning children’s art project to promote tolerance and understanding through art workshops in European conflict regions. This cultural exchange project between children in conflict regions provides visual arts workshops, art exchanges and dialogue projects, between Cyprus, the Baltic Region, Germany and Scandinavia. It reflects the belief that art and culture are universal, creating understanding and tolerance.

Photo: Højer design school, Rick Towle

Children from 9 - 12 visit each other’s schools and learn about other ways of life. They keep international blogs, with podcasts and video interviews of their grandparents around sustainability and the environment, past and present - also art, photos, exhibitions, writing, film-making.

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The programme asks students to do four simple things: feel, imagine, do and share. Ideas are then turned into practical solutions, using the project’s unique, tried and tested techniques. Young participants particularly address the issues which they see around them. An example is cross-generational design projects, where young people visit elderly homes or nursing homes to engage in dialogues around designing new ways of helping daily lives. This initiative can export to other European countries, where the issue of an aging population is also urgent, posing new challenges in terms of autonomy and quality of life. The scheme embraces everyday design objects such as chairs, knives, clothes and lamps. Other design projects address carbon reduction, environmental protection, and how climate change affects the region’s coastal and harbour areas, for instance. Children also design the candles and lights to illuminate the region’s windows during S2017’s Opening and Closing Nights. Incorporates school projects, design prizes, and culminates in exhibitions in Sønderborg, Aabenraa, Tønder and Flensburg. The project was originally devised in India for school children, by Kiran Bir Sethi. Children there worked on diverse issues, with problems ranging from loneliness, potholes in the streets, to alcoholism and the contentious subject of forced child marriages.

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Greek and Nordic Mythology are focal points - children compare respective mythologies for inspiration and common roots. Cooperation with Cyprus - dreaming our common future: Children explore shared features of landscapes, focusing on wind farms - with Artopia, Sønderborg and the Environmental Education Centre in Paphos. School initiatives on sustainability and wind farms in twinned areas can expand to other European regions. As part of the Paphos2017 ‘Travelling Playground’ project: children develop environmental projects and share common concerns over 8 weekly sessions, and stay in touch through social media or the eTwinning platform of the Foundation for the Management of European Lifelong Learning Programmes.

Connect Platform 11 – inspires young directors and teenage curators. Links local theatres to local museums. Creates original theatre and multimedia around ‘found objects’. Performs and goes on tour. FORMAT: Youth/professional theatre programme TIMELINE: 11. September - 17. September 2016 (2014-2018)

LOCATION: Teatret Møllen, Landschaftsmuseum Unnewatt Schleswig AGENTS AND NETWORKS: Teatret Møllen Haderslev (DK), Museum Angeln (DE), Brageteatret (NO), Divadlo Alfa Plzen(CZ), VAT Teater Tallinn (EE), Oulun kaupunginteatteri (FI), Theater Junge Generation (DE), Szinház Kolibri (HU), Elsinor Teatro Stabile d’Innovazione (IT), Theater de Citadel (NL), Teatro O Bando (PT), Theatre Institute Bratislava (SK), Junges Schauspielhaus (CH), Pilot Theatre York (UK), ATINA, University of Agder (NO), Europen University Viadrina (DE) BUDGET: 114.000 € (Coproduction)

Give Me Five FORMAT: 4-year youth mentorship scheme TIMELINE: 2014 - 2017

LOCATION: Tønder cinema, Confront it! Film Festival AGENTS AND NETWORKS: Tønder school of Art and Culture, Station Next/CFU, Danish Film Institute, C:TACT task force BUDGET: 65.000 €

Platform 11 is a Europe-wide theatre model, which presents a many-layered (self-) portrait of a young European generation. It tells local history through stories, inspired by local museums. Unique to this project, youth groups work on their own theatre productions, while established artists and theatre groups create pieces alongside them. Theatres throughout the region are twinned with a local museum - Theater Møllen in Haderslev works with the Landschaftsmuseum Angeln/Unewatt near Schleswig, for example. Participants are from 11-16 years of age - but the plays are for everyone.

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In the first two years, writers, together with young people across Europe, find objects in local museums and create narratives around them. These are local objects or curios which jump out at the writers, bring feelings and emotions to mind, or beg to have stories told - anything from Viking jewellery, to 17th century porcelain, to farm machinery. In 2015-2016, the teams develop plays based around these stories, to explore connections and similarities and reinforce international affinities. 2017 sees a grand production of all of the plays which is taken on tour to Platform 11’s European partner locations - along with exhibitions of the histories and objects, and a virtual museum.

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Young people are trained in writing, drama and web presentation. Community connections are strengthened through stories and local history. Theatres, writers and young people assimilate the experience into their personal and artistic histories. Museums keep permanent exhibits which document the experience. The virtual museum remains online.

To support the Platform 11 initiative, 13 theatres across 12 countries link with local culture centres, NGOs, schools and universities. This ‘network of equals’ creates artistic connections across Europe and initiates multidisciplinary cultural endeavours among young people, to strengthen literature, visual and performing arts, new media, cultural cooperation and interaction.

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‘Give Me Five’ draws on skills of media institution and film school professionals to engage, inspire, and mentor pupils in filmmaking and multimedia. It advances film and new media opportunities in secondary schools. Young people gain opportunities and skills; connect through experiences and youth scenes; claim ownership of the region. Provincial cool identities are filmed, edited and projected. The 4-year program starts with 150 pupils, and builds to as many as 400, from 16 schools in the Tønder region and Sønderborg’s 6 partner municipalities. Teams work on year-long short film projects around subjects of their choice - young experience of life in the region; scenes and subcultures; connections through sport; connections between generations; young minorities; stories around different EU nationalities. The experience is broadcast through blogs - with core bloggers and rotating guests, so everyone has a chance to write. Films are shown at the S2017 Confront It! Film Festival - read more in the ‘Confront’ section. Young people and schools gain a filmmaking profile - the region gains a youth film brand to carry into the future, via film clubs, social networking, a Sønderborg youth film-making society, and ongoing school multimedia programmes.

Photo: iChris Artwork: Platform 11

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Connect Images Festival - multiplatform youth art festival with artists from developing countries FORMAT: International youth art festival TIMELINE: Week 36 LOCATION: ArtFARM, Frank Gehry harbour development, Diamanten Sports & Culture Centre, other venues in the region AGENTS AND NETWORKS: Mikkel Harder Munk-Hansen (Festival Director Images Festival Copenhagen), freemuse (International Association for freedom of Musical Expression), IETM (international network for contemporary performing arts) BUDGET: 350.000 € (Coproduction)

EUNIC FORMAT: European cultural exchange programme TIMELINE: All year

IMAGES F Young deurbanized global artists

LOCATION: All regions AGENTS AND NETWORKS: European Union National Institutes for Culture (EUNIC), municipalities in the Countryside Metropolis BUDGET: 10.000 € (Coproduction)

Photo: Max McClur

Images Festival at S2017 focuses on art outside the metropolis - artists living and creating away from the urban jungle. Aspiring young artists from small-town or rural areas in developing countries showcase their works in Denmark. The festival coordinates with the Danish Centre for Culture and Development (DCCD), which promotes cultural cooperation between Denmark and developing countries in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Latin America, and the Middle East. The ‘Images of the Middle East’ 2004-2007 programme showed artists from 22 Middle Eastern countries, for example. Images uses strong national and international networks of cultural and educational institutions to create this deurbanized cultural

event - and the current Images Festival slogan of ‘Occupy Utopia’ is a fitting banner for the ideals and propositions of the Countryside Metropolis. 15,000 people attend. Arts in the Countryside Metropolis - the S2017 Images Festival draws on a vast global network of artists and art institutions to present a huge variety of high level art, from architecture to food, music, theatre, visual art, film and much more, making it a standout international festival with widely informative appeal. Young artists from other countries run interactive multimedia sessions for students. The festival runs a huge youth and education program every year, visiting more than a hundred schools and running workshops with

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Euro Culture Exchange diverse artistic programs through solid EU intercultural network This practical work programme with the municipalities in our territory connects via the network of EUNIC and their partner organizations, in international celebrations of the European Capital of Culture 2017 for Denmark - if granted.

F E S T I VA L showcase multimedia event thousands of young people, introducing them to young artists from parts of the world they know little about. The Artists In Residence programme is open to performers from the Images festival to mix with local artists, and provides settings for this, at the S2017 ArtFARM in Gråsten but also at other specific places all over the region. Read more here under ‘ArtFARM’. An Images conference in the autumn of 2016 draws high profile keynote speakers to Alsion. The focus on deurbanized art away from the major cities generates attention in the arts world and development aid communities, and engages a multicultural audience.

The build-up to the festival involves artists as of summer 2016, and intensifies towards the festival in late August 2017. The educational program continues until mid-October 2017.

EUNIC - European Union National Institutes of Culture - is a network of international cultural organizations from the European Union member states. 30 members from 25 European countries work in over 2,000 branches in over 150 countries worldwide. The network has a solid and important reputation in international cooperation and intercultural dialogue since 2006. It works in the arts, languages, youth, education, science, intercultural dialogue and development sectors, at ‘arms length’ from national governments. For S2017, the 22 municipalities of Southern Denmark and the Länder of SchleswigHolstein are twinned with EUNIC partners, who present a wide range of programs throughout the Countryside Metropolis. Part of the programme is ‘14 days of ECoC’, with a focus on events with a broad cultural scope within the partners’ own cities. In the S2017 team there is someone appointed to generate project ideas and to connect them with municipalities in the S2017 territory. Examples are projects in the fields of learning secondary languages, bullying at schools, culture & peace, or exchange of experiences in the future planning of cities. The program facilitates cultural cooperation over a wider group of municipalities than Sønderborg alone, deepens cultural connections and encourages greater understanding and awareness of diverse European cultures on a people-topeople basis. Where possible, relationships develop along existing twin-town connections. Runs throughout 2017, to at least 20,000 spectators and audience. Overseen by solid EUNIC communications structure, together with a coordinator from the S2017 team.

Connect An extensive sculpture trail of newly commissioned works along the coast FORMAT: Open-air sculpture exhibition TIMELINE: 01. March - 30. September 2017 LOCATION: Cycle paths along the North Sea coast AGENTS AND NETWORKS: Art Museum Föhr (Museum Kunst der Westküste), Tønder Artmuseum (Tønder Kunstmuseet), Nolde Foundation, Art Museum Niebüll (Richard Haizmann Museum), Højer Design High school (Højer Design efterskole), Educational institution Leck (Nordsee Akademie), Tourism-Agency Schleswig Holstein (TASH), Visit Denmark BUDGET: 800.000 €

Winds of Dance FORMAT: Danish/Cypriot ballet coastal sculptures TIMELINE: July 2017 LOCATION: Countryside Metropolis and Cyprus AGENTS AND NETWORKS: Dance Academy South Denmark, Dance Cyprus, Royal Danish Ballet, Royal Danish Ballet Kompagni B, Danish Dance Theatre, Cyprus Symphony Orchestra, South Jutland Symphony Orchestra, Pafos Ballet School BUDGET: 80.000 €

This project is the first installment of a sculpture quadrennial along the German-Danish west coast. Up to 120 works by around 40 internationally renowned European artists, who produce 2 or 3 sculptures each, go on display on the North Sea island of Föhr, and starting with the port of Dagebüll - in Emil Nolde’s west coast landscape, and the towns of Niebüll and Tondern. Additional locations include the islands of Amrum, Sylt and Rømø. Expects to attract 80,000 - 100,000 visitors in 2017, its first year. The project centres on the interrelationship of art, landscape and new technologies. It also addresses the differing roles of contemporary public sculpture in urban and rural spaces. Key to this is an active, sensory-physical engagement with the dialogue between contemporary sculpture and the typical marsh landscape of the west coast. Sculptures are installed by the cycle paths along the North Sea coast - the public are drawn in on a journey of artistic discovery. It establishes a first-rate historical art attraction in the region’s cultural landscape, enhances cultural value, and inspires cultural engagement from European visitors. Also expands the existing tourist facilities - e.g. electric bicycles, rental or recharge stations - which helps establish this scheme as a permanent cultural beacon in the Countryside Metropolis. Teams of adults and students are trained as bicycle tour guides; with tours geared to varying target groups. Maps and flyers of the trails are made. The scheme is launched with a grand opening bicycle tour - and this is followed up by a rich program of supporting events such as bicycle rallies, sculpture picnics with art historians, lectures and readings. Through collaboration with the renewable energy exhibitions and trade fairs, Husum WindEnergy and New Energy Husum, artists get inspiration and explore links between new energy technologies and kinetic sculptures. A symposium will be held at the Husum WindEnergy trade fair in September 2016, where artists introduce their works, and experts in renewable energy technologies give input on latest developments. Hands-on work and development sessions raise the public profile of the upcoming sculpture quadrennial. The opening of the sculpture quadrennial collides with the New Energy trade fair in March 2017, drawing the attention of its international visitors to the scenic characteristics, ecological ethos and cultural diversity of the Sønderjylland/Schleswig area.

A collaboration between Dancecyprus and the Royal Danish Ballet, Winds of Dance tells the story of Pafos and the myth of Galatia, and salutes Denmark’s position at the forefront of alternative energy development - as seen in the Aeolian Wind Energy Park located at Kouklia near Pafos. Built with Danish technology, this alternative eco-friendly energy farm is the first of its kind in Cyprus, and demonstrates the potential for further environmental developments. Dancecyprus create and perform “Diptych: the neo-classical ballet ‘Galatia & Pygmalion’ and the contemporary work ‘Power of Wind’”. Involves professionals and 2 student companies. Promotes synergies between Cypriot and Danish choreographers and dancers which grow and strengthen. Denmark and Cyprus make up the northern and southern borders of the European Union, and are surrounded by very different seas and winds. Winds of Dance makes tangible connections between them. The Open-Air Factory provides a stage in the foothills by the Mediterranean, with the Aeolian windmills for a backdrop - while events in Denmark take place among the striking architecture of Alsion’s boardwalk. Performances appeal to both school children and to the wider public.

Aphrodite brings to life Pygmalion’s gorgeous sculpture of white coral – Galatia. Pygmalion and Galatia marry and their son is called Pafos after whom the city is named. Throughout their life, they bring gifts to Aphrodite’s Temple. Aphrodite, in turn, blesses them with love and happiness.

Photo: Patricio Soto

The Universe of Science, Education & Culture Connect Universe of Science FORMAT: Exciting science for children TIMELINE: April - October 2017 LOCATION: Danfoss Universe AGENTS AND NETWORKS: Danfoss Universe, Define Music Festival, Food Festival, machina eX, Places Open, green finger print, ERRIN, ECSITE, EUSEA BUDGET: 250.000 €

Children and (grand) parents learn together at Danfoss Universe

Kultur Hanse FORMAT: Baltic science network/ residential scheme TIMELINE: 2015-2018 LOCATION: Hanseatic cities AGENTS AND NETWORKS: ARSBaltica, Association for Children and Youth Cultural Education Schleswig-Holstein, Danish Agency for International Education, University Network of the European Capitals of Culture, Youth in Action BUDGET: 80.000 €

A Ship Will Come FORMAT: Sea voyage, exhibitions, workshops, weblog TIMELINE: 2017 with exhibtion LOCATION: From the Countryside Metropolis to Cyprus and back AGENTS AND NETWORKS: Maritimemuseum Flensburg and Kalvø, European Maritime Heritage, Si Tous les Portes du Monde BUDGET: 150.000 €

Danfoss Universe is a technology centre which uses science and technology to link arts, education, culture and science for children, in order to spark their interest in science and technology. Over their shoulders, (grand)parents maybe learn just as much. Since 2005 the park inspires citizens’ interest in science and technology, which is also now central to the Regional Development Plan of the South of Denmark. Internationally the park is an active member of the Platform of Local Authorities and Communicators Engaged in Science, who enhance threeway communication between science, policymakers and society in Europe. Cooperation between S2017 and the Park includes A Sensory Exhibition that demonstrates to children how smell and taste work, and the ways our bodies react. Due to the S2017 influence, the Ingrid Kristensen dance company examines the

interrelationship between dance and sensory stimuli, to create new kinds of sensual performance delineating the interface of art, science and innovation - original ways to present dance to new audiences. Another example is the Science and Food initiative, which together with local chefs, bakers and restaurants explores how our metabolisms function, and how food becomes fuel. The exhibit celebrates the physical connection with the food we eat, the importance of taste, and the joy of cooking as a science. Links to S2017 Food Festival. Further examples are At Mr Dotty’s, an immersive theatre adventure; and the Define Music Festival, which explores the science and mechanics of sound, and demonstrates how electronic devices make noise. Links to S2017 Define Festival.

