Along the Silkroad

ALONG THE SILK ROAD inter-cultural project for the promotion of dialogue between iranian and european creative artists / 2007-08. for centuries, the silk road was the principal trans-continental link between asia and europe. it facilitated the exchange of goods and carried knowledge about the respective cultures. the area that corresponds to modern iran always played a central role, as the primary branch of the silk road ran south of the caspian sea past today’s tehran. due to this geopolitical situation, asian and european cultures met and merged in iran. the project along the silk road seeks to follow in the tradition of the region’s artistically and culturally intermediary role. a group of european and iranian architects, writers and photographers will travel along the silk road. together they will visit the towns along this historic trade route and continue the tradition of exchanging goods – in this case, intellectual and cultural goods. to facilitate and promote this exchange, the following activities are planned: • a travelling exhibition of photographs, accessible to all and at no cost, presenting an overview of european photography to a wide audience • on-site collaborations in inter-disciplinary creative groups, enabling european and oriental artists to work together across cultural boundaries • readings, slide shows and seminars, not only presenting aspects of european culture to an interested audience, but also enabling european artists from various fields to meet oriental colleagues (ie. from iran and neighbouring countries) who live with entirely different traditions, perspectives and working conditions. furthermore, the professional dialogue will be deepened in discussion forums • workshops (on architecture, photography and literature), led jointly by european and oriental artists, giving the opportunity to iranians, particularly the young, to actively engage with the arts objectives: • to support intercultural dialogue and exchange between the eu and iran, and to advance mutual respect and understanding • low-threshold presentation of the european cultural sphere to a wide audience in iran • to invite young artists and creatives from diverse european regions to participate in the project and meet young iranian creative artists • as the european participants become acquainted with one another, the holding of joint presentations will promote between them a collective sense of identity based on the wealth and breadth of european cultures • to advance the acceptance of and understanding between the oriental and european cultural spheres • to establish a support network for the exchange of individuals involved in the arts within and outside europe target groups: • european and iranian artists and creatives • on-site iranian audiences order of events: • preparatory activities in european countries from autumn 2007.