From escape to the arts

An artistic research project in the creative quarter City Nord.Essen

The Samadhyana Company approaches the topic of “integration” in its research from the socio-cultural side. The artists specifically seek intercultural dialogue with socio-cultural actors and refugees and treat the resulting impulses as inspiration for their creative work. The research examines the effectiveness of artistic impulses with regard to integration. The encounter within dance and music improvisation workshops in refugee accommodation opens up intercultural dialogue. Experiences of self-efficacy and group-strengthening skills that are imparted there open the door to a European understanding of art and initiate exchange through the artistic impulse. In the same breath, in cooperation with the actors in the neighborhood, educational and social facilities in Essen, an inventory of socio-cultural offers and needs is being pushed forward, and support for artists with a refugee background is initiated. The results of the research are processed by the Samadhyana Company. Artistically implemented find their way into the creative quarter City Nord.Essen. Furthermore, the online and print media presentation of the project offers the possibility to reflect the inventory and creates points of contact for creative people in the quarter. Financially supported by the Ministry of Culture and Science of North Rhine-Westphalia, as part of the Kreativ.Quartiere Ruhr program, a project by ecce GmbH, also funded by the Essen cultural office and the Interkultur Ruhr funding fund.