Kultur Hanse This project fosters the development of the Baltic Sea Region and actively supports its branding as an area characterized by diversity, cultural connection, intercultural dialogue, creativity and innovation. The Kultur Hanse project is based on the historical Hanseatic League along the North European coast. Sønderborg2017 and ARS BALTICA, an experienced cultural network, initiate this new network in the Baltic Sea Region, to strengthen cross-sectional approaches and the sustainable exchange of knowledge. The broad partner structure includes

local authorities, universities, commercial enterprises, NGOs as well as already existing networks like the Council of the Baltic States. Close contacts have already been established with the Baltic Sea Cultural Centre in Gdańsk/ POLAND, the International Cultural Program Centre in Vilnius/LITHUANIA, the Arts Council of Finland in Helsinki/FINLAND, the Ministry of Culture in Riga/LATVIA and the Turku2011 Foundation in FINLAND.

theme of “Culture in the Countryside” in 2015 launches the youth exchange program with over 3,000 young people who broaden their horizons through 2-6 month stays in cultural institutions of other former, preparing or future ECoC cities. Harvests a deeper mutual understanding of Europe’s cultural diversity. Links also to S2017 projects ArtFARM and MAP (below).

There are several activities as part of Kultur Hanse but the most crucial is a cultural youth exchange program. A meeting on the

Maritime Art Project - ‘A Ship Will Come’ Historic cargo vessel ‘The Gesine’ is restored and transformed into an ‘Art Ship’, for a return journey as ambassador for several ECoC cities. We are already in negotiation with Marseilles2013, San Sebastian2016 and Cyprus to join the planned ECoC seafaring embassy, to ensure a sustainable and realistic project. 6 crew members sail the ship through Europe, not around Europe - first along the Baltic coast, stopping at cities of the S2017 Kultur Hanse network, then south through Kiel Canal, Elbe, Rhein, Main, Donau, then along other canals to the Mediterranean, and finally to the City of Culture in Cyprus.

The project puts European coastal communities in touch. It highlights and documents common legacies of maritime history, folklore and iconography, to sustain these vibrant aspects of European cultures. The ship stops at ports from the ‘Si Tous les Portes du Monde’ network of harbour towns - to show the onboard exhibition and promote the Danish, Cypriot, and other European Capital of Culture programmes. Maritime Art Project connects people through on-board artists collaborating with local artists. Gathered audio and video of music

and stories, with portraits and interviews, contributes to a daily blog to report on the expedition. Final exhibitions gather all of the art and stories upon return. MAP creates evolving connections between ECoC cities and along the route. Artists work to involve diverse people and artists from cities, towns and countryside along the way. 25,000 total visitors to the exhibitions - 50,000 to the website.

Photo: JV, MAP, Patricio Soto

Connect Inclusive European theatre network FORMAT: Network cooperations/ theatre productions/tour TIMELINE: Whole year LOCATION: Sønderborg Theatre, Alsion AGENTS AND NETWORKS: Lars Seeberg (Odense Theatre Denmark), Theatre de Gennevilliers (France), Sadler’s Wells (United Kingdom), Staatsschauspiel Dresden (Germany), Divadlo Archa Theatre (Czech Republic), Uppsala Stadssteater (Sweden), Aalborg Teater (Denmark), Freie Universität Berlin - IKM (Germany), Sheffield Theatres (United Kingdom), Hellerau European Center for the Arts Dresden (Germany), Aarhus Teater (Denmark), Fondazione Romaeuropa Arte e cultura (Italy), IETM BUDGET: 120.000,00 € (Coproduction)

Photo: Claes Bech-Poulsen, Gigi Giannella

Theatron’s S2017 programme develops a brand new, co-produced theatre piece over 3 months with at least 2 partner organizations - and also develops an adaptation of another partner’s existing theatre piece, over 2 months. Both shows are performed at least 20 times at Sønderborg Theatre, then taken on tour for at least 36 shows in 7 partner countries.

Theatron is an interactive European network with a mission to bring new life and new audiences to theatre. Audience and community guidance at every level - from programming to showtime - is at the heart of the Theatron concept. It works with a network of partner theatres covering France, the UK, the Czech Republic,

world, with community outreach, ambassador programs, theatre workshops and creative camps - and also in the virtual sphere, with social media platforms, new programming for creative exchange, and online community engagement - click and find out.

The project falls into 3 ‘Theatron Dimensions’: - Creative Community Engagement: jointly explore and develop innovative forms of production, which engage the community in the creative process - Integrated Audience Development: use strategies in audience research, customer relationships, education & outreach, communication & marketing, to create lasting and meaningful relationships with audiences - Fostering Best Practice in Europe: actively engage other organisations & experts in this discussion, ensure that the results are available, and that the next generation of European ‘creatives’ can bank on this repository of knowledge.

Germany, Denmark, Sweden and Italy - with associate member institutions in Croatia, Belgium, Spain and Finland. It was started in Denmark by the three major provincial theatres - Odense, Aarhus and Aalborg inspired by a ministry of culture report on the future of Danish performing arts, outlining the threat to theatre and performing arts from other, newer entertainment forms.

It currently receives maximum EU support. It engages theatre professionals, theatre audiences and theatre communities in an open dialogue that covers artistic creation, performance practices, communication, outreach and education. This dialogue brings community into theatres and theatres into the community. It works in the real, physical

24 Partner stakeholders visit during development, to observe and learn - with workshops, masterclasses, and in-depth discussion of practices. Theatron also holds its annual international production fair at Sønderborg, attended by 2 representatives from each European partner; study visits, for a total of 15 partner reps to visit production developments in each others’ countries; and creative residencies - 10 twoweek creative residencies in 4 countries, for 10 selected directors/artists.

Connect Motorway Music FORMAT: Road-based music/art installation

a musical art installation on the

TIMELINE: April LOCATION: Sønderborg AGENTS AND NETWORKS: Nigel Helyer, University Flensburg, Phänomenta Flensburg BUDGET: 500.000,00 €

Cross Border Design Forum FORMAT: Design forum/summer camp/ ocean project TIMELINE: 2016 - 2017 LOCATION: Design School Kolding, South Denmark’s University Sønderburg, Muthesius Acedemy of Design Kiel BUDGET: 308.000,00 €

CO2-neutral FORMAT: Global city-wide installations/events TIMELINE: International Earth Day 22. April LOCATION: Countryside Metropolis BUDGET: 40.000,00 €

Through Motorway Music, change and innovation are on the way up. This project puts an artwork in the place of a border checkpoint: it turns the motorway connecting Flensburg and Sønderborg into dramatic, colourful road-paintings, which surprise and grab the attention by ‘singing’ when you drive across them. An immediate visual and musical experience for drivers as they make their way over the border region.

The car is the needle and the record is the road An ordinary traffic safety device transforms into resonant music. Calibrated, ridged materials are applied to stretches of road surface, to make different musical notes at

different speeds - like finely tuned ‘rumble strips’. A Danish song in one direction and a German song in the other - connections through science, art and music. The development process tests materials for resilience and environmental impact, and looks at how the technique can be applied to other settings, such as cycle paths or skateboard parks. It runs in partnership with local authorities, to ensure that Motorway Music is 100% safe and street-legal. The project builds unlikely partnerships the road safety authorities, the local science Exploratorium, the artists’ collective and the University. It reminds at least 30,000 drivers

Photo: Patricio Soto, Johann Böhm Artwork: Jacob Fuglsang Mikkelse

road

Mapping a CO2 Neutral Future

takes the “CO2” message to the streets On April 22 - Earth Day - massive “CO2” symbols come to life on the streets of five continents, as living ‘e-paintings’. Convoys of 20 eco-friendly vehicles drive “CO2”-shaped routes through cities, tracked via GPS - their locations live-streamed onto giant screens in New York, Baoding, New Delhi, Dakar, Santiago, Melbourne and Cape Town. Huge vehicular choreographies, to showcase networks of science, art and business - and to share the Countryside Metropolis, ProjectZero message to be carbon dioxide neutral. With around 10 cities, giant screens, plus displays on vehicles, the message reaches potentially hundreds of thousands worldwide. Develops with Earth Day Network, ecotransport organizations and local engineers. Organizers of the Chinese CO2 Race work with festival NOtCH (NOrdic + CHina) and China Museum of Digital Art on safety sounds for noiseless electric vehicles. S2017’s Define Electronic Music Festival drives a symphonic convoy of these vehicles through the Countryside Metropolis.

After possible designation, S2017 seeks cooperation in environment-sustainability-art projects with other ECoCs like Umea2014, Mons2015 and Donostia-San Sebastian2016, and the Maltese and Dutch ECoCs, as well as with Aarhus, for preparation on this project. Sønderborg holds a CO2 Treasure Hunt, giving fun eco-friendly facts to hundreds of kids - begins at the S2017 meeting lounge in town, and ends at the ArtFARM, where people put fingerprints on bricks for a permanent installation. People also describe their dreams for a sustainable future in Sønderborg and Europe - information is compiled by House of Science, a partnership between Danfoss Universe, Sønderborg Municipality and ProjectZero. City events end with pedalpowered concerts - hundreds take turns to provide the power. AGENTS AND NETWORKS: Peter Rathje (Managing Director ProjectZero, CO2 Green Drive, Danish Cyclist Federation (DCF), European Cyclists’ Federation (ECF), Earth Day Network, TEN-T EA, geocaching.dk, geocaching.com, NOtCH CrossOver Festival, China Museum of Digital Art Beijing

Design For A Countryside Metropolis Cross Border Design Forum

daily to be proud of what this region can achieve. The installation remains on the road after 2017, with the option of renewal. A documentary film secures Motorway Music’s legacy, and reveals the work behind the project and its public impact - interviews with drivers, tourists, locals, businesses, and the people involved in the project. Motorway Music highlights local innovation, and kickstarts awareness of the border zone.

This new 3-year Cross Border Design Forum connects industry and business with design and technical schools - creative partnerships to promote design in Sønderborg, Flensburg and the region - while addressing crucial environmental, social and infra-structural issues. It connects design institutions in Kiel, Kolding, Haderslev and Højer - plus institutions housing world-class Scandinavian design, such as Hans Wegner’s furniture exhibition in Tønder Museum - also part of Nolde and the Bridge project - read more in Celebrate. Connections also to Copenhagen’s Danish Design Centre, and S2017’s ArtFARM. Sønderborg-Schleswig region engages diverse people in innovation and change through the design process, and links with Danish and European design projects. Discussion groups, workshops and exhibitions are open to the local public. An annual European Design Summer Camp enables inspirational connection between young designers, educators and students -

an international design seminar, residency program and design workshop, with links to Cypriot Universities. Social networking and video-link discussions. Includes a Future Ocean Design & Research project to study marine life, fishing and sustainability in the North Sea and Baltic Sea regions, and develop new design solutions to curb maritime pollution, develop sustainable fish farming and prevent over-fishing. AGENTS AND NETWORKS: Muthesius Academy Of Design Kiel, Denmark´s Design School Kolding, Frederick University Nicosia, Tønder Art & Design Museum, Trapholt Museum Kolding, Danish Design Center Copenhagen, ENCATC

Confront ”People who like to confront are not afraid to touch on the sore spots and to be controversial and provocative in what they do and how they think.”

Fighting Memories This project brings together the private photographs of Danish and German soldiers taken while on active service anywhere in the world, from 1864 to the present - another valuable step towards healing the rifts of war and accepting diversity. The exhibition is shown at Sønderborg Castle. Photos and stories come from at least 25 local veterans. An oral history of the veterans’ experiences supports the exhibition, made of interviews recorded by a team of six young people drawn from local schools. Audio is triggered as people move around the exhibition, to create a poetic flow of memories - a cross-generational conversation about conflict over borders.

‘Bommelboom’ Community connection through woollen ‘bommels’ Goal: a new Guinness Record for the largest pom pom Since 2009 the Bommelbüro holds fun community parties, projects and exhibitions based around making ‘bommels’ - the German word for pom pom. Bommel parties are a regional phenomenon - held monthly at homes, cafés and pubs around Flensburg for around 50 people; with around 120 smallscale community projects. People donate wool and reusable materials, join up and make colourful pom poms, connect, dance and have fun together - and also see films and talks around pom poms, sheep and wool, and regional history, for example.

Notable photos from European conflict zones enhance the exhibition - for example Austerlitz, Waterloo, or the compelling stereoscopic images of the 1864 battles held at Flensburg’s Danish Minority Library. A website reflects the collection and concentrates on keeping connections alive and meaningful long after initial contact. A version of the exhibition remains at the castle or tours to other locations. The concept can be rolled out to other historic European war zones. Together with the Military Academy in Sønderborg, plus associations of veterans from the region and from European conflict zones - especially Bosnia.

John Kørner

A Danish artist examines the homecomings of war Artist John Kørner drew media attention when in 2008 he showed a series of politically charged paintings, based on the Danish soldiers killed in Afghanistan - highlighting the same kinds of issues later seen in controversial 2010 Danish film ‘Armadillo’ - the moral ambiguities, and physical and psychological impacts of sustained interventionist engagements by the USA, Britain and parts of mainland Europe.

Bommelboom brings this activity to Sønderborg2017, for a party and world record-breaking attempt. Current and previous record attempters are invited - from Düsseldorf in Germany, schoolchildren from Limerick in Ireland, and Brighton in the UK - along with enthusiasts from previous Bommelbüro outings and installations, such as the multimedia arts Mikro Makro Festival in Poland. The Bommel party and record attempt involves especially families and older people, and attracts 10,000. It makes light-hearted reference to the tasselled bommels worn on German soldiers’ helmets in the battles of 1864.

His S2017 exhibition explores another difficult aspect of war: the wounded soldiers who return. As witnessed so painfully with the veterans of Vietnam, do they find themselves treated as heroes on their homecoming, or are they neglected or even shunned? What does society’s attitude reveal about guilt, nationalism, responsibility, and Western interventionism? Work shows for 3 - 12 weeks at the new Harbour Front gallery, Sønderborg, to at least 3,000. A team of 20 Danish veterans make appearances at the gallery over the weeks, to talk with the public. Schools from the region visit the exhibition, to spark debate.

Multimedia exhibition, exploring the region’s personal records of war

Sociable pom pom craft movement - with recordbreaking ambition

Hard-hitting art based around contemporary returning soldiers

FORMAT: Photo exhibition/audio installation

FORMAT: Parties/talks/world record attempt

FORMAT: Art exhibition

TIMELINE: 28. April 2017 (Anniversary day of the battle of 1864).

TIMELINE: July 2017

LOCATION: Sønderborg Castle, Ewich tosamende ungedelt AGENTS AND NETWORKS: Military Academy Sønderborg BUDGET: 28.000 €

Photos: Roald Christesen

LOCATION: Military Academy Sønderborg AGENTS AND NETWORKS: Nele Lübbert, Sarah Kürzinger (Artistsduo Bommelbuero), Military Academy Sønderborg, Guiness World Records BUDGET: 36.000 €

TIMELINE: 17. September 2017 LOCATION: Frank Gehry harbour development AGENTS AND NETWORKS: John Kørner BUDGET: 20.000 €

Confront Red Cross – Crosses of Humanity FORMAT: Interactive memorial program TIMELINE: 17. - 24. September (Red Cross week) - open indefinitely LOCATION: Dybbøl-Battlefield, New Red Cross Museum, Concentration Camp, Website AGENTS AND NETWORKS: Preben Søegaard Hansen (Vice General Secretary Red Cross Denmark), Peter Dragsbo (Director Museum Sønderborg Castle), Sue Mc Cauley (Artistic creator) BUDGET: 37.000 €

On August 22, 2017, Danish and German Red Cross gather to commemorate the site of the first ever active Red Cross engagement in history, on the battlefield of Dybbøl - to confront the wounds of the war, and mark the inception of the Red Cross. Dybbøl Mill is the site of a fierce, historic battle which still resonates today. Danish and Prussian-Austrian troops fought over the border territory throughout 1864. The Battle of Dybbøl, the key battle of this Second War of Schleswig, continues to be marked every year in Sønderborg.

Illustration: Lars Tholander

The trauma of the war, with its serious loss of both life and land, influenced Danish mindsets and policies over the decades. Schleswig

had been lost to Germany - along with pride, power and prestige. The border was moved south to its present position following a plebiscite after the First World War - an equal if different kind of victory. Nearly a century and a half later, the scars and resentments remain real, even as the events fall out of living memory. This vital project confronts the skeletons of the past, deals with pain, and moves on. For the region to really forge ahead and survive, Danes and Germans must see beyond old, ingrained hostilities, and look forward with new eyes. They must be renewed as friends and neighbours.

Confront Sønderborg and Denmark with its lasting trauma

This project focuses on the birth of the Red Cross, and on the first use of the Red Cross and Red Crescent symbols in any armed conflict. It has three parts:

Crosses and Crescents

Red Cross volunteers and the people of the region create a living project when they write words of reconciliation - or confrontation - on the back of red crosses and red crescents, and place them on the battlefield like plants into the ground. This symbolic expanse of crosses and crescents allows people to confront the painful feelings which are emblematic of the Danish / German issue - and also symbolizes the humanitarian values of the Red Cross, to ‘help people in crisis, whoever and wherever they are.’

Red Cross Virtual Battlefield

A website increases the number of people able to offer their thoughts about peace, reconciliation, and the role of the Red Cross and Red Crescent in creating neutral spaces for the protection and support of civilians in conflict zones. The site echoes the physical project, with a virtual green battlefield and virtual crosses. Visitors select a cross, add their message, and place it on the virtual field.

