What happens when you bring artists, cultural organisations, participants and partners from across the UK and Germany together for a day of conversation, creativity and exchange?
On Friday 3 July, Cultural Bridge collaborated with Hijinx Theatre to host an Artist Exchange Conference at Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff, as part of the brilliant Unity Festival.
The event brought together Cultural Bridge funded partnerships, artists, participants, stakeholders and guests to share experiences, explore socially engaged arts practice and reflect on what we can learn from working collaboratively across communities, organisations and borders.
Across a day of talks, interactive workshops and an inspiring youth panel, partners shared insights from the work they have developed through Cultural Bridge and the relationships that have grown through their UK-German partnerships.
But some of the most valuable exchange happened beyond the formal sessions too. There was time to meet, talk and make new connections – alongside plenty of play, performance, dancing and glorious Welsh sunshine.
Hosting the exchange as part of Hijinx Theatre’s Unity Festival provided a perfect setting. The festival brings together inclusive and disability arts from Wales, the UK and across Europe, creating a space for artists and audiences to encounter different perspectives, practices and ways of working.
Watch: Reflections from the Artist Exchange
Our new film captures some of the conversations and reflections from the day.
We hear from Silvia Bonadiman of Fonds Soziokultur, Dylan Quinn of Dylan Quinn Dance, Eluned Haf of Wales Arts International, Nour Ibrahim of MPower, Natalie Haslam, Holly Riseborough and Lauren Payne of Anjali Dance Company, Diane Dever of Folkestone Fringe and Iwan Williams of Dyffryn Dyfodol.
Together, they reflect on their experiences of Cultural Bridge, the importance of international exchange and what can happen when artists and organisations are given the time and space to learn from one another.
A huge thank you to Hijinx Theatre for collaborating with us on the Artist Exchange Conference, and to Wales Arts International for their support and hosting.