The recent protests in Serbia and Greece in part started as the expression of collected grief over, oddly for both, railway disasters. The resulting marches not only represented deep discontent with the actions of the respective governments, they were also expressions of solidarity and resistance.
For many, walking is not only as an artistic practice, but also a deeply political act. We are truly living in interesting times, and in the light of the many powerful protests unfolding around the world, we are inspired by the collective energy of people gathering in the public space, expressing solidarity, resistance, and, dare way say, hope.
This online café will explore the intersection of walking arts and political marches.
We see marches as moments of collective embodiment, where grief, solidarity, and imagination for a different future are carried by bodies moving together. In these moments, walking becomes a form of public expression that weaves together stories, struggles, and dreams.
Some of these recent expressions include:
- The student-led anti-corruption protests in Serbia.
- Greek demonstrations against institutional government failure.
- Palestine solidarity movements, such as The Edinburgh Walk for Gaza.
- The 50501 movement in the US.
- Protests around the introduction of the Waqf bill in India.
- The Kenya finance bill protests.
At this moment, we are putting together our speakers list for this event. If you or someone you know works with or within these, or similar, movements, please reach out to us (Babak, Mary). Your contribution can help us broaden the conversation and ensure a multiplicity of perspectives.
This café will be held in a horizontal format, an open conversation where speakers and participants will exchange stories, inspire each other, and reflect together.
Let’s walk, listen, and learn, across geographies and struggles.
Hosts
Walking Arts & Local Communities (WALC) is an artistic cooperation project, co-funded by the European Union, Creative Europe, starting in January 2024 for four years. With seven partners from five countries, WALC establishes an International Center for Artistic Research and Practice of Walking Arts, in Prespa, Greece, at the border with Albania and North Macedonia, backed up by an online counterpart in the format of a digital platform for walking arts.
WALC builds on the previous work of hundreds of artists and researchers already practicing Walking Arts as a collaborative medium, and having met at the significant previous walking arts events and encounters in Greece, Portugal, Spain, France, Belgium, and during online activities at walk · listen · create.
We acknowledge the support of the EU Creative Europe Cooperation grant program in the framework of the European project WALC (Walking Arts and Local Community).
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.
