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Date: Wednesday, November 13, 2024
Time: 7:00 pm
Location: Filmrauschpalast, Lehrter Str. 35, Berlin

“Zusammen sein” by Ukrainian filmmaker and soldier Pavlo Didula tells the moving story of Dmytro Pashtshuk, who took a stand to protect his loved ones from russian aggression. His courage brought people together, turning them into heroes. This film reflects on joy and sorrow, family and friendship, and the power of creative ideas to unite people.

The film will be shown in Ukrainian with German subtitles, and a Q&A session will follow. Entry is by donation (suggested €10), with all funds supporting our campaign to equip a shelter for a school in the Kharkiv region.

The film screening was made possible through cooperation with Orest Lubinets.

Register via the link.
Join us on October 28, 2024, 18:00 at the Pilecki Institute for a special event featuring the Networks of Support project. This international initiative, led by institutions from Ukraine, Poland, Germany, and the Czech Republic, explores the transformation of critical infrastructure and social networks in the wake of the russian war of aggression against Ukraine.

As part of the event, Vitsche will present the soundscape for Berlin’s bus number 100 which will be launched in the city on the same day. This performative soundscape is created for Berlin’s iconic Bus Line 100. The mixtape of original music, soundscapes, and narration unfolds along the bus route, weaving together personal stories of migration, memories of Berlin, and imaginary timelines. The project bridges East and West Berlin, reflecting the ongoing migration of refugees and the evolving infrastructure of support networks across the city.

In addition to this, the guests engaged in the “Networks of Support” international project will showcase their research and insights into how public spaces and infrastructural networks adapt during times of crisis. Their presentations will explore the transformative power of community support and the evolving nature of urban spaces amid ongoing challenges, reflecting on the experiences of refugees and the necessity of resilience in the face of adversity. The project has been organized by the National Institute of Architecture and Urban Planning (NIAiU), in collaboration with Vitsche, the Lviv Center of Urban History, Galerie VI PER, and Autoportret quarterly.

The project is financed by the Minister of Culture and National Heritage of the Republic of Poland under the Inspiring Culture Programme.
Project is co-ogranized by: 

Project partners: 

Project strategic local partners
Register via the link.
On October 28th, Vitsche invites you to the launch of a new soundscape, the result of the interdisciplinary laboratory “The Journey from Dangerous to (Un)Safe”. This immersive audio experience blends original music, personal stories, and historical reflections along Berlin’s Bus 100 route. From Alexanderplatz to Zoologischer Garten, passengers will encounter a thoughtful mix of past and present, exploring migration, memory, and cultural exchange through a series of evocative audio tracks. Whether traveling by day or night, this journey invites locals and guests of the city to experience the Berlin famous “Hunderter” bus route in new ways.
The project was organized by Vitsche with the National Institute of Architecture and Urban Planning (NIAiU). It is part of the international project “Networks of Support,” organized by the NIAiU in collaboration with the Lviv Center of Urban History (Ukraine), Galerie VI PER (Czechia), Autoportret quarterly (Poland) and Vitsche. It is supported by the Pilecki Institute Berlin. The project is financed by the Minister of Culture and National Heritage of the Republic of Poland under the Inspiring Culture Programme

We’re thrilled to share the results of our “The Nexus of Decision 2024” residency-academy selection! This unique interdisciplinary program, taking place in Poland, this year from November 15-21. We will bring together 15 participants from Germany, Poland, and Ukraine. 

Together with tutors from Ukraine, Poland, and Germany, they’ll participate in thought-provoking workshops, seminars, and lectures, delving into themes of freedom, peace, and security, deeply focusing on analyzing historical and modern decision-making processes in Europe and beyond. 

List of selected participants:

Olena Poburko, Oleksandra Yakovlyeva, Vitalina Voitenko,  Anna Onufriienko, Olena Solodovnikova, Aleksandra Leks, Fabricio Borges Carrijo, Grażyna Siedlecka, Shaheen Gaszewski, Piotr Żakowiecki, Marius Heil, Julius Berger, Sebastian Jablonski, Sophie Schrötter, Jonas Heins

 

Organizers: Vitsche e.V., 

Co-organizers: Pilecki-Institut Berlin

Partner:  Konrad Adenauer Stiftung

Sponsors: Stiftung für Deutsch-Polnische Zusammenarbeit

Curator: Kataryna Tarabukina

Design: Anna Zvyahintseva

On Sunday, October 6, 2024, Vitsche organized a protest outside the Staatsoper Unter den Linden in Berlin in response to Anna Netrebko’s performance, despite her documented support for russian aggression in 2014 and her vague statements since 2022. Despite public appeals, the Staatsoper allowed her to perform, citing her so-called “antiwar stance,” which reflects little more than her affinity for russia. The opera’s director defended the decision by claiming Netrebko is “an outstanding artist who, due to her status, should serve as an example.” However, the protest highlighted that, as a public figure, Netrebko bears even greater responsibility. Her actions and words should set a positive example, yet she currently demonstrates how to evade accountability.

