The first two hearings in the Free Republic of Vienna will take on the fundamentals: How are decisions taken? How are work structures and curation processes organised? Addressing a range of best practice models (quotas for gender, age, continent, etc.), questions are raised. How much grassroots democracy, how much control, how much regulation is needed? What counts: the majority opinion or rather individual expertise? And: how is it possible to design a transparent and accessible interior structure for the Republic?

Tuesdays and Wednesdays are hearing days – a series in which we will develop the rules for the festival of the future together. Who takes decisions? Where does project funding come from and where does it go? Who is invited and who isn’t – and why? Who is the producer, who is the audience? Boycotts – yes or no? And: how does a globally active festival agree with sustainability? Experts, artists and activists provide an insight into their practices and examine potential alternatives. Over the duration of five weeks, the Council of the Republic will attend and discuss the hearings and design the Festwochen’s own constitution, which will be presented to the audience at the end of the festival as the Vienna Declaration.

Tuesday 21 May: Curation
Wednesday 22 May: Quotes
Head of Commitee Elisabeth Großschädl, Fariba Mosleh

Experts Ivana Pilic, Iketina Danso, Laura Camacho, Necîbe Qeredaxî and Sarah Marcha, Prof. Dr. Maria do Mar Castro Varela, Alev Korun, Cornelia Scheuer, Bettina, Masuch, Sara Ostertag, Marita Haas, Susanne Hochreiter