Simulated Red Cross Reception Experience

The Red Cross, in partnership with Museum Sønderjylland, creates a ‘Reception Simulator’, helping the public to understand the contemporary activities of the Red Cross and Red Crescent. In this experience, members of

the public enter a simulated reception centre, and personally experience the procedures gone through by people who are in need of help and protection. This project and concept is actively promoted for other battlefields of Europe, where similar histories are all too common.

Confront Théâtre du Soleil perform an epic geopolitical story FORMAT: Geopolitical theatre TIMELINE: April LOCATION: ArtFarm AGENTS AND NETWORKS: Ariane Mnouchkine BUDGET: 54.000 €

Rimini Protokoll FORMAT: Inclusive theatre program TIMELINE: October LOCATION: Site-specific in the region AGENTS AND NETWORKS: Helgard Irene Haug (Rimini Protokoll), South-Schleswig Danish Minority in Germany (SSF), German Minority in South Denmark (BDN), Nordfrisian Institute, Federal Union of European Minorities (FUEN), European Centre for Minority Issues (ECMI) BUDGET: 75.000 €

Reverberations of hate: an epic to provoke change through

Photos: Everest Canto De Monserrat, Dorothea Tuch

‘Théâtre du Soleil’ lays the groundwork for profound national and international analysis around questions of responsibility, genocide, and the implications of memory in the assimilation of historical events. In particular, it explores the complexities of the post-Holocaust entreaty ‘never again’ - ‘nie wieder’ - and investigates the notion that remembrance can safeguard against the repetition of unthinkable events. It will never be easy to accept events which occurred just a few hundred kilometres from Sønderborg during the Holocaust - yet similar nightmares

became realities mere decades later, on the other side of the world in Cambodia. Genocide destroys generations, and alters cultures and nations irreversibly. As the world-renowned ‘Théâtre du Soleil’ perform ‘The Terrible But Unfinished Story of Norodom Sihanouk, King of Cambodia’, the complex storyline uncovers the international engagements leading up to the Khmer Rouge genocide. This epic struggle plays out into a highly poetic work in which the historical and political situation of Cambodia becomes

Rimini Protokoll - what are you looking at? Real lives from real people: documentary-theatre around European minorities

German-Swiss theatre group Rimini Protokoll puts ‘experts of reality’ - aka amateur, everyday people - at the hearts of their theatre pieces. For S2017, Rimini Protokoll explores the experiences of minority groups in the region - such as Frisian, Sinti and Roma. Performed on stage and in urban spaces to audiences of 150 at a time, 10 community members’ personal histories constitute this unique style of performance, known as ‘documentary-theatre’ - a powerful way for audience and participants to explore themes and find new perspectives, stemming from the wider issues of everyday lives. The project holds special focus on the meaning of regional minority cultures in relation to other minority groups - such as Catalan, Occitan, Welsh, Basque, Breton, Luxembourgian, Bashkir, Chuvash, Ladin, Rhaetian, Upper and Lower Sorbian, WestFrisian and Kashubian - via a cooperation with the European Centre of Minority Issues, based in Flensburg; and also via FUEN.

performance about genocide, remembrance and oral tradition a metaphor for the world - and for any region, such as this one, which has been affected by conflict. The unique style of this theatre company founded by Ariane Mnouchkine and Philippe Leotard in 1964 incorporates multiple styles of theatre, ranging from commedia dell’arte to different Asian rituals. In devising the dramas, young artists work in collective investigation arising from improvisation: a democratic vision in which the actors are also participants and creators. The troupe

is known to travel throughout Europe and develop political performances. This particular piece is a further development of Hélène Cixous’1985 play, ‘Cambodia’. By sharing the story of Cambodia, this thought-provoking performance lingers in the memories of all who experience it. In conjunction with the Asian Arts Council, the world-renowned ‘Théâtre du Soleil’, a Parisian Avant Garde stage ensemble, work along with students from Phare Ponleu Selpak.

Rimini Protokoll raises issues. One out of seven Europeans is from a minority - they are described as bridge-builders and culture experts. But what does ‘minority’ mean? How does minority status inform identity? Is there common ground between minorities? How does coming from a minority group affect cultural intelligence? International workshops are followed by a six-week development and rehearsal period with an extensive research, casting and conception process. Individuals describe their personal histories of life in the minority areas - audiences, participants, minority members and players take away newly considered perspectives on minorities in Europe.

Confront We Invented Porn FORMAT: New theatre piece/tour TIMELINE: January-November LOCATION: Sønderborg Theatre AGENTS AND NETWORKS: Karin Beier (Artistic Director Schauspielhaus Hamburg), Royal Copenhagen Theatre, Erling Jespen BUDGET: 212.500 € (Coproduction)

SIGNA FORMAT: Performance installation TIMELINE: October LOCATION: Site-specific AGENTS AND NETWORKS: Signa Sørensen BUDGET: 300.000 €

Erling Jepsen, one of the most read Danish novelists of the last decade, comes home to Sønderborg to present his new play - ‘We Invented Porn’, co-produced by The Royal Danish Theatre and Schauspielhaus Hamburg. The play opens in Sønderborg in 2017 and afterwards tours Denmark and Germany. Jepsen, an award-winning playwright, screenwriter and novelist, now lives happily in Copenhagen. He is unsure whether he would ever return to live in Sønderborg, the land of his childhood, and expresses frustration: “Only if the locals actually start to like the Germans, and stop being content with the status quo, will they begin to want more.” Unsurprisingly, Erling is very supportive of the idea of collaboration between Denmark and Germany, and about culture as a driver for change in the region. A large number of Erling Jepsen’s fictions take place in Sønderjylland. More Danes know the region from his books and films than from visiting here. This play attracts wider audiences who know him from film adaptations of his novels - such as The Art of Crying, screened at the San Sebastian Film Festival and nominated for a Golden Globe.

Photos: Liselotte Sabroe, SIGNA - Bleier Research Incorporated

SIGNA creates a highly confrontational work for Sønderborg2017, to ask a direct, provocative question: why are the youth leaving the region and never coming back? Signa Sørensen herself grew up in Haderslev but fled the region, her mind made up never to return. Still today she finds the thought of going back unsettling. With 8 out of 10 young people that leave, never return, and are not replaced, she is not the only one. The work defies easy categorization as it intersects with a diverse spectrum of pop-cultural entertainment forms such as melodrama, music hall and whorehouse, mixing cinematic clichés with bleak realism. The performance installations of Signa seek to explore structures of power and degradation, fate, identity and desire. The basis of Signa’s performance work is installation art. The piece is site-specific; it redefines and reframes an abandoned building or site in Sønderborg, to create an enigmatic environment for the audience to explore, be in, live in. There are no performance schedules or running times - this is a 24/7, total immersive theatre experience which defies such arrangements. It breaks taboos, shocks and confronts. Performers - as well as the audience - inhabit the installation space. The barrier between the spectator

and the installation, the audience and the performers is non-existent. The presence of the visitors in the room is as real - or unreal - as the piece of fiction that takes place around them. Signa is an artistic partnership formed by Danish performance-installation artist Signa Sørensen and Austrian performer and media artist Arthur Köstler. Their performance installations are widely regarded as some of the most extraordinary on the Scandinavian performance scene in recent years. Critically acclaimed as highly daring, puzzling, challenging and epistemologically new, Signa projects are internationally successful. They collaborate with some of the most prominent theatre institutions in Europe, are invited to Theater Treffen - the most prestigious German theatre festival - won the Reumert prize, and are often among the most debated theatre events of the year. Her S2017 piece will attract a great deal of local controversy, along with specific Europe audiences. The performers relate to the spectators, but only within the fiction. It is up to the audience to insinuate themselves into the performance installation. They’re not in for a pleasant ride - but they will leave with an indelible experience and the knowledge that something must be done.

shocking theatre confronts a Countryside Metropolis issue

iOpera creates a new generation of opera enthusiasts, and helps students renew their perceptions of school, social life and career potential through an artistic and vocational initiative. Over 3 years it brings together 125 students from 4 European countries. The force of European identity is founded on diversity - iOpera celebrates this, and explores the relevance of opera as a form of expression today, to find an operatic idiom that resonates with young people, from 13-25.

Confront Youth opera scheme, with development, wide network, and performances FORMAT: 3-year youth opera pro-

gramme

TIMELINE: February - December LOCATION: Alsion, Federal Theatre Schleswig-Holstein AGENTS AND NETWORKS: Jan-Willem van Kruyssen (Producer), Claus Skjold Larsen (Director South Denmarks Symphonical Orchestra), Yvonne Birghan (Artistic Director) SZENE BUNTE WÄHNE, Opéra national de Paris, Landestheater Flensburg, The Royal Danish Theatre (Opera Academy), Jugendclub der Deutschen Oper Berlin e. V., Wiener Sängerknaben, Austrian performance Art Festival for young audience SZENE BUNTE WÄHNE, RESEO (European Network for Opera and Dance Education)

BUDGET: 300.000 €

The artistic project involves over 30 artists, 8 teachers and 2 orchestras, and builds to performances in the region, in December 2017 - as well as in partners’ venues in Berlin, Copenhagen, Paris and Vienna/Horn - to 3,000 people in total. Four composers and four librettists - students or recent graduates from conservatories in partner countries - spend two years exploring their own style of youth opera. They present an ensemble composition for chamber orchestra. Face-to-face contact is central: with opera professionals and crafts; with diverse artistic creations and productions. iOpera reduces inequality by creating equal opportunities. It also focuses on secondary schools in a programme for underprivileged students. Students are accompanied on their path to success, and act as representatives for the project within their school and region. It uses opera as a means to realize personal dignity, social integration and citizenship and contributes to a positive youth image of Sønderjylland-Schleswig society. Opera is placed at the centre of the community. Building bridges between opera and a wide young public doesn’t mean broadening the current opera market - it means creating 21st century opera with a 21st century generation of composers for a 21st century audience. If opera is to remain a vital art form, it must collaborate with other disciplines and involve the community. Over the 2-year training period, pupils attend professional operas and meet the artists. Through the iOpera blog, Skype conferences and iOpera social networking, they exchange experiences and connect with each other. A ‘Making Of’ movie is produced for YouTube. Students from the University of Southern Denmark follow iOpera and deliver a report at the end of 2017 on the project’s impact and legacy, and its effect on the professionals and young people. iOpera is a European ambassador, to show Good Practice in a Youth Exchange programme within the S2017 setting.

Photo: Opera de Paris

In 2008, Opéra de Paris organized a similar project. One of the reactions of the young people involved - a young autistic Moroccan boy: “Before this project, I only knew what I could not do. Now, I know what I can do. I sing with my heart and I dance with my soul! This project changed my life.” Nowadays he leads a dance group in the Netherlands.

21st century

iOp

opera and the new generation

pera

Confront

Time Mach

Time Machines FORMAT: Mixed media installation TIMELINE: March - June 2017 LOCATION: X-Bunker Sønderborg AGENTS AND NETWORKS: X-bunker, Sonderborg Art School, South Denmark University (SDU), Kollision.dk, Martin Professional, SUPERFLEX, Ultragroen BUDGET: 269.000 €

How do we want to live? FORMAT: Schools innovation project on sustainable living TIMELINE: March - October 2017 LOCATION: Lotseninsel, Folk High School in South Denmark AGENTS AND NETWORKS: ProjectZero, Association of Danish Folk High Schools (FFD), Grænseforening, Über Lebenskunst (Federal Cultural Foundation, Haus der Kulturen der Welt Berlin), Christian Jensen College Beklum, Unmarked space Festival, Network for neoliberal globalization social, ATTAC DK BUDGET: 75.000 €

Future Borders FORMAT: Digital installation TIMELINE: 2014 - 2018 LOCATION: Frank Gehry development AGENTS AND NETWORKS: Charlotte Sahl-Madsen Artmuseum Frank Gehry (Kunsthallen Sønderborg), South Denmark University, SydEnergi, History Center Dybbøl, Danfoss Universe, Danish national Center for education in nature, technology and health BUDGET: 100.000 €

The Time Machine project is “an enormous art installation” - a mixture of film, sound, light, and multimedia digital platforms. A fully immersive simulation experience, which transports its ‘passengers’ to different moments in European history.

exploring the current and future dreams of our common Europe. Traumatic scenes of 20th century occupation might contrast with a diverse and harmonious ‘Euro Vision’ of the future. They portray local history in the wider European context.

The machines are constructed in the Xbunker in Sønderborg: two cavernous rooms, two teams of set designers, artists, actors, writers, multimedia experts and producers build separate time machines. Props, projections, scenery, illusion, smells, sound effects and performance - all work together to conjure up the (science) fiction. Captains and their crew welcome the passengers on board for their journey. The trips last 30 minutes each the first 30 minutes are spent travelling back in time... followed by a journey in the other direction, to the Europe of 2037 and beyond.

35 artists work on the Time Machines, which attract 25,000 passengers from April-October 2017. The artists come from different backgrounds like architecture, city development, visual art, performance art, (light) design, and have competences in working with new communication technologies. The experiences created by the audience are filmed for a project documentary, along with passengers’ reactions and accounts of their travels. The installation concept travels later through Europe, carefully adapted for other locations.

By conjuring scenes of the past and ideas of the future through theatre and fantasy, the Time Machines create indirect ways of

The Xbunker, in the heart of Sønderborg, has a rich and revealing history. It was converted from a section of old railway tunnel, on the

Photos: Jo Magraen, Patricio Soto

ines

How Do We Want to Live? Utopia in the Countryside Metropolis

How do we want to live? is a multi-layered program to confront the disturbing changes our planet is undergoing - climate change, globalization, social injustice and financial crisis - and to stimulate imaginations and gut feelings by asking what visions for Utopia exist in young people, societies, individual imaginations, and the Countryside Metropolis. Artistic interventions, lectures, performances, films and readings take place in 18 high schools in Southern Denmark - showing that the once conservative cultural attitude of Danish folk schools has opened up to intercultural dialogue and European diversity. Together with people from different disciplines, future models are described and existing strategies for better ways of life are

created. Involves at least 2,000 pupils, and is open to the public and press.

Project is multi-layered

In schools - temporary alternative societies are formed for 6 weeks. Artists bring issues of culture and sustainability to the classrooms. A community currency is created for use over the region in 2017. This alternative system, where money can be exchanged for time, or for skills given to the community, provokes questions about how money governs relationships. Artistic exchanges also happen with the Unmarked Space Festival - 5 days of European alternative art and living on a remote German island.

Future Borders - Young Minds in Digital Action

Als ‘Amtsbanerne’ line from Sønderborg to Mommark/Nordborg - North Schleswig’s first narrow gauge railway service. The tunnel was closed along with the line in the 1960s due to changing European transport habits, and then converted during the Cold War into a nuclear shelter. With two spacious rooms, and soaring 5-metre high vaulted ceilings, Xbunker was beautifully renovated and opened by Sønderborg Municipality as an international art exhibition space in 2006, with a focus especially on German and Danish contemporary art by young and experimental artists. Exhibitions are often controversial, explore new territory regarding traditional notions of art, and aim at breaking conventions.

cooperation on co-existence through digital confrontations On democracy and identity - in a digital universe with a global perspective. Everything in these projects happens digitally: learning, dialogue, communication. 1. Future Borders In 2013 educational material is presented to around 5,000 students in Danish and German schools, for classes to work digitally on democracy and identity. Focuses on the region’s special cooperation, and uses its history to discuss democracy and identity throughout the world. Our regional “Gold” adds to discussions and learns about new media at the same time. Lessons and interactions are digital. Students produce ‘pocket films’ for a cross-border digital competition. Future Borders is a complete education package: teacher’s book, assignments and inspiration.

2. Young Minds in Digital Action (from 2014) A digital youth conference/competition which builds on the very positive 2009 international Bright Green Youth camp. It improves learning and inspires teachers, delivers innovation potential through an intercultural, interdisciplinary approach, and encourages new global connections between young people. On the April 18th Dybbøl anniversary in 2014 the first Young Minds in Digital Action is held in Sønderborg and Flensburg. Over 300 young people worldwide discuss democracy and identity via digital media. Connections are investigated with San Sebastian House of Peace and Mons new technology projects. Event is repeated every year, and marked especially in 2017. Projects develop from 2012.

Confront Twin Peeking FORMAT: Interactive theatre TIMELINE: Starts in May 2016 - July/ August/September 2017

LOCATION: Tønder area AGENTS AND NETWORKS: Tue Biering (Director TUE)

BUDGET: 200.000 €

The King’s Fall - a hardhitting theatre piece about the historically significant King Christian II - he was incarcerated in Sønderborg Castle, where the play takes place FORMAT: Theatre piece in castle TIMELINE: August 2017

LOCATION: Sønderborg Castle AGENTS AND NETWORKS: Nikolaj Cederholm, Military Academy Sønderborg BUDGET: 350.000 €

TWIN PEEKING

Extreme interactive theatre looks at real-life drama behind the region’s curtains.