Hundreds attended, with speakers like Kateryna Rietz-Rakul, Richard Herzinger, and Saba Farzan emphasizing the duty of cultural institutions to hold accountable those who backed russian imperialism and the war russia started in 2014. The speakers reminded the crowd of Netrebko’s ties to putin and her support for the annexation of Crimea and Luhansk and Donetsk regions, underscoring that culture cannot be separated from politics, and public figures must be held responsible when they support oppressive regimes.

“Because we know, of course, that the war russia is waging in Ukraine today is not the beginning of russian expansionism and neo-imperialism. Before that, there were wars in Chechnya, Georgia, and Moldova. When Putin awarded Netrebko the title of ‘People’s Artist’ in 2009 — the highest honor for artists in russia — she said in an interview with a state-run russian newspaper, after the war in Georgia, that she has always stood firmly with russia and condemned Western coverage of russian aggression in Georgia as one-sided. She also stated that she reacts very negatively to attacks on russia and always, I quote, ‘discusses and defends the russian position.’ The russian invasion of Georgia was merely a precursor to the current russo-Ukrainian war. […] I firmly believe that artists, as well as cultural institutions, must be aware of their influence in society and exercise their political stances responsibly. After carefully considering all the facts, I have concluded that Anna Netrebko’s political reputation is controversial and cannot be altered by a vague statement ‘against the war’ that she has made. I hope that we will continue to protest against Anna Netrebko into the third year as well.”

– Kateryna Rietz-Rakul, Head of the Ukrainian Institute in Germany.

The protest, which also included a musical performance by techno producer and DJ Liza Aikin, highlighted the urgency of condemning enablers of russian propaganda.

Although the Staatsoper hosted Netrebko, the protest sent a clear message: the cultural endorsement of russian imperialism and avoidance of responsibility by public figures will not be tolerated, particularly during russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine. The event demonstrated that Berliners will continue to stand against this normalization.

“There has been much media coverage claiming that Ms. Netrebko has distanced herself from the war that Putin is waging. She has not at all—this is disinformation. She simply said ‘sorry,’ but for what exactly? The Staatsoper announced on her behalf that she is currently (!) not planning to perform in russia. What kind of distancing or apology is that? She was an active part of Putin’s propaganda machine and has never renounced it publicly. Until she does, she should not be given a stage supported by our tax money. As a Berliner, I do not want our tax money to be used for her honorarium.”

– Saba Farzan, German-Iranian theater scholar and journalist.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who joined us in standing for Ukraine and for truth. We will continue to raise our voices in solidarity.

Date: 06.10.2024

When: from 17:00 o’clock

Where: Staatsoper Unter den Linden

For some inexplicable reason, the Berlin State Opera is once again inviting a cynical supporter of putin to its stage.

We cannot allow Anna Netrebko, who supported the russian occupation of Crimea, Luhansk, and Donetsk regions in 2014 and did not acknowledge her mistakes, to perform without objection.

Anna Netrebko is an example of soft-power politics, where russia uses culture to spread disinformation and doubts into the European discourse. She has not clearly distanced herself from her long-standing support of the russian president. By publicly supporting putin, she legitimized the occupation of Ukrainian territories since 2014 and contributed to the escalation of the situation, leading to the full-scale war. In her statement against the russian war in Ukraine, she didn’t even mention the aggressor and instead focused on her love for russia.

When we asked for a reconsideration of the decision to allow Netrebko to perform at the Berlin Opera, the main director responded that Netrebko is “an outstanding artist, who — due to her status — should serve as an example.” We agree that as a renowned public figure, Netrebko bears an even greater responsibility. Her actions and words should set an example for others. Currently, she demonstrates how to avoid responsibility while openly promoting russia.

We invite everyone to join the demonstration in front of the State Opera on Unter den Linden on 06.10 at 17:00. We must show that the tolerance of russian imperialism in the heart of Berlin, in the third year of the full-scale war, is unacceptable.