"dealing in distance" traveling festival

"Dealing in Distance" is a collaborative approach inviting Southeast Asian and Southeast Asian diaspora artists and their works to learn, unlearn, and relearn about the praxis of diasporic and migration in Germany, especially in the Southeast Asian context. Initiated by four Goethe-Institutes in Southeast Asia in 2023, the programme has included several steps such as focus group discussions (2023 & 2024), networking meetings in Germany and Indonesia (2024), and three residencies to take place in Indonesia, The Philippines, and Vietnam in 2025.

The concept of a small festival was developed in co-operation with twelve Southeast Asian and Southeast Asian German diaspora artists through a workshop in Germany in 2024. The mini festival will showcase the results and processes of the three residences as well as present another five existing artistic contributions relating to the theme of Diaspora and “Dealing in Distance” through this open call.

DIASPORIC FESTIVAL OPEN CALL

Goethe-Institut invites Southeast Asian and Southeast Asian diaspora artists, curators, and cultural practitioners based in Germany or Southeast Asia to apply with their contribution for the mini festival. This open call aims at submissions of existing artistic contributions that deal explicitly with the topic of the Southeast Asian diaspora in Germany. Innovative approaches, artistic merit, adherence to the theme, and originality are important criteria for selection in addition to overall presentation and implementation feasibility and complexity. We particularly welcome an engagement with contemporary practices that refer to symbolic elements of the culture of origin and organically connect to the question of identity in distance.

Attendance during the festival is not necessary, but possible for one person, with a significant contribution to the festival e.g. participation in the public programme. The diasporic festival targets a broad, art-interested audience in Indonesia, Philippines and Vietnam at the end of 2025 / early 2026 for two-five days. The Goethe-Insitut in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Jakarta and Manila are responsible for organizing the festival, including the logistics, working together with an independent programmer/curator.