This oddball series of theatre shows develops and performs in people’s homes. The American TV series Twin Peaks describes the life in, and under, the surface of a small outsider society, employing a murder plot as device for this investigation. An eerie, theatrical mix of thriller and soap-opera. Populated with odd and leftfield characters, its exploration of the town creates its own genre… a peek into the surreal, high-drama life of the people of Twin Peaks which has an almost documentary feel about it. In the Avant Garde performance TWIN PEEKING, a group of people in the countryside of our region, old and young, play themselves in a performance-version of the American series - a reinterpretation that takes the wild and exaggerated theatricality further and cultivates an almost, but not quite, documentary-style investigation into the people in the cast.

Photos: Patricio Soto, Jan Jul

To do this, TWIN PEEKING destroys the boundaries that separate people from each other in their daily routines and creates a frame for theatrical investigation, where the audience takes a peek into the lives of the local characters, gaining insight into the mindset that characterizes these communities.

The performance plays with the notion of inquisitiveness, which drives our interest in watching television drama, and the barrierbreaking, integrating and confronting instinct which fuels our desire to meet new people. The idea that it is a shared game is the conceptual core of the project - the result is a creative, imaginative examination of diversity and tolerance in the area, and enduring pride that ‘otherness’ is embraced here. Develops from May 2016 - then, every Saturday from July to September 2017, ten homes in the area’s countryside are transformed into performance venues, where episodes of a TV series strongly reminiscent of Twin Peaks are played out - same intro, same music, same murder riddle. The citizens in the borderland may not look like the citizens of Twin Peaks, but an actor who looks like Kyle McLachlan - Anders Mossling - turns up in their homes. As he questions them, he finds out about their life history, and encourages them to reveal secrets about their lives, until the citizens of the border region begin to look strangely similar to the original cast of the series.

Sønderborg2017 is a provocative chance to stage a production of the story of King Christian II in one of the actual historical settings of the narrative. The ‘total theatre concept’ uses Sønderborg Castle, courtyard and surroundings for its historical settings and scenes, and raises the awareness of an audience of 25,000 over summer 2017. King Christian II is a highly significant and contentious figure in Nordic and European history, and was central to the tense geopolitical situation of the early 16th century, when power was fought and traded between Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Holland. His legacy can be contradictory: he put sustained effort into the bloody subjugation of Sweden, and is often known there as ‘Christian the Tyrant’; at home however, although considering himself divinely appointed, he was often humanist in

principle and policy, and was championed as an advocate for the common people. With Scandinavia in open revolt and international relations fraught, Christian II was eventually ousted by a Jylland uprising and incarcerated in Sønderborg Castle in 1532. He has since been much mythologized in both local and North European folklore. This play is based on the historical novel, Kongens Fald, by Johs. V Jensen - named as ‘best Danish novel of the 20th century’ by two major Danish newspapers in 1999, and included in the controversial Danish Cultural Canon alongside Hans Christian Andersen, Søren Kierkegaard and Karen Blixen.

wide, dynamic new audiences to the form. His energetic, inventive productions often have a strong musical dimension - based for example around The Bee Gees, Danish rock band Gasolin, Bob Dylan, or even Mozart. In The King’s Fall he works with musical partners the Hellmann brothers to tell a hard-hitting, mixed media version of Jensen’s epic. Through this lasting theatrical experience, thousands of visitors and locals examine the facts, implications, and enduring myths of North European identity. The production is filmed for distribution, and also adapted for other settings, to take the Sønderborg story of King Christian II to wider audiences.

Nikolaj Cederholm is Danish theatre’s great populist, through his group Dr. Dante, and through a string of hit productions. He attracts

At the beginning of October they sailed over the Alssund Strait. Over at the far shore, where the distinct edges of the woods were beginning to soften, the red castle stood facing the beach, vulnerable and exposed. When their crossing was nearly complete, a flock of snow-white doves took off from the tower, launching themselves out across the strait - seen and then unseen against the pale greys and blues of the sky. Jakob followed them with his eyes and nodded to Ide. It was a sign - one that boded well. - from ’Paa Sønderborg’ - ‘At Sønderborg’ - a chapter in Johs. V. Jensen’s novel, ’Kongens Fald’.

Set Sail Expl discover the region by the ocean

Confront Set Sail FORMAT: Various Maritime events TIMELINE: 20. May 2017 LOCATION: Aabenraa, Maritime Museum Flensburg, Flensburg Fjord AGENTS AND NETWORKS: Museum Sønderjylland, Historical Art Museum Aabenraa, German Minority (BDN), Danish Shipowners association, Seamansmission Hamburg, Vikingmuseum Haithabu Schleswig, Maritime Museums Flensburg, Bremerhaven, Husum and Kronborg, Maritime museum Marstal/Ærø, Ship wreck museum Kyrenia (Cyprus), Ocean University of China (OUC), Ocean University of China Qingdao (OUC), International Shanty and Sea Songs Association (ISSA), Si Tous les Ports du Monde BUDGET: 120.000 €

Confront It! European and international film festival FORMAT: Film festival, workshops, awards TIMELINE: All year LOCATION: All film festivals AGENTS AND NETWORKS: European Minority Film Festival Husum, Green Screen Festival Eckernförde, Shortfilmfestival Flensburg, Odense International Film festival, Nordic Film Days Lübeck, Grønland filmfest, Filmfest Hamburg, All roads Film project, Astra film festival (Sibiu), European Festival Association (efa)

On European Maritime Day 2017, the 20th May, Sønderborg - a city that sits across a harbour - presents ‘Set Sail Explore the Sea’, a seafaring spectacular to celebrate the diverse maritime traditions of Europe, past and present.

BUDGET: 15.000 €

Events include: The Flags of Inconvenience - guided tours on ships in the harbours of Aabenraa, Sønderborg & Flensburg. An exploration of the meaning of ships in the modern world - their romanticism and trading applications, but also problematic aspects such as piracy,

pollution, and the regulation-avoidance practice of registering under other countries’ flags. European Maritime Day Conference - an international event with the participation of government bodies from countries working on the Baltic Sea, as well as experts on mercantilism, all focused on environmental issues and sustainable growth. Sea Shanty Festival - a choir festival for shanty songs - the type of folk song once commonly sung while working on large ships. European choirs gather to share this

ore the Sea

Confront It! Film Festival Challenging through European film

This new Sønderjylland-Schleswig Film Festival unites regional and international film festivals through a series of films about Confrontation - between cultures, nature, mankind, generations. Links include the Greenland Eyes Film Festival, and Nordic Days festival for Nordic and Baltic film - as well as the National Geographic All Roads Film project from the USA, who tell indigenous and underrepresented cultural stories through film.

Photos: Steen Weile, Aabenraa Shantykor, Gisela Schäefer, Patricio Soto

fascinating tradition on open air stages in Sønderborg, Aabenraa and Flensburg. Historical Sailing Regatta - gathers fine, full-size reconstructions of historic ships from around Europe. 2,000 years of ships will set sail and be on impressive display in the Alssund strait, before they leave for Cyprus. The public can board the ships and see how ocean travel has changed throughout history. The Viking Age Monument and Sites six states have combined their resources to nominate Viking Age heritage sites on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The

sites represent key attributes of Viking Age culture, and include among others: Birka and Hovgården in Sweden, Jelling mounds in Denmark, Hedeby and Danevirke in Germany. Shipbuilders Day Kalvø - historical maritime activities at the site of Denmark’s earliest shipbuilders. Many hands-on activities for the whole family including craftsmanship, sailing and shipbuilding, are combined with a multicultural family event including performing arts, music, theatre and street artists.

Showings are throughout the year, at cinemas from Kiel to Kolding. Special events take place at the Alsion centre, Sønderborg - such as a silent film, soundtracked by the South Jutland Symphony Orchestra. 5 best films, chosen by the audience via internet voting, are shown at the Astra Film Festival in Sibiu, Romania, in 2018. Film talent workshops, talks, and round-table discussions encourage a young film-makers programme - realized partly through links to the S2017 Give Me Five youth film project, and the S2017 Images Festival - read more in the Connect section. At the end of the year, a Countryside Metropolis Prize is awarded by an international jury to the most promising film - which becomes an annual award.

A 3-year cooperative project to recreate prehistoric monuments. This public space art installation looks at our mysterious culturalhistorical legacy - the ancient symbols which mark the landscapes of Europe, and which anchor the past to the present - found notably across Ireland, the UK, southern Scandinavia, Germany, France, Portugal and Spain.

Confront Creates a sculptural path with megalithic icons FORMAT: Permanent outdoor installation TIMELINE: 21. October 2017 LOCATION: Bikepath in the Countryside Metropolis AGENTS AND NETWORKS: Wolfgang Gramm (Director Kunstwerk Carlshütte, Curator Nordart), Augustiana Sculpture Park, Art Center, Kunstwerk Carlshütte, Visit Denmark, Visit Copenhagen, and Visit South Denmark BUDGET: 125.000 €

Cultural Hack - portraits of the region’s minorities FORMAT: Photo portrait project TIMELINE: February-June 2017 LOCATION: All regions; exhibitions in S2017 Meeting Lounge & on Ewich tosamende ungedelt AGENTS AND NETWORKS: Multiculture Council Sønderborg, Round Table for Migration Flensburg, Selffishstudios Ljubljana, FUEN (Federal Union of European Minorities), Danish Refugee Council, refugeehighway.net, European Council on Refugees and Exiles (ECRE) BUDGET: 40.000 €

Photos: Wolfgang Gramm, Patricio Soto

Stone Age people built burial mounds and left other stone monuments - shaping, transporting and erecting huge slabs of stone, often over huge distances, in ways and for reasons we don’t really understand. They remain as a symbol of the incredible engineering skills and large-scale group cooperation of the people who left them. 100 of these megalithic monuments - each made from 4 large local stones - are placed in very different spots - in the middle of roundabouts, as well as on fields. They create a lasting landmark of the Countryside Metropolis region and a tourism route. The sculpture path invites people from the region and European visitors to actively explore the area - on foot, bicycle, electric car or public transport. The project is led by world renowned artist and curator Wolfgang Gramm - curator of 2011’s NordArt, one of the largest Northern European Art Shows, which brought groundbreaking intercultural cooperation to the region Sønderjylland-Schleswig. The surface of the objects can be designed differently - artistic options in the choice of material, color and the design of the surface. Art students from Design School Kolding, Muthesius Art School Kiel, South Jutland Art School Sønderborg, and the School for Visual Communication Haderslev, help to develop the stones - along with groups of young people from Germany and Denmark, and Culture Villages art foundation, Artist Association (BBK) Schleswig-Holstein, and Flensburg Fjord Arts and Culture Association. Modern art in ancient settings.

A Scu Modern artists use ancient symbols for lasting impact

Cultural Hack Cultural Hack gets amateur photographers of all abilities from different minorities in the region to create photo and video portraits of community stories, and to make portraits of people they know. The young make portraits of the old, and vice versa - connecting across minorities and generations, to create a selfdetermining platform for lesser-heard voices. Communities have 4 - 6 months to document around 30 minority community characters as of 2016, for multimedia exhibitions in the café on Sønderborg2017’s ‘Manhattan, ewich tosamende ungedelt’ floating island, and in the S2017 Meeting Lounge. Portraits begin with an identical set of questions, put to each subject - like profiling with an artistic twist.

lpture Path Minorities include Albanian, Basque, Catalonian, Finnish, Flanders, Frisian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Luxembourgian, Poles, Roma, Sápmi, Sinti, South-Tyrolian, Walser, Yiddish. Development starts autumn 2012 in Sønderborg, with ‘groundwork’ events every 6 months to establish the idea and make contacts. These expand to include other municipalities in the region and Europe. We will especially offer participation to Wroclaw, San Sebastian, and the ECoCs to be chosen in Cyprus and Malta. A ‘Making Of’ feature deepens understanding of the interactions along the way, and the challenges and confrontations encountered by or within the communities. Along with the main exhibitions, smaller presentations are taken to the municipalities, to display local highlights. Elements are archived for later ‘revisiting’ projects - and also uploaded to a Culture Hack section on the S2017 website.

The Travelling Library - Kids’ Own The Travelling Library is a charming, standalone, miniature cubby house library, for installation within libraries, schools and festivals, where it is easily accessed by children and young people. It houses books created by children, for children, and travels throughout regions to link communities of empowered young readers and writers.

Children read illustrated stories by other children from different communities, sects and countries. To experience the human details of others’ lives encourages empathy and raises cultural intelligence. The scheme has so far reached over 25,000 children and parents. This valuable resource builds on the proven methodology since 2010 of Kids’ Own in Ireland. Through Sønderborg2017 it launches 2 new libraries, in areas that face problems with histories of confrontation - to differing extremes, of course: Cyprus, and the territory of S2017. 5,000 children and families use the libraries in 2017. In addition to the libraries, Kids’ Own Publishing, also founded in Ireland, has for 14 years raised the status of children as artists and writers. It makes children’s work visible to national and international audiences through professional publishing. New presence in our region and in Cyprus expands and diversifies the children’s library collection. Translated versions enable libraries to hold every book from every country. This project creates a legacy of confronting geopolitical tensions - and a real children’s library, full of children’s books.

Nordic Literature Festival at the Castles Literature festivals are hosted at 14 of the region’s castles. They reflect the history, myth, fact and fiction of each castle host. A combination of two established annual festivals, this project gives wider awareness of Nordic and North European writing. Between them, the festivals have welcomed over 50 eclectic Nordic and North European writers over the last couple of years. In S2017 they link writers to readers, readers to distributors, expression to places, words to multimedia. Programs for all ages include masterclasses, workshops, writing competitions and guest speakers - plus cross-pollination of literature with other media: music, performance, crime dinners and role-plays, theatre, visual art, and gastronomy.

10-12 Danish and German artists also make installations at the Castles. Artists take over an area of the castle and tell a story around myths, and to explore the bridging function our region has between the Nordic and the Northern European Countries - in light-art, projections, multimedia, living sculpture. The festival also presents the Siegfried Lenz award - a major S2017 residential writers’ project - given by the author in person. Nordic Literature Festival at the Castles connects two festivals, the writers, and the readers, who take away skills and experiences. Texts from the festival will be displayed in public spaces all over the region. A book presents the festival in text and visuals. The concept expands and exports to other European castle settings.

Books by children, for children - and a travelling library to keep them

Writing’s Northern Lights

FORMAT: Mobile library/children’s publishing LOCATION: Libraries in the Countryside Metropolis

LOCATION: Castles in: Sønderborg, Augustenburg, Gram, Gelting, Glücksburg, Husum, Tønder, Buckhagen, Brundlund Manor houses: Drült, Rundhof, Emkendorf, Trøjborg ruined Castle and Gottorp Castle

AGENTS AND NETWORKS: Jo Holmwood (Project Manager Kids’ Own Publishing Partnership), Library Flensburg, Libary Sønderborg, UNDP Hope for children in Cyprus

AGENTS AND NETWORKS: Litteraturfest.nu, Literature in the Castles, Nordisk Informationskontor, Literature House Schleswig-Holstein, South Jutland Art Association, FEP, efa

BUDGET: 56.000 € (Coproduction)

BUDGET: 150.000 € (Coproduction)

TIMELINE: 20. February - 07. April 2017

FORMAT: Literature festival at castles TIMELINE: 02. - 17. September 2017

Zaungäste Siegfried Lenz Outsider status and culture clash are tackled head-on in this 8-week literary residency program. In the Spring of 2017, over 10 aspiring European minority writers from groups including Bashkir, Basque, Breton, Catalan, Chuvash, Frisian, Kashubian, Ladin, Luxembourgian, Occitan, Rhaetian, Sorbian and Welsh, are artists-in-residence at summer houses in the region. They capture in short stories their impressions in relation to their homelands: similarities and differences of landscape, and experiences of interacting with the people and culture, positive or negative. Stories are translated into English and Danish, published, and distributed to schools and libraries - in Denmark and in the writers’ countries. Siegfried Lenz presents an award to the writer of the most promising story, as part of the Nordic Literature Festival at the Castles. Readings are given throughout. Local author Lenz embodies the Countryside Metropolis - while based in Hamburg, he spent summers in a fisherman’s cottage near Sønderborg, where he wrote his major works. He is published in over 30 languages. His book ‘Zaungast’ describes the culture clashes he witnessed on his travels. Readings of Lenz’s works, followed by discussions, are held in 15 living rooms throughout the region, filmed for webcast.

8-week writers’ residencies, with published stories and a prize FORMAT: Artist residencies/published works/award/living room readings TIMELINE: All year LOCATION: Summerhouses in the Countryside Metropolis AGENTS AND NETWORKS: House of Literature Schleswig-Holstein, Federal Union of European Minorities (FUEN), European Centre for Minority Issues (ECMI), European Council of Literary Translators’ Associations (CEATL) BUDGET: 40.000 €

Celebrate ”People who like to celebrate see possibilities everywhere and know how to turn them into concrete and innovative projects.”

Photos: Udo Fischer, Patricio Soto, courtesy of Siegfried Lenz

At 20:17 on the 13th January, 2017, after a giant countdown, the region bursts into light!

Celebrate Festival of light for the opening night and beyond FORMAT: Light art installations TIMELINE: 13. January 2017 LOCATION: Sønderborg and the whole region AGENTS AND NETWORKS: Catja Thystrup (Curator & principal project leader) Illuminarts, Belgrade of Light, Serbia, curator and artist Aleksandra Stratimirowitz (RS & SE); Lichtrouten, Germany, curator Bettina Pelz (GE); The transnational union lighting detectives: Karou Mende (JP), Ulrike Brandi Licht (GE), Reiko Kasai (SG), Eleni Savvidou (US), Lisbeth Skindbjerg Kristiensen & Katja Bülow (DK), James Turrell (US), Tony Oursler (US), Bill Viola (US), James Carpenter (US), Olafur Eliasson (DK/IS), Jeppe Hein (DK); Jens Galschiødt (DK), David Batchelor (UK), Steven Scott (UK/DK), Ingvar Cronhammer (SE/ DK), Jari Haanperä (FI), Tamar Frank (NE), Groupe Dunes (FR), Hanne Nielsen & Birgit Johnsen (DK), Helga Griffiths (GE), Nino Strohecker (AU), South Jutland Symphony Orchestra, ProjectZero

Sustaining the momentum of an intense sixmonth build-up, Sønderborg, Sønderjylland and Schleswig celebrate the Opening Night of the 2017 European Capital of Cultural with a massive, dazzling spectacle called ‘Lightmarks’ - an international festival with outdoor light installations, multimedia projections, glowing airships in the sky... illumination from every corner of the region. As well as special S2017 lights in the windows of thousands and thousands of homes across the region, 15-20 artists contribute large-scale, sculptural or conceptual light installations - from celebrated artists such as James Turrell and Bill Viola (USA), to up-andcoming European and international artists. The various lightshows and installations are provocative, thought-provoking, or just beautiful to look at - they set the scene for Sønderborg2017, and invite the citizens and

BUDGET: 847.000 €

visitors of the region to Connect, Confront and Celebrate. Special attention is given to the ceremonial aspect of the opening, where the anthem, flag and other symbols of the EU are presented, stressing the importance for everyone that this is a European project at its heart. This part is closely organized together with the ECoC teams in Wroclaw and San Sebastian, as well as with the team in Cyprus. The grand spectacle of light has great publicity value, and draws much attention to the whole Countryside Metropolis ECoC programme in the national and international media. Lightmarks extend the ‘opening hours’ of parts of the region into the night-time, expanding possibilities and literally casting a whole new light on the use, appearance and dimensions of both urban and rural spaces. From darkness to light… they reinvent and create new views. Artwork: Tamar Frank, Jens Galschiøt & Seven Meters Photo: Anders Sune Berg

Pieces display on Sønderborg’s harbour front, with its promenade, architecture, bridges and lighthouses, and at imaginative spots in the municipalities. One work will be placed in each of the main cities - Aabenraa, Haderslev, Tønder, Flensburg, Schleswig and North Friesland. After this opening night, one of the installations will also remain as a beacon for the whole of 2017. Through experimental workshops, knowledge-sharing seminars and multidisciplinary collaboration, this festival facilitates future international cooperation between lighting artists and experts curators, artists, designers, engineers and more. Local citizens co-create some of the works, to create a sense of ownership and community pride in the installations and the region. The programme is developed with the help of communities, is four years in the planning, and involves land owners, the 18 municipalities, schools & universities, local artists and art groups. Sustainability is a strong issue in the Lightmark Festival - energy consumption and light sources in all of the installations are as low as possible without diminishing the spectacle. Light from sustainable energy Lightmarks cooperates with ProjectZero. Also at 20:17, Green Sky Symphony takes to the air. Two modern, low-emission, glowing Zeppelins take off from Sønderborg Airport. One has percussion players on board - the other woodwind players. Both airships are fitted with loudspeakers and sound engineers. The musicians perform a brand new piece by Danish composer Bo Gunge, as they pass over the greater Countryside Metropolis area, blazing music over the celebrations and shining searchlights below. They circle over Sønderborg, and gradually spiral in parallel ellipses over Flensburg and Aabenraa towards Tønder, where they end their spectacular flight at the brand new Zeppelin Exhibition Centre - a former WW1 Zeppelin base. The musical Zeppelins are exhibited for a week, as exciting examples of new, viable models for freight and transportation. Visitors can buy sightseeing trips in the Zeppelins, and see the 2017 European Capital of Culture from the air. Participants from the S2017 projects ‘Design for Change’ and ‘Design for a Countryside Metropolis’ submit proposals for a lamp design as of 2014 - read more in ‘Connect’. 1.5 million copies of the winning lamp are produced in 2016, and people in the region light them in their windows to mark the beginning of Opening Night, and dazzle the Countryside Metropolis.

‘LIGHTMARKS’ a dazzling kick-off for the Countryside Metropolis

Giant creatures spring up without warning on the midsummer solstice, with music, flashmobs and a buzz. Sønderborg is taken by storm. What’s performance and what isn’t? Where in Europe - or the world - have these creatures come from?

Celebrate Mythical Beasts FORMAT: Development/event TIMELINE: 23. June 2017 LOCATION: Sønderborg AGENTS AND NETWORKS: Theaterwerkstatt Pilkentafel Flensburg, Thalias Compagnons, Rich Art, Kunst und Kultur Baustelle 8001, Balthazarmusic.dk (Composer), Idea, Theatreeducator network Germany (BUT), UNIMA, TV Syd BUDGET: 800.000 € (Coproduction)

Festival 2017 FORMAT: Hundreds of theatre performances over a week TIMELINE: 24. - 30. April 2017 LOCATION: Sønderborg Schools AGENTS AND NETWORKS: Henrik Køhler (Director teatercentrum), competence center for distribution and dissemination of theatre for young audiences under the Danish Ministry of Culture (Teatercentrum), ASSITEJ Denmark, ASSITEJ (International Association for theatre for young audiences) BUDGET: 337.500 €

European Children’s Theatre Festival FORMAT: Conference, performances, workshops, co-production TIMELINE: 11. - 17. September 2017 LOCATION: Teatret Møllen Haderslev, Kühlhaus, Flensburg, Flensburg Hus, schools in the Countryside Metropolis AGENTS AND NETWORKS: Theatre Møllen, BDN, SSF, Teatercentrum Denmark, Childrentheatre Center Germany, Nordic/Baltic ASSITEJ (DE, NO, SE, FI, EE, LV, LT, GE), Epicenter, ITYARN, BUT, Next Generation, Teatercentrum Denmark, KJTZ Germany BUDGET: 100.000 € (Coproduction)

A story brought to life by giant puppets, about overcoming borders, differences, and the past, in order to unite and move on. This multi-cultural, multi-arts project casts key symbolic and heraldic beasts of the region as starring characters in a huge celebratory performance. A three-year project for youth and community members develops the puppets, the story and the plan. The puppets are giant - much larger than humans. Inflatables that emerge from performers’ backpacks, or made of papiermâché. They arrive from all directions at an outdoor stage at Sønderborg Castle, for a narrative performance of parkour, dance, music, projection, theatre, and more. People enjoy ethnic food and drink, to celebrate the fun, strength and potential of a world without borders. Heraldic beasts are found on the shields, flags, and coats of arms of countries and regions. The giant puppets are developed by puppet artists and communities, and operated by community members and puppeteers. The story The story so far: mythical beasts are competing in a worldwide singing contest but humans threaten their chances because of the border region’s history of tension and

dispute. The beasts had conflicts in the past, but realized they must work together in order to win - so they came to life and took control of the region, to spread this message. In the fictitious contest, harmonious diversity wins higher scores - but people haven’t understood that diversity is what makes them stronger. The Mythical Beasts program runs 2015 - 2018 Mythical Beasts develops alongside a Flensburg theatre group. Ten selected State Schools from throughout Sønderjylland/Schleswig, including cultural minorities, take part in Vocal Workshop Program Sessions, to inspire positive change, self-esteem, and teamwork. Schools take part in international school exchanges, including Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Flanders, Germany and Switzerland - for cross-cultural communication and mutual respect. Regional dance, sport, music, and hobby clubs are invited. Music workshops are held by young facilitators from countries including the Baltic States, as part of local multicultural networks. Groups are contacted from other ECoC cities - like Liverpool, Vilnius, Linz, Pecs and Essen,

Festival 2017 – Theatre for Young Audiences life-affirming cultural event, with focus on performing arts for children and young people More than 100 theatre companies present approximately 600 shows in a week – 150200 different productions, in venues such as theatres, libraries or kindergartens – with all tickets free of charge. For over 40 years, Theatre for Young Audiences takes place annually over a whole week in April, visiting a different area of Denmark each time. 2017 is its first visit to Sønderborg. It guarantees as many children and young people in the area as possible a theatre experience. Over the festival’s final weekend, more than 25,000 children, young people and adults come to see shows. It introduces children’s theatre to families and children, in regions where it is not often available. The Festival creates awareness and a space for networking and competence development, and presents Danish theatre to international audiences – with around 1,000 international guests, delegates and theatre organisers, for example from schools, libraries, institutions and theatrical unions, who engage with

the huge range of performances. Includes meetings, seminars and conferences, for presenters, artists and international guests. It encourages ongoing cultural initiatives in the region – e.g. new networks and a larger focus on culture and performing arts policies for children and young people, regionally and nationally.

Photos: Steen Knarberg, Bo Amstrup, Søren K. Kløft

Tallinn and Turku, Riga and Umeå, Pilsen, Wroclaw, San Sebastian. Social networking sustains momentum, and keeps the story alive. Exchanges are continued between schools. Puppets and props are taken home to respective communities - local symbols, to be talked about for years. Singing workshops also introduced as creative interventions in public and private workplaces, for team-building - plus theatre workshops, to creatively address communication and body language. Local companies give materials for puppets, such as foam, clay or tubing, to give new insights into their products. A documentary series is made by local TV, to build on an existing relationship with the station - for distribution through European local TV networks. Organizers appeal to: “all citizens, old people, young people, pupils, parents, employers, companies, students, workers, job-seekers, organizations, politicians, artists, farmers, and dreamers from Sønderjylland/Schleswig area - all can be part of this project, to celebrate Sønderborg2017.”

European Children’s Theatre Festival Sønderborg celebrates European performance art for children and young people. The Danish Children’s Theatre Festival extends to other European regions, guided by over 400 children’s theatre practitioners. More than 40 professional performances from participating countries provide an outstanding youth focus on theatre and dance performances in Europe - music, dance, puppet theatre and other performing arts. Crucially, partnership has begun with the Austrian dance festival SZENE BUNTE WÄHNE. They understand art and culture within a Countryside Metropolis, through the two halves of their initiative: located both in provincial city Horn, and in Vienna. These dance and theatre networks connect for the first time, providing professional-level

dance and performing arts opportunities which are otherwise limited in this region - a vital, lasting impact. Performances in over 20 venues in the region. A conference is also held for over 100 international guests, to create permanent theatre/dance/education networks in Europe - including from the International Children’s theatre networks Nordic and Baltic ASSITEJ - for Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania - and the MiddleEastern network Epicenter. Also theatre and dance educators, dramaturges, and the international network Next Generation. The international Theatre for Young Audience research network (ITYARN) offers keynote speakers.

Celebrate Kitchen, Art, Culture FORMAT: Fun and serious food-based events over a year TIMELINE: All year LOCATION: Skærtoft Mill, Big Hotels, Castles, Danfoss Universe, Harbour Flensburg, Food Caravan, ArtFARM AGENTS AND NETWORKS: Hanne Risgaard (Project Creator/Director of Skærtoft Mill), Inge Adriansen (Food historian, Director of Sønderborg Castle), Vocational College for Trades and Industry - EUC Syd, EUC West, Regional Job Educational Center Flensburg, Danfoss Universe, Danfoss Learning Lab, Danish Union of Teachers, ProjectZero, Aabenraa and Flensburg museum, Glücksburg castle, Gottorp castle, Kultur i Syd, Feinheimisch, Dirk Luther (Michelin), Danish Design Center, Business Development Director Avantless Ltd, Bioland Germany, Soil Association, England, Økologisk Landsforening, Danmark, Slow Food International, Italy, Inger Bach (director of DR, the Danish Broadcasting Corporation), Petros Mavros (Cyprus), European Festival Association (efa). Chefs: Dirk Luthers, Jens Peter Kolbeck, Thorsten Schmidt, Thomas Hermann, Thomas Rode, Malling og Schmidt, Andrew Whitley, Petros Mavros, Carlo Petrini. BUDGET: 469.000 € (Coproduction)

International Food on Film Festival FORMAT: Film festival TIMELINE: 03.02 - 06.02.2017 LOCATION: Frank Gehry development AGENTS AND NETWORKS: Lars Herman (Copenhagen Film Festivals), Inger Bach (director of DR, the Danish Broadcasting Corporation), Peter Rathje (ProjectZero), European Festival Association (efa) BUDGET: 250.000 €

Food! A year of culinary magic Kitchens and cookery nurture communities’ bodies and souls in daily lives, and are about a great deal more than eating. This programme explores and shares traditions and celebrations based around European and Worldwide culinary cultures. The concept centres around ‘a year of food culture’, and explores and shares the delights and issues of food and cuisine. Some of the year’s highlights include: Three Local Exhibitions, exploring different aspects of the regional kitchen: “The taste of Schleswig”; “Pharisees, Grog and Breadcake”; “Excessive and Seasoned”. Open Food Workshops - at least 5, over the summer. Chefs and bakers from Cyprus attend and share their traditions.

Photos: Peter Kam, Lars Tholander, Mikkel Heriba

Banquets - castles in Sønderborg, Glucksburg and Augustenborg host exclusive historical dinners which demonstrate the current high level of Danish gastronomy in authentic surroundings. Star chefs of the region recreate banquets in full royal splendour, for public guests and food experts. With global guest chefs, including from China. Sønderjylland’s longest ever coffee table cakes by the kilometre. A classic Southern Jutland Coffee-Table stretches for tens of kilometres along the coastal path, offering coffee and traditionally at least 14 different types of cake or cookie. This references a regional tradition of getting together to eat cake - especially important in times of conflict. Neighbours from other European ECoC cities bake their own speciality cakes as guests in local families’ kitchens, then bring them along to join in. Special Exhibition at Sønderborg Castle - food as an inspiration to visual arts across genres, from medieval times to today, on the theme of ‘The Meal’. Borrows from museums in countries including France, Holland, Italy. Food Caravans appear throughout 2017 at cultural and musical events. With street kitchens and wood burning stone ovens, creative European chefs surprise the crowds with top-class food. Visits include to Christiansfeld, Ribe & Schleswig. Me, Food and Science - at Danfoss Universe. Especially for children. Links to S2017’s Universe of Science, Education & Culture - under Connect. Summer School in Sønderborg - residential food and cookery school which centres around confidence-building, especially for Roma children. Runs through July. Food and the World - cross-discipline conference on food sustainability discusses the global challenges of feeding a growing population. With regional personalities, researchers, academics, cultural and museum reps, visual artists, authors, philosophers, scientists, the public. People’s Cook Book - as many family and speciality recipes from the region as possible are compiled into this SønderjyllandSchleswig culinary ‘bible’ - plus traditional dishes with a modern global twist.

Photos: Thomas Tolstrup, Lars Tholander Illustrations: Lars Tholander

Breaking Bread - bread-baking contests. Adults and children compete to make allround, healthy breads. International bakers demonstrate other European bread traditions.

This has two dimensions: the first is around TV, and focuses on food-based programs made for television; the second presents documentary and feature films. Films and programs focus on all aspects of food in culture and science - for example the Welsh and Scottish smallholdings; the importance of food to cultural identity and what connects people in nations under the influence of Russia, such as Poland and the Czech Republic; windowbox vegetable growing in fully urban areas like Monaco or New York; the slow food movement, with the 4cities4dev documentaries on Senegal, Madagascar and Kenya; the ‘high concept’ gastronomic alchemy of elBulli in Spain, to reopen in 2014 as a kitchen “ideas centre”; or the implications of the EU Common Agricultural Policy, from Ireland to Cyprus, Gibraltar to Sebastopol. Grassroots documentaries explore the ‘kitchens of everyday lives’ - life-affirming centres of family and culture. Local film-makers work to make films for the festival as of 2015 - these include Sønderborg’s local TV channel, and young people from S2017’s Give Me Five and Images projects - read more in the Connect section. Film and food experts award best film prizes. Links to other S2017 food projects, such as Sønderjylland’s Longest Coffee Table or the Royal Feasts, create a coherent program of events around food in the Countryside Metropolis. There is also a focus on issues around sustainability of food production, together with the cultural approaches to food in different countries. These issues are of vital importance to the whole of Europe. The wider Sønderborg region constitutes the agricultural centre of both Denmark and Germany, and many people in this area are in some way involved in farming. We celebrate our agricultural production, emphasize the need for sustainability in food production, and support agricultural innovation. The Festival helps establish Sønderborg as a cultural centre of Europe and makes links with other world festivals for film-sharing opportunities - such as Food Film Festivals in the Netherlands, San Sebastian, Sacramento or Chicago. Sønderborg puts on world-class events, for export to other cultural venues and festivals, showing that the Countryside Metropolis has its “roots in the soil, and its head in the sky of high culture” - and blends the best of country living with major metropolis sophistication.

Celebrate Sønderbugs FORMAT: Global S2017 geocache initiative TIMELINE: All year LOCATION: Countryside Metropolis AGENTS AND NETWORKS: S2017, geocaching.dk, opencaching.de, geocaching.de, tb-rescue.com, Deutsche Wanderjugend, geocaching.com BUDGET: 14.000 €

Seventeen Places FORMAT: Permanent region-wide cultural installations TIMELINE: All year LOCATION: All over the Countryside Metropolis

“A new species has been observed in the Countryside Metropolis! Scientists are baffled by what seems to be a global outbreak of bugs, on a mission to populate every corner of the globe. They are drawn to environments which combine urban inspiration with rural beauty, and it seems they can’t be stopped...” Sønderborg2017 creates ‘Sønderbugs’ as part of the worldwide Geocaching phenomenon, to celebrate modern global and cultural connections, and to draw international attention to the European Capital of Culture. Geocaching is a worldwide, outdoor treasure hunt game using GPS technology. Enthusiasts navigate to a specific set of coordinates, to find the geocache container hidden at that location. Geocaches are currently placed in over 100 countries around the world, on all seven continents. After 12 years of activity there are over 1,639,000 active geocaches

These specially commissioned, S2017-branded toy creatures are explorers and ambassadors for the Countryside Metropolis, literally spreading the word across the globe through this growing minority pursuit.

Each site becomes a permanent cultural installation, with multilingual information boards, historical facts, and explanations of its cultural value. Sites are launched in style, with fitting celebrations, involving as many community members as possible - social networking, geocaching and QR codes promote the sites and events, and create an entertaining quest for people to visit each of the Seventeen Places.

BUDGET: 133.000 €

Each municipality selects the places to remember in their area, and then applies to become one of the 17 places that the region should be best known for - with a focus on these thematic threads: culture and history, culture and nature, culture and design, or culture and experiences.

Small trinkets and soft toys, with unique IDs, are transported by enthusiasts from cache to cache, and their movements - national and international - logged and tracked online. The unique little furry creatures called Sønderbugs are just such hitchhikers. Setting out from various geocaches in the region, the bugs have a four-year challenge, which is publicized on geocaching websites: to explore the world, and then return to the Countryside Metropolis - and to visit every current and former ECoC city at least once en route between them.

Seventeen Places to remember in the Countryside Metropolis Travel slowly and discover the region’s culture

AGENTS AND NETWORKS: Region of Southern Denmark in cooperation with the 22 municipalities, European, North Sea and Baltic Sea Commission, Visit Denmark, DR, ARTE, NDR, ZDF, ARD, Innovation, Assembly of European regions

Photos: Patricio Soto, Lars Tholander, Claudia Mayer Illustration: Lars Tholander

published on various websites, and over 5 million geocachers worldwide.

This project develops a sense of inclusiveness and ownership around the region, and creates landmarks of the Countryside Metropolis.

From 2015 - 2017 a producer from Sønderborg2017 - trained through the BRANDI project - coordinates this project, and liaises with regional cultural organizations like museums, libraries, venues and schools. The project launches on S2017’s opening night, with parties at every place and original S2017 music played by local musicians. Webcam links and social networking between municipalities and sites lets people share the event across the region. Danish, German and European TV and radio networks cover this networked opening.

Celebrate Transatlantic video portrait project to celebrate the former Danish West Indies

West Indies Video Portrait Project Celebrates connection and diversity through personal histories

FORMAT: Video installations in houses and museums TIMELINE: 31. March 2017 (100 years of independence) LOCATION: Flensburg

On 31st March 1917 the Danish West Indies were sold to the USA. The Flensburg fjord region had been deeply involved in the Danish colony. To mark this important centennial and celebrate current links, 25 video portraits of people from the West Indian Islands are captured by local video artist Jacob Tekker - along with 25 portraits of border region descendents of the families who were involved in the rum and sugar trades.

through family, trade and culture; memory, history and technology. The films show the way diversity brings richness and value to our daily lives, and tensile strength to Europe: stability through flexibility.

The portraits are then projected from the windows of people’s homes, in both the West Indies and Sønderborg and its surrounding areas. They are silent portraits, where images honour the story of the links between people

The initiative is developed with 5 local museums. It creates a platform to unravel the implications and responsibilities of colonial heritage - and to celebrate the legacy’s positives.

The video portraits are also shown on large screens in public spaces, and at Museums in Denmark and Germany. The project runs for all of 2017, and also becomes a permanent presentation online.

hours, schools or old people’s homes. They rehearse regularly over 2016 - accompanied by scientific researchers or students from the University of Southern Denmark. Somewhere, every day, people dance across the region.

Big Dance for Life Big Dance for Life gets people moving - and celebrates the many different dance styles of the region: like Ballroom, Indonesian, Line dance, Tango, Folk and African. It also researches the benefits of regular exercise, over a one-year period of dance lessons. In 2016, dance leaders - community members who know a dance well enough to teach it - are matched with hundreds of groups of all different sizes across the region. These are friends, in-company activities during working

Also over 2016, Sønderborg holds the popular monthly European event ‘Lunch Beat’, where people dance on their lunch breaks. People try things in a supportive environment: everybody dances; nobody can just watch. 2017 International Dance Day - April 29th - sees a series of big dance events along harbour fronts in the region. Here, all the groups come together - every100 metres along the harbours, different bands play music and invite hundreds of people to dance. From 2016, a website helps people search for Dance partners from the region, and from European amateur dance groups. It becomes an annual event. The event is held again in Autumn 2017, accompanied by a symposium, to present the research results to a European scientific audience and the public.

AGENTS AND NETWORKS: Maritime Museum Flensburg), Historical Art Museum South Denmark Aabenraa, Museum Sønderjylland Teglvaerk Cathrinesminde, Maritime Museum Kronborg, Jacob Taekker (video artist), Virgin Islands Council of the Arts BUDGET: 20.000 € (Coproduction)

Big Dance for Life - a community project across generations to celebrate dance, diversity and the benefits of exercise FORMAT: Dance lessons/research program on dance & happiness, health & diversity TIMELINE: 22. April - 02. September 2017 LOCATION: Rambla, Sønderborg AGENTS AND NETWORKS: South Jutland Symphony Orchestra, Symphony Orchestra Flensburg, Dansens Hus Copenhagen, University of Southern Denmark, Muticulture Team Sønderjylland, International Dance Council (CID), European Council of Refugees and Exiles BUDGET: 50.000 €

‘The Fairyteller’ - in a huge tent in the middle of Sønderborg, one of the world’s leading theatrical conjurers, Franco Dragone, brings an international spectacular to life, centring on the world’s greatest fairyteller: Hans Christian Andersen.

Celebrate From the Franco Dragone Entertainment Group

It traces his fascinating story, from impoverished beginnings in Odense, Denmark, to worldwide fame and fortune and immortality through his stories, loved to this day by children and adults alike. Franco Dragone brings the stories to life in a show that combines, music, art and the full range of visual effects; and which features both H.C. Andersen’s stories and his wonderful paper cuttings.

FORMAT: Prestigious theatre/circus spectacular TIMELINE: 2-4 weeks in September 2017 LOCATION: Ringriderpladsen AGENTS AND NETWORKS: Simon Pieret (Chief executive officer Franko Dragone Entertainment Group) BUDGET: 100.000 € (Coproduction)

Giant sand sculpture events on the theme of H.C. Andersen FORMAT: Sculptures and workshops; competition TIMELINE: 29. July - 20. August 2017 LOCATION: Ewich tosamende ungedelt, S2017 floating island AGENTS AND NETWORKS: Martin Tulinius (Artistic Director) BUDGET: 140.000 € (Coproduction)

DV8 - Multimedia theatre celebrates the challenges of European diversity FORMAT: Theatre performance with multimedia TIMELINE: 14. - 22. October 2017 LOCATION: Alsion Sønderborg AGENTS AND NETWORKS: Amy Jane Clewes (Administrative Coordinator DV8)

The narrative takes the famous stories, and weaves them together to tell Andersen’s own story - casting both in a fresh, novel light. Franco Dragone has a highly regarded international reputation, not least because of his 13-year tenure with Cirque de Soleil, helping to pioneer their distinctive mix of theatre and circus, and directing some of their finest triumphs. Ten years ago he decided to form his own company in his birthplace, the small town of La Louvière, south of Brussels. Since then he’s proved himself as one of the world’s supreme creative showmen, scoring hits in Las Vegas, having had 55 million spectators worldwide, overseeing the opening of the 2010 South American games, creating a show in Macau performed entirely in water, and receiving an honorary degree from the University of Antwerp. He plans to open prestigious theatres throughout China over the coming years, to stage shows which emphasize the diversity of Chinese culture. Hans Christian Andersen is a much-loved figure in China, where his stories are treasured. After its 2017 performances, ‘The Fairyteller’ will be taken on tour in China, organized by the Danish Cultural Institute in China, starting in Beijing. With ‘The Fairyteller’, Sønderborg 2017 brings the best of Danish literature and European big-production theatre to a diverse, European family audience - and then exports it to the rest of the world. It shows that Sønderborg2017 is not afraid to host worldclass art, and to secure in the process a worldclass legacy.

BUDGET: 90.000 €

Photos: Tomasz Rossa, Martin Tulinius, Matt Nettheim

E L L E R´

Expert sand sculptors, sand sculpture workshops and competitions, on the newly built S2017 island ‘Ewich tosamende ungedelt‘ - around the theme of Hans Christian Andersen’s fairytales, to tie in with Franco Dragone’s Countryside Metropolis performance, summer 2017.

International Sand Sculpture Festival Theatre director and award winning setdesigner Martin Tulinius has held huge sand sculpture events in Denmark, Germany and further afield since 1996. A world champion sand sculptor with experience of gathering international artists to create arresting sculptures in natural settings - at least 25 artists for S2017, from countries including Australia, Brazil, Cyprus, France, Greece, Morocco, Portugal, Spain, South Africa, and Turkey. Events around the sculpting process attract huge crowds. Sculptures are huge - up to 10 metres high - and the H.C. Andersen theme will lead to many fantastical and genre-pushing pieces. They remain for weeks once built - long enough to become a ‘flash’ tourist attraction and gain European media coverage. 60,000 spectators and participants expected in total. Sculptures are preserved in pictures, seen online and around the world.

Events have special family appeal, with spinoff children’s workshops and competitions alongside artists. International Sand Sculpture creates community involvement and draws attention to world-class art and culture in Sønderborg2017. Creates a sense of regional pride and ownership of the event.

Physical Theatre DV8’s work questions the traditional aesthetics and forms of modern and classical dance, and attempts to create works that enable discussion of wider and more complex issues. DV8’s visual media and theatre productions take risks - as with the widely acclaimed, globally toured ‘Can We Talk About This?’, in which a multi-ethnic cast lead a poetic but unflinching exploration of tolerance, intolerance, freedom of speech, censorship, multiculturalism and Islam.

To continue aesthetic methods, this documentary-style dance/theatre production incorporates real-life interviews and archive footage - it puts performing arts into the conversation about how religion can cause division and misunderstanding. It is about fears of difference, and the importance of celebrating diversity in Europe in this region. The performance runs for 8 days at Alsion, Sønderborg, in autumn 2017, to 3,000 people. Australian Lloyd Newson has been theatre director of London-based DV8 since 1986.

Define represents the cutting edge of technology and sound - a vital annual electronic music festival since 2009. Celebrate this pulsing expression of art and science, sound, light, and the digital experience in an ‘interactive experience zone’ over four days, as Define hits all of Southern Denmark and the far North of Germany.

Celebrate Define Electronic Music Festival FORMAT: Region-wide music festival TIMELINE: November 2013 - 2018 LOCATION: Region-wide/site-specific AGENTS AND NETWORKS: New Art Sønderburg, Network for New Music Denmark (SNYK), Chiffren, Esbjerg culture school, Phänomenta, Danfoss Universe, EUC Syd, North Schleswig Music Association, Native Instruments, efa BUDGET: 200.000 € (Coproduction)

European Spoken Word Festival FORMAT: Multi-venue spoken word events TIMELINE: November 2013 - 2017 LOCATION: Kühlhaus Flensburg AGENTS AND NETWORKS: Björn Högsdal, Peter Dyreborg, SSF, BDN, North Frisian institute, Ars Baltica, Assembleart, estradpoesi.com, poesislam.no, poetryslamdk.dk, efa BUDGET: 100.000 €

Trucker Stories FORMAT: Audiobook library/‘car-sharing’ TIMELINE: From 2016 LOCATION: Trucker Library, Bov, Padborg

With powerbases at local cultural centres in Sønderborg and Flensburg, the annual festival diversifies massively into 2017: flagship electronic music performances, plus a large interactive program and a research platform for electronic instrument and software development. Highlights are sound art, light art, operas and ballets set to electronic music, interactive sessions, competitions, playzones and parties, at schools and activity centres throughout the area. Composers and light artists guide computer-based art media - special guests hold seminars in electronic composition - physics and music teachers give an understanding of the mechanics of sound and light, and their transference to digital and electronic media. Venues connect Kiel to Kolding to Svendborg - over 20 music halls and exploratoriums, plus unusual venues such as inside the pillars of bridges. Performance line-ups reflect the current electronica scene - expect performances on the level of EMP’s upcoming ‘Græsstrået’ production, staged in cooperation with Sønderborg’s dance academy. Electronic music celebrates youth and vitality by definition: many of the technologies and artforms are new, untested and undefined. With other European festivals and countless sub-genres, its popularity is ever-growing, supported by readily available technologies and the internet. The festival is ideal for the region’s peerless network of science, engineering and industrial expertise - an unmissable opportunity to engage, connect with, and inspire a network of talents. Define builds a solid platform for the progression of digital and electronic techniques in the area, and links creative networks between the art and business communities. Current examples include the solid partnership between Define and the Native Instruments music software platform; and Define’s links to professional networks such as Snyk and Chiffren. A website keeps Define current, gives updates on the programs, and carries the legacy of the 2017 Define Festival forward.

AGENTS AND NETWORKS: Flensburg Library, Bov Library, poetryslamdk.dk, Lindhardt and Ringhof Publisher house digital , Nikolaj Stig Nielsen (Danish Trucker Network), Kim Brandt (Danish Transport Driver association - 3F Chaffeurforening), ITD, FDE BUDGET: 50.000 €

Photos: Roald Christesen, Patricio Soto

celebrate science and to further intellectual

European Spoken Word Festival Slams - live poetry competitions - where poets perform original works and an audience jury chooses winners This most exciting European Spoken Word Festival builds on a thriving, internationally connected regional slamming scene, to bring 50 artists from countries including Iceland, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia and Germany. It celebrates the power of eloquence, with poetry, spoken word performance, improvisation and slamming. Presented and moderated by celebrated slam-scene artists, Flensburg hosts events on indoor and outdoor stages: such as Jazz Slam, Voiceartist Slam, Audiobook Slam, Illustrating Slam, Poet/Musician Slam, Poet/Graphic Artist Slam and Team Slam. The Music and Literature Flea Market has stages for open Improvised Music sessions.

The program builds up to the big-ticket, first ever Nordic Cup slam award, hosted especially at Sønderborg 2017. Artists hold interactive masterclasses with over 100 young people from participating countries. A multimedia exhibition gives lasting exposure to minority European languages such as Basque, Belorussian, Frisian, Lithuanian, Luxembourgish, Low German, Ruthenian, Sønderjysk and Welsh. The festival creates and maintains networks between slam-scene artists, newcomers, and audiences - supported by strong online communities.

Trucker Stories electronic music, and creative horizons The innovative European library for the trucker community is situated in Padborg, in the region Sønderjylland-Schleswig. Truck drivers borrow audiobooks in German and Danish. The most popular loans are language CDs, crime fiction and historical novels. Trucker Stories expands this program to include resources in English, so that audiobooks can be used by Truckers Europewide - accessed through library-sharing and the internet. As well as varied stories from European countries, the collection expands to include books about the history of the Sønderborg and the Sønderjylland-Schleswig area, along with Cyprus - to share the stories of the 2017 ECoCs. Authors from S2017 literature events - Poetry Slammers from European Spoken Word Festival, or writers from Nordic Literature at the Castles - also create audiobooks for this program.

This initiative also launches a tie-in transport and literature scheme with Europe’s Poetry Slammers. Slammers must travel long distances around Europe to attend events - this sets up permanent links between slammers and truckers, for slammers to ‘hitch a ride’ to their destination. They get to know the drivers, and trade stories along the way. This is healthy both for the environment, and creatively - experiences feed back into the slammers’ poetry, who write about their travel experiences. There is a prize for the best Poetry Slam ‘trucker story’, which is available for both truckers and the public, on the Sønderborg2017 website. Trucker Stories creates links among truckers and also with slammer communities - and builds an innovative, creative transport system.

Celebrate Nordic art & design FORMAT: Exhibitions & events TIMELINE: January - June 2017 LOCATION: Tønder Museum AGENTS AND NETWORKS: Emil Nolde Museum Seebüll, Museum Kunst der Westküste, Richard Haizmann Museum Niebüll, Museumsberg Flensburg, Norden Association, NOMA, the Nordic Embassy, Design Museum Danmark, Baltic art museums, South European art/design museums, Nordic Council Literature Prize BUDGET: 269.000 € (Coproduction)

Luther’s North FORMAT: Music festival/ exhibition TIMELINE: All year LOCATION: All museums AGENTS AND NETWORKS: Prof. Dr. Claus von Carnap-Bornheim (Director Gottorf Castle), Gottorp Castle, Ensemble Weserrenaissance Bremen, Stiftung SchleswigHolsteinische Landesmuseen Schloss Gottorf, North Elbian Church, Prof. Dr. Anselm Steiger Universityof Hamburg, Prof. Dr. Konrad Küster University of Freiburg, Prof. Dr. Manfred Cordes University of the Arts Bremen, NDR BUDGET: 200.000 € (Coproduction)

Faith, Places, Art FORMAT: Exhibitions/talks/website TIMELINE: All year 2016/17 LOCATION: Museumsberg Flensburg; churches in the region AGENTS AND NETWORKS: Dr. Michael Fuhr (Director Museumsberg Flensburg) Danish State Church, North Elbian Church, Museum Sønderjylland, National Museum Copenhagen, State Office for Preservation of Monuments Schleswig-Holstein BUDGET: 50.000 €

Nordic identity in art and design

The Bridge and Nordic Expres Sønderborg2017, in collaboration with the Museum of Art in Tønder, celebrates Northern European art and design with an extensive new programme and 2 new exhibitions: ‘Facets of Northern European Design Vol. 1’, & ‘Facets of Northern European Art Vol. 2’. The museum’s curatorial objective is to ”…place stones into a mosaic which reflects the characteristics of Northern European art”. It embraces artists and designers whose works are influenced by the cultural, climatic and geographical surroundings particular to Northern Europe. A new, year-long exhibition for S2017 assembles all of the museum’s history, experience, and relationships with other art museums across the Nordic region into these comprehensive shows - along with a yearlong programme around art and design, to include artistic interventions in businesses, design workshops for families, children and young people, talks, seminars, conferences,

tours, literature evenings, dance and music programmes, film evenings. All with a focus on how art and design can address certain questions: what is it that defines Northern Europe and gives it an identity? Is it real, and/ or quantifiable? What differentiates it from Eastern or Southern Europe? Between them, the exhibitions include paintings, sculptures, installations, graphic design, drawing, film and designed objects. The ’Facets of Northern European Design’ exhibition brings together the best of Northern European and especially Nordic design history from the 20th century onward. It features the world-famous Danish furniture designer Hans J. Wegner. Wegner was originally from Tønder, and endowed the museum in 1995 with a collection of his best chair designs. The ‘Facets of Northern European Art’ exhibition looks at Nordic art in the context of art history

Luther’s North

The Cultural Influence of the Reformation The 500-year Anniversary of the Protestant Reformation is marked in 2017 - Luther’s North celebrates its profound impact on the history of Europe and the world, which shaped the cultural and geopolitical landscapes of today. The event explores the Reformation’s influence through the resulting arts and cultures of faith - and the region’s history, like the Lutheran influence of Danish King Christian III, and Johannes Bugenhagen’s Schleswig Holstein church directive. Religious music is presented through the Festival of Gottorp Music, in April/May 2017, at 10 significant churches and castles in the region. At its centre are the works of the

Gottorp Kapellmeisters, who wrote haunting baroque music. Substantial research on the music manuscripts is done before the concerts can happen - this fills a gap in music history around the role of early Baroque music in linking Germany to Denmark. Concerts are recorded for CD, and broadcast on German National Radio. A multi-media exhibition displays the culture of faith in the main areas the Reformation took place. The exhibition based on the museum’s collections for art-historical epochs of the 13th until the late 17th century puts a focus on the cross-cultural historical connections of the ducal residence of Schloss Gottorp as a crystallization point.

Faith, Places, Art

sionism Photos: Jacob Ehrbahn, Patricio Soto

and European diversity. It is a comprehensive introduction to Nordic art and design for all Europeans, and one of the first exhibitions to focus on the Nordic expressionists of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden and the Faroe Islands. The Museum of Art in Tønder won The Danish Museums Award in 2010 - among other distinctions. In 2014 it opens a new wing in its Water Tower building, to provide a forum to focus on the importance of Northern European design. The museum receives many return visits, strong word-of-mouth recommendations, and further establishes its presence as a tourist destination. It records and compiles all of the exhibitions’ art and design into a high-quality, high-profile book, to document the legacy. The ‘Nordic design’ curatorial concept, along with selected works, is exported to other European art and design institutions.

Religious artworks saved from the woodworm - celebrates the region’s ‘Catholic Kitsch’ These exhibitions and talks celebrate previously Catholic artworks of the region which came close to being forgotten, along with one man’s quest to preserve them: the personal within the regional and historical. It empowers local communities to rediscover precious local works of art. It preserves cultural legacy, informs, entertains, and builds links between communities. The early 16th century’s new wave of Protestantism led to the widespread destruction of Europe’s Catholic art. In this region, however, much of it was allowed to survive - some in churches, some stored for centuries - but all of it neglected. In the last half of the 19th century, Flensburg resident Heinrich Sauermann tracked down, collected and preserved these treasures such as medieval altars, liturgical apparatus and effigies of saints. He sold his collection to the city of Flensburg in 1876, founding Museumsberg in the process. Some of the collection remains on display - but now this project expands the initiative, to give many more people across generations the opportunity to experience and reclaim these works. Crucially, art is returned to around 20 local churches and parishes from

where it originated - who celebrate these homecomings with, talks, events, exhibitions, plus permanent displays. 10 artists oversee and coordinate. Events are free and for everyone - 100,000 people are expected. There is a very specific audience of Europeans for this. Parishes attend each others’ events; also schools. A website provides overall information, schedules, ongoing project forums and virtual galleries. Sønderborg’s 2017 celebrations offer a fitting opportunity to mark the 500 year anniversary of the Protestant Reformation, and to examine its enduring European influence. Hüttener Altar, 1517. Currently located at Museumsberg, Flensburg.

Manchester International Festival brand-new works for the Countryside Metropolis

Celebrate Manchester International Festival FORMAT: International Arts festival between Britain & Denmark TIMELINE: August 2017 LOCATION: Frank Gehry harbour development AGENTS AND NETWORKS: Simon Mellor (General Director of Manchester International Festival) BUDGET: 350.000 € (Coproduction)

The Waterfall FORMAT: New multimedia orchestral performance TIMELINE: April 2017 Sønderborg, May 2017 Bergen, June 2017 Copenhagen LOCATION: Ewich tosamende ungedelt AGENTS AND NETWORKS: Anders Beyer (Festival director Bergen international festival), Henrik Engelbrecht (Music Manager Tivoli) BUDGET: 200.000 € (Coproduction)

The UK’s Manchester International Festival (MIF) joins forces with Sønderborg for 2017, to share its ethos, methods and program - to celebrate Danish influence in the festival’s commissions and co-productions, and to show that Sønderborg is a fitting arena to host cutting-edge, international world-class events in arts and culture. Manchester is one of the world’s first festivals solely for brand new, original works and special events. The vitality of new works reflects the vitality of the Countryside Metropolis vision in 2017. MIF is an artist-led, commissioning festival to present new works with wide appeal across the spectrum of performing arts and popular culture - including music, visual arts, theatre, dance, food, family, indoor and outdoor events. Works are presented by internationally acclaimed artists and coproducers, and are shown at both Manchester and Sønderborg in 2017. MIF’s success depends on its ability to pull together teams of talented producers, who nurture and support risk-taking and experimentation among international teams of artists. The combination of innovative, artist-led collaborations, with the strong aspect of community partnerships and shared experience, support the creative philosophy of Sønderborg2017.

Photos: Joel Chester Fildes, Glenn Shermer Simonsen

One of the festival’s essential dimensions is ‘MIF Creative’, the creative learning programme. This initiative combines work of leading international artists with work of people from Sønderborg and surrounding communities. To illustrate what this can lead to, some examples of what has come out of it so far: Sacred Sites - leading international performers of recital and sacred song work

together with local faith communities for a week of events in Christian, Hindu, Islamic, Jewish and Sikh places of worship across Manchester, to foster tolerance and celebrate diversity; Biophilia Music School - young students meet Björk (Iceland) to explore her fusions of technology, music and science; and Vertical Farm - an exploration of ideas around vertical farming and food sustainability. Highlights from the past three festivals include group shows Il Tempo del Postino and 11 Rooms (Swiss/Algerian curated); Monkey: Journey to the West, from Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett (UK/Australia/ China); Punchdrunk’s immersive Dr Who experience The Crash of The Elysium (UK); a charming commission for children aged 6 months to 7 years called Music Boxes (UK), and premieres of special gigs - such as Snoop Dogg (USA) and Sinéad O’Connor (Ireland). A theme for S2017 could be to present a confrontation of the rat-race style of modern living. After shows in Manchester and Sønderborg, many performances are toured elsewhere in Europe and the world, and take the Countryside Metropolis imprint with them. A world-renowned Danish director has been invited to create a theatre project with musicians, artists and actors of his choice - to be premiered at the Manchester Festival 2017 and then brought to Sønderborg.

new multimedia orchestral performance

A showpiece new musical work involving Athelas Sinfonietta and The South Jutland Symphony Orchestra. Teams of artists from many fields collaborate in the development process and the performance, including multimedia and digital platforms, opera and dance. The performance piece centres around the theme of water. Conscious musical and visual influences include operas such as Peter Grimes; and the light-infused sensibilities of the Nordic impressionist paintings. Anders Beyer - Artistic Director of Athelas New Music Festival and the Bergen Festival,

Norway - collaborates on the development of this special work.

performance elements. Digital imagery in music and live performance.

An important consideration in the process of this work is the support and assistance of rising talent - the stars of the future. A selection of talented young musicians from around the world - Australia, Brazil, the Baltic States, Canada, Greenland, India, Japan, Russia - are invited to work and perform alongside established and well-known performers.

The project is developed in 2015/16. It is premiered in April 2017, in the Alsion Concert Hall in SĂ¸nderborg; then presented at the Bergen Festival, Norway in May 2017. It runs for a week at each location, and attracts a total of 8,000 in the audience.

Another focus is the potential of digital technology - now and in 2017 - to be an essential component of the design and

The performance is later staged on the S2017 Ewich tosamende ungedelt floating island, and toured to various maritime locations - at European harbour towns, arranged in partnership with Si Tous les Portes du Monde.

Celebrate Bricks and Clay FORMAT: 6 week symposium TIMELINE: All year LOCATION: Brickworks, Skodsbøl AGENTS & NETWORKS: World Assoc. of Brick Artists, Int. Academy of ceramic, Archie Bray Found. Ceramic Art, Museum of S. Jutland, Int. society for ceramic art & education, Museum Int. Ceramic Art, Int. Ceramic Research Center

The brick as a symbol in a Countryside Metropolis

BUDGET: 275.000 €

Organ Culture FORMAT: Organ events/sea organ TIMELINE: June - September LOCATION: Regional historical churches AGENTS AND NETWORKS: Prof. Dr. Konrad Küster (Uni. Freiburg - music history dept.), Gottorp Castle, Trinational Wadden Sea Forum, Uni. Copenhagen, efa BUDGET: 24.000 €

Rare Piano Concertos FORMAT: Piano concerts TIMELINE: 18. - 26. August 2017 LOCATION: Husum and Alsion AGENTS & NETWORKS: Peter Froundjian (Artistic Dirct.), Euro Festival Assoc. BUDGET: 75.000 € (Coproduction)

The Asta Nielsen Story FORMAT: Live film concert TIMELINE: February 2017 LOCATION: Deutsches Haus Flensburg AGENTS & NETWORKS: Ghita Nørby, Max Raabe, Flemming Enevold, Giordano Bellincampi, Palast Orch, South Jutland Symph Orch, Lars Seeberg BUDGET: 340.000 €

Sønderborg2017 celebrates industry and art in both legacy and future, with a 6-week International Symposium on brick sculpture. 10 Brick artists from around the world create stunning sculptures at the renowned Petersen Brickworks in Skodsbøl - bricks and clay resources are explored by artists, academics and the public.

(Ch). Students increase their professional knowledge, along with artistic, aesthetic, architectural and ecological developments. Includes students from schools of architecture and landscape architecture. Professional and artistic connections build sustainable international networks. Entrepreneurs and Artists collaborate.

Brickworks were once found all over Denmark, while Flensburg Fjord had more than its fair share because of its plentiful, gravel-free clay. Historically there have been around 100 known brickworks around Flensburg Fjord - the number peaked at 70 around 1890. Many were active for several centuries. The Sønderborg region still manufactures more than a quarter of all bricks produced in Denmark.

The symposium runs for 6 weeks and opens with a spectacular celebration. Guided and Smartphone tours as well as public lectures are available for the duration.

The Petersen Brickworks is actively involved in the symposium, to gain new insights into their materials and to provide artists and students with expert knowledge. Artists visit the local Cathrinesminde Brickyard Museum, to gain inspiration from brickmaking traditions of the region. International professionals and emerging artists who are passionate users of bricks and clay in their sculptures join the symposium, to create new works and teach art students. The S2017 Summer Brick Academy is organized in conjunction with over 20 art departments from Universities in Anadolu (Tr), Bergen (N), Bremen (D), Helsinki (Fi), Lund (S), Oslo (N), Wolverhampton (Uk) and Zürich

Specific programmes for children and young people include Australian visual language teacher, ceramics specialist and early learning arts educator Ann Ferguson, who works artistically with the youngest community members; and Museum Sønderjylland’s Clay Pit Museum, which focuses on the geological and paleontological angle, shows young people how clay preserves shells, fish and whales for millions of years. Visitors are invited to work on a Community Clay Sculpture. The collaborative piece, presented at the closing celebration, is installed permanently in a prominent public space. The project deepens consideration of the region’s resources and raw materials, in local and global contexts, highlighting awareness and pride of our local raw materials, and their place in construction, industry and art.

The Organ Culture notable cultural history in the region Sønderjylland-Schleswig

Rare Piano Concertos This project celebrates the “Rarities of Piano Music” festival, running since 1987, and expands the audiences who can experience these hidden, seldom-heard treasures - such as pieces by Chopin’s pupils, or Claude Delvincourt. This annual festival is a big sell-out event in Husum, Germany, but only has a small venue. S2017 brings new investment and commitment to a valuable regional cultural institution, and puts strong cultural and practical links between Sønderborg and Husum. The idea is to combine the intimacy of the existing recital festival at Schloss vor Husum with larger-scale recitals. Traditionally the festival targets a specialist audience from the middle of Europe as well as a growing group of young classical music lovers and composers. 10 concerts are staged from 18th - 26th August 2017. 11 pianists perform: 7 different pianists play each night for a week at Schloss vor Husum; followed by 2 concerts at Alsion, Sønderborg, featuring 1 pianist and the South Jutland Symphony Orchestra; and a final recital at Sønderborg Castle featuring 4 pianists. The concerts attract around 4,500. This region has an organ history dating to the 1400s. By 1530, the earliest organ culture was established between the marshes north of Amsterdam, the Vierlande east of Hamburg, and Varde in Denmark. By 1580, there were about 120 ‘organ churches’ in this part of Europe. From May to October 2017, this project gives fresh, comprehensive exposure to an impressive regional craft. Organ safaris are organized, e.g. a tour to the Marcussen organs around Sønderborg. Visitors get introductions to each organ and sound samples. Extensive multimedia gives an engaging, accessible history in several languages and makes the discipline of organ playing and construction available to a wider audience. Organ festival Sønderjylland-Schleswig This existing festival supports cross-culture cooperation in the field of high quality church music and modern organ composers, to bring this common cultural heritage of the region to a broader public. Internationally known artists play historically significant organs together with regional talent - concerts for around 14,000 visitors. Story readings for children accompanied by organ music are especially popular; also workshops for organ builders. Masterclasses are held with famous organists for European artists and young talents. Sea Organ As of 2016 one of the world’s only sea organs is built in Sønderborg. The unusual instrument sits permanently by the water - the wind produces music. Played by nature, it promotes a unity of architecture and environment.

Rare Piano Concertos brings new culture to Sønderborg, demonstrates the advantages of expanding the festival, builds on a loyal audience, and enriches and celebrates the cultural life of the region.

The Asta Nielsen Story ‘The Abyss’ - a life in film

Asta Nielsen (1881 - 1972) was a Danish silent film actress, one of the most popular leading ladies of the 1910s and one of the first international silent movie stars. 70 of Nielsen’s 74 films were made in Germany, where she was known simply as Die Asta - ‘The Asta’. She managed somehow to embody the passionate essence of the age. This narrative film concert tells an atmospheric version of her enigmatic story, with actors, film and live music. Conductor Giordano Bellincampi takes the stage with the Palast Orchester and part of the South Jutland Symphony Orchestra to perform dance and film music from the 1920s and 1930s, which provides a live soundtrack ‘backdrop’ to a narrative, intercut with her most celebrated film scenes, projected onto the big screen behind the musicians. A very specific audience of Europeans is expected especially for this project. The film concerts are held in Alsion in Sønderborg, Koncerthuset in Copenhagen’s DR-Byen, and finally in the Babelsberg Studios themselves in Berlin - the spiritual home of most of Asta Nielsen’s movies. Photos: Ann Ferguson, Thomas Lorenzen, Sea Organ, Zadar, Croatia, Asta Nielsen Performing Hamlet, 1921

Celebrate Party FORMAT: Interactive theatre TIMELINE: March 2017 LOCATION: Frank Gehry harbour development AGENTS AND NETWORKS: Bruce Gladwin (Artistic Director Back to Back Theater), Alice Nash (Executive Producer), Glad Theatre Copenhagen

Back to Back Theatre creates new forms of contemporary theatre imagined from the minds and experiences of a unique ensemble of actors with disabilities, giving voice to social and political issues that speak to all people. For S2017, Back to Back Theatre propose a new interactive performance piece called ‘Party’. Audience members put on headphones, and enter a space where a party is taking place - the room is full of people. There is no stage but the audience begins to hear conversation(s), without really knowing who in the room they are listening to. Multiple conversations

Australian theatre group Back to Back is uniquely placed to comment on the social, cultural, ethical and value-based structures that define the institution known as ‘the majority’. It is simultaneously a contention, an allegation and an affirmation of human potential. Back to Back’s position as an ongoing professional theatre company in a regional area is more than just symbolic - it celebrates that work of national significance can be generated outside of the usual cultural epicentres. It shows that stories which are meaningful locally resonate within national and international arenas. Back to Back accepts responsibility for ‘developing a culture’, and its actions reflect that.

BUDGET: 191.000 €

Moments FORMAT: Theatre production TIMELINE: March 2017 LOCATION: Frank Gehry harbour development AGENTS AND NETWORKS: Jesper Michelsen (Director Glad Theatre Copenhagen), Back to Back Theatre Australia BUDGET: 77.000 € (Coproduction)

are happening but gradually a performance emerges as the audience start to locate the conversations they are hearing through the headphones, and get accidently drawn in, becoming part of different conversations that are being heard by others. Party runs over 8 performances in June 2017, at the New Exhibition Hall in the Frank Gehry Development, Sønderborg, to a total of 2,000 active audience members. It involves 15 artists and 1,000 community participants. Develops in partnership with Glad Theatre, Copenhagen. Driven by a core ensemble of artists with intellectual disabilities,

Photos: Jeff Busby, Glad Teater

This piece builds capacity in the region for theatre and disability. It promotes acceptance of difference in our communities, and greater understanding of the possibilities of diversity and difference in creative capacities. The project continues creative development after the performance period. Out of this programme, a new collaborative work between Back to Back Theatre and Glad Theatre is created, to be presented in Denmark and other venues in Europe and Australia in 2018, and to go on a European Festival Tour in 2019.

‘Moments’ - a Glad Theatre production Actors with disabilities challenge you to celebrate life ‘Moments’ is a performance about strangers connecting - about confrontation between different people and backgrounds, individual secrets, and about moments where actors with disabilities meet the audience. The audience creates notions about who the characters are, where they come from, what their stories are. They have secret, embarrassing mistakes, and experiences of inadequacy and vulnerability that are gradually exposed. The Glad Theatre group builds relations between the local community and people with disabilities. It actively includes people who are traditionally less accepted in the performing arts. Its actors are not passive users but people who want to contribute actively to society. The ensemble is around 20 - 25 strong including nine actors with a mental handicap, and a supporting cast including four deaf actors - for 2-3 weeks of 1 or 2 performances a day. Themes are artfully expressed but hard-hitting, including violence, abuse and loneliness. Glad Theatre explores different forms such as musical, puppet, and physical theatre. Unpredictable performances create connections with both children and adults. Drama workshops for children/teens are arranged with teachers who have a disability, to further inspire the celebration of difference, acceptance and moving beyond prejudice. After this production is a second project: ‘Collaboration’, a partnership with Back to Back Theatre. This goes on tour and becomes a regular partnership.

Celebrate Baltic Folk Festival celebrates islands, music and culture FORMAT: Multi-venue music festival TIMELINE: 28. April - 07. May LOCATION: Okseø, Lotseninsel Schleimünde, Fanø, Rømø, Sylt, Föhr, Ewich tosamende ungedelt AGENTS AND NETWORKS: Lighthouse Foundation, University of Visby/Sweden, Nordfrisian Institut, South-Schleswig Danish Minority (SSF), Ars Baltica, folkmusic.no, ECMI, B7 Baltic Seven Island Network, European Festival Association

folk BALTICA

BUDGET: 75.000 €

European Cultural Week - celebrates the Countryside Metropolis & builds awareness of Sønderborg2017 FORMAT: Varying events through the region - S2017 project tasters TIMELINE: 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018 LOCATION: Everywhere AGENTS AND NETWORKS: 22 municipalities of the region BUDGET: 150.000 €

“...an international festival of national and international a stage for Nordic and Baltic traditional music culture, as Poland and Germany.” folkBALTICA is an annual folk music festival for regional traditional music. Since 2005 it has had a strong interest in diversity, connection, multicultural understanding, and harmony over borders. Their 2012 program is dedicated to the ‘Culture Across Borders’ concept of the South Denmark region, as part of its branding as ‘Kulturregion’. Their S2017 program includes all of the above - and celebrates those parts of the Countryside Metropolis region which are set away from the mainland: the islands which are often thought to be remote, outlying communities. It offers an unusual but essential view of area, and celebrates it with folk music and culture. Events are held on many of the region’s surrounding islands - such as Store Okseø in the Flensburg Fjord, Lotseninsel Schleimünde, in the Baltic Sea, and Fanø, Rømø, Sylt and Föhr in the North Sea. Concerts take place in churches, theatres, schools and stately homes.

Musicians, folk music fans and experts join up for a series of events based around the island theme - concerts, workshops, lectures and exhibitions, which draw on local and island culture. Examples include traditional Schleswig-Holstein dance sessions; children’s concert workshops for local 18th century songs; concert presentation of traditional Baltic harps; folk art exhibitions; talks around shared Nordic/Baltic/German history; rap/folk crossover workshops; traditional games. Island life offers a singular experience of settlement and nationhood. Unique cultural traditions are often preserved and celebrated - but on the flipside, islands can be isolated, limited spaces, which make day-to-day life a challenge. Expressions of the island experience have therefore often dealt with themes of isolation, insecurity and insularity - but also independence, community, and proud identity. On the 150 islands of the Wadden Sea sometimes called ‘the odd corner of Europe’

From 2014 onwards - for 3 years ahead of and 1 year after 2017 - an annual European Cultural Week is held in SĂ¸nderborg and throughout the municipalities on the themes of Connect, Confront, Celebrate - to further explore the key concepts of the 3 Cs and the Countryside Metropolis, and to promote the understanding of being one cultural region.

significance. It provides well as from Russia,

- island life inspires many mainland Europeans through its social cohesion, no-nonsense attitude, and hands-on mentality. Because islands can also be places of distinctive nature and beauty, this project works with world nature heritage organizations. Island people can feel closer to their surroundings and therefore more open to sustainability initiatives. The links, relationships and rich culture gained in folkBALTICA 2017 are carried forward - to future folkBALTICA events, and by the people, participants and island communities. This festival is part of an annual series of events and collaborations, which build to the celebrations starting early summer 2017, and continue to develop through 2018 and beyond.

Photos: Marcus Dewanger, folkBALTICA

Finland Norway Sweden

Russian

Estonia Latvia Lithuania Russian

Germany

Poland

The Cultural Week connects cultural operators, spreads awareness of the regionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cultural activities, and celebrates the S2017 programme and the cultural diversity of the region. Big 2017 events like the Minority Games, Dance for Life or Mythical Beasts put on smaller-scale events and present first looks at their works. Events are held at various locations in the region.

Celebrate Sønderborg 2017 - the Closing Night Event FORMAT: City-wide fire-themed celebrations TIMELINE: 21. December 2017 (20:17) LOCATION: Outside Sønderborg and in the whole region AGENTS AND NETWORKS: Thyra Hilden & Pio Dias, Stefan Herrick, The Crucible BUDGET: 430.000 €

On the night of December 21st in the year of culture, as the clock hits 20:17, the Countryside Metropolis bursts into flames - an explosive extravaganza of fire and celebration, to mark the end of the shortest day of the year, and our commitment to a culturally sustainable future. Ritual fire has sacred significance in most European cultures as both a destructive and regenerative force. It was used in the pagan era of Southern Scandinavia and Northern Germany to mark the winter and summer solstices. Sønderborg was also largely destroyed by fire in the Prussian-Danish War of 1864.

Feedthe theflam fla Feed

Closing Night uses the raw power of fire as the perfect final symbol of the Countryside Metropolis year of culture - a spectacular representation of regeneration. Celebrations in fire symbolize a newfound control over creative and destructive elements - a constructive response to threats and hazards of the past. Magnificent participatory and visual events toast the creation of the Countryside Metropolis, attracting pyromaniacs of all ages.

The Viking Ship screams light from the darkness of the fjord when it is set ablaze. The burial ship of the dead Viking chieftain and his entourage burns dramatically in a traditional ceremony, which observes the chieftain’s glorious, fiery journey to Valhalla - and celebrates the shared history of Viking dominance throughout Southern Scandinavia and Northern Germany. This extravaganza is recreated by Danish artist Stefan Herrick.

heritage monuments in front of you. This impressive and provocative virtual firestorm leaves the sites completely unharmed, of course - but sears them into the consciousness.

Burning City: in a stunning bit of visual trickery, local cultural and historic monuments will burn to the ground. These video installations for Sønderborg, by Hilden and Dias, appear to consume local key cultural

Fire Performance group ‘The Crucible’, from the USA, performs dramatic fire art exhibits for the public, as the final result of their build-up interactive tour, teaching techniques in schools throughout the region.

lames of the future

This fiery climax to the year of the Countryside Metropolis Capital of Culture reflects and illuminates the importance of shared cultural heritage in the border region. The region literally glows, as thousands of households place lighted candles in their windows, produced by local students and artists as a symbol of our bright, collective future and continuing cultural endeavors.

Closing night is filmed for a documentary feature and widely covered by world media. The border region and its European neighbors emerge from the flames united under a positive spirit, with the consciousness and cultural connections to build and sustain a bright and prosperous future.

Environment Architecture Legacy

Format Exhibition Concert Performance Screening Sports event Reading Conference Network

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ArtFARM

Connect

Lecture, workshop, laboratory

•• • •

Youth Extreme Sports Challenge

Technology

WOMAD

Education

Winds of Dance

Art in public spaces

Wind Art Skulp Tour

Sport

The Persian Journey

Tourism

Theatron

Diversity

Street Art Posse

Community

Platform 11

Food

Motorway Music

Film

European Minority Games

Design

Mapping a CO2 Neutral Future

History

A Ship Will Come/MAP

Capacity building

Life Boats

Sustainability

Kultur Hanse

Business

Joana Vasconcelos

Science

Images Festival

Music

HUB

Performing art

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Give Me Five

Visual art

Fatamorgana

Discipline Literature

EUNIC

Marginalized

Manhattan, Ewich tosamende ungedelt

Gold

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Design For Change

Minorities

••• ••

Design for a Countryside Metropolis

The Movement of Doing Something About It

The Universe of Science, Education & Culture

Audiences Young

Chinatown

Overcome the battlefields

BRIC-a-Brac

Cultivate cultural intelligence

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BRANDI

From borderland periphery to Countryside Metropolis

Artopia X-Change project

Objectives Attract young people and share responsibility

Seventeen Places to Remember

West Indies Video Portrait Project

Trucker Stories

Bricks and Clay

Sønderbugs

International Sand Sculpture Festival

Rare Piano Concertos

The Organ Culture

‘Lightmarks’ - S2017 Opening Night

The Bridge and Nordic Expressionism

Mythical Beasts

Manchester International Festival

Luther’s North

‘Moments’ - a Glad Theatre production

International Food on Film Festival

Kitchen, Art, Culture - a festival of food

folkBALTICA

Festival 2017 - Theatre for Young Audiences

Faith, Places, Art

European Spoken Word Festival

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European Cultural Week

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European Children’s Theatre Festival

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DV8 Physical Theatre

•

Define Electronic Music Festival

••••

Big Dance For Life

•

Closing Night S2017

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The Fairyteller - Franco Dragone

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The Waterfall

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‘Party’ - Back to Back Theatre

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The Asta Nielsen Story

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Celebrate

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Zaungäste - Siegfried Lenz residencies

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Time Machines

We Invented Porn

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Twin Peeking

Théâtre du Soleil

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The King’s Fall

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A Sculpture Path

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Signa Theatre

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Set Sail Explore the Sea

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Rimini Protokoll

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Red Cross multimedia memorial

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Nordic Literature Festival at the Castles

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Travelling Library/Kids’ Own Publishing

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John Kørner

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iOpera

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How Do We Want to Live?

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••

Future Borders - Young Minds in Digital Action

Fighting Memories

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Cultural Hack

Confront It! film festival

Bommelboom

Confront •

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• • • • • ••• • • •• • • ••• • •• • ••• • ••••••••••• • • • •• • • • • • • • • •• • • • • • • • • ••• •••• •••• • ••• ••• ••• •••• • •••• •

Connect

January

February

March

April

May

June

Wind Art Skulp Tour ArtFARM Youth Extreme Sports Challenge Design For Change BRANDI Motorway Music Fatamorgana Street Art Posse Theatron HUB Chinatown of Tomorrow Manhattan, Ewich tosamende ungedelt A Ship Will Come/MAP The Universe of Science, Education & Culture European Minority Games Give Me Five Life Boats

Design for a Countryside Metropolis The Persian Journey Artopia X-Change Project Kultur Hanse EUNIC

Confront

Mapping a CO2 Neutral Future Théâtre du Soleil We Invented Porn Set Sail Explore the Sea Twin Peeking iOpera

Time Machines Fighting Memories Confront It! film festival Zaungäste - Siegfried Lenz residencies How Do We Want to Live? Future Borders - Young Minds in Digital Action Cultural Hack

Celebrate

Travelling Library/Kids’ Own Publishing

Mythical Beasts Kitchen, Art, Culture - a festival of food

‘Lightmarks’ - S2017 Opening Night The Waterfall

The Bridge and Nordic Expressionism International Food on Film Festival ‘Party’ - Back to Back Theatre Bricks and Clay folkBALTICA Big Dance for Life European Spoken Word Festival Luther’s North Festival - Theatre for Young Audiences Trucker Stories

The Asta Nielsen Story Faith, Places, Art Sønderbugs Seventeen Places to Remember ‘Moments’ - a Glad Theatre production West Indies Video Portrait Project The Organ Culture

Connect

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

Wind Art Skulp Tour Images Festival ArtFARM Youth Extreme Sports Challenge Design For Change WOMAD BRANDI Motorway Music Fatamorgana Platform 11 Street Art Posse Theatron HUB Chinatown of Tomorrow Manhattan, Ewich tosamende ungedelt BRIC-a-Brac A Ship Will Come/MAP The Universe of Science, Education & Culture European Minority Games Give Me Five Life Boats Winds of Dance Joana Vasconcelos Design for a Countryside Metropolis The Persian Journey Artopia X-Change Project Kultur Hanse EUNIC

Confront

Mapping a CO2 Neutral Future Théâtre du Soleil Red Cross multimedia memorial We Invented Porn Set Sail Explore the Sea A Sculpture Path Twin Peeking iOpera The King’s Fall Signa Theatre Time Machines Fighting Memories Rimini Protokoll Confront It! film festival Zaungäste - Siegfried Lenz residencies How Do We Want to Live? Future Borders - Young Minds in Digital Action John Kørner Cultural Hack Travelling Library/Kids’ Own Publishing Nordic Literature Fest. at the Castles

Celebrate

Bommelboom Mythical Beasts Kitchen, Art, Culture - a festival of food The Fairyteller - Franco Dragone Manchester International Festival ‘Lightmarks’ - S2017 Opening Night The Waterfall Define Electronic Music Festival Closing Night S2017 The Bridge and Nordic Expressionism International Food on Film Festival ‘Party’ - Back to Back Theatre Bricks and Clay folkBALTICA Big Dance for Life European Spoken Word Festival Luther’s North Festival - Theatre for Young Audiences Trucker Stories Intl. Sand Sculpture Festival DV8 Physical Theatre The Asta Nielsen Story Faith, Places, Art Sønderbugs European Children’s Theatre Festival Seventeen Places to Remember ‘Moments’ - a Glad Theatre production Rare Piano Concertos West Indies Video Portrait Project The Organ Culture

June 2012

SĂ¸nderborg2017: Final Application for European Capital of Culture in Denmark - Programme

COUNTRYSIDE METROPOLIS

Bridge the Cultural Changes...

M, page 10

: ArtFAR s rt A n a rb U l/ ra th in Ru

Energize You

Creative Networks Build Capacity: BRANDI, page 18 Art/Business Synergy: HUB, page 20