The Island We Share
Oracle Cultural Network is the main partner within the Gdańsk Shakespeare Theatre’s project, The Island We Share! The project aims to integrate and activate the local community in Gdansk (Poland) through cultural activities. Inspired by William Shakespeare’s The Tempest, the project will create symbolic “islands” of cooperation, creativity, and social solidarity, where European artists and experts meet with Gdańsk residents to share experiences, values, and work towards the common good.
From March to May 2025, the project will feature workshops, lectures, and social and artistic initiatives aimed at local groups such as children, youth, seniors, teachers, and community leaders. These activities will focus on community-building, intergenerational dialogue, sustainable development, and cultural diversity. By directly engaging and collaborating with European specialists, participants will gain tools and concrete inspirations to help build a more open, sustainable, and inclusive society.
The project will conclude with a performance of The Tempest. Prequel by Malina Przesluga, directed by Joanna Zdrada, followed by an Inspirations and ides exchange, bringing together representatives from all the initiatives within the project. This final event will be an opportunity not only to share experiences but also to seek and establish partnerships that may help turn project-generated ideas and initiatives into real-life actions in the future.
Events within the project:
"Post-Apocalyptic Community building" – workshop / social experiment
Date: March 7-9
Leader: Robert Alagjozovski (North Macedonia)"Education for Sustainable Development" – theatre workshop for teachers and educators
Date: March 14-16
Leader: Sunčica Milosavljević (Serbia)Philip Parr’s socially engaged theatre (United Kingdom)
Date: March 20-23"DidaDiv" – Czech cardboard puppet theatre – theatre workshop for children
Date: April 25-26
Leader: Jindrich Krippner (Czech Republic)Inspirations and ideas exchange
Date: May 10
The project is supported by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage of the Republic of Poland as part of the cultural program of the Polish Presidency in the Council of the European Union within the SYNERGIE grant program.
ORACLE Members!
We are excited to invite you to join the cultural project The Island We Share, that is being prepared by the Gdańsk Shakespeare Theatre in partnership with the ORACLE Cultural Network.
We are calling you to make a proposal for a workshop(s)/ lecture(s)/ artistic or social action(s) that you would lead/ present/ perform with/for local communities in Gdańsk in the period of time between February and May 2025.
The Island We Share is inspired by Shakespeare's The Tempest, with the idea of bringing together passionate cultural activists, creators and professionals from across Europe with community members from Gdańsk, in a symbolic "Island" of creativity, exchange, and activism in the Gdańsk Shakespeare Theatre and its surrounding spaces.
With your workshops/ lectures/ artistic or social actions, we want to open a space for sharing experiences, values, and resources in pursuit of the common good. You will have an opportunity to work with various community groups in Gdańsk (of your choosing), such as juniors, seniors, teachers, community leaders, residents of outskirts or neighbouring cities...
Your involvement will help inspire participants to actively engage in building a more inclusive, sustainable society.
We invite ORACLE members with experience in the following thematic areas:
Community building and social solidarity
Sustainable development and environmental stewardship
Intergenerational dialogue and cooperation
Cultural diversity and inclusion
Enhancing European values at both local and global level
Activities that you can propose: *
Workshop(s) with community members
Presentation(s) of successful practices + Interactive part (short workshop, discussion...)
Artistic event(s) + Interactive part (short workshop, discussion...)
Moderated discussions on the above mentioned topics
Lectures in appropriate form for community audiences
Actions of any other kind & format, actively involving community members
* Activities should happen live; online activities would only exceptionally be considered.
What we offer:
A chance to work with local communities in Gdańsk, sharing your expertise and international perspective.
A stay in Gdańsk for 3 to 7 days between February and May 2025, with travel and accommodation provided.
A fee ranging from 500 to 1000 euros, depending on the level of engagement and length of your stay.
Your workshop can focus on one or more of the abovementioned themes, tailored to the needs of the participants. The goal is to create a hands-on experience that sparks creativity and activism, with a strong emphasis on empowering communities to take ownership of their social and natural environments.
To apply:
Please fill out the application https://forms.gle/nrXDLbgSYtQgYhgf8 by Wednesday, October 30, 2024, no later than midnight.
PLEASE NOTE:
Ø Application is limited to ORACLE Cultural Network members only, with a possibility of inviting non-Oracle artists or collaborators to join you for your activity. Pls note that pairs or groups share the fee.
Ø Members from Poland may also apply if they partner with a colleague or artist/collaborator from abroad (the Call stipulates international cooperation).
Ø For any question or additional information, pls write to Ms. Marta Nowicka: mtnowicka@gmail.com
We are looking forward to your proposals and working together to foster our cooperation, as well as creative and transformative experiences in Gdańsk.
Let’s use this opportunity!
Please note that the project is at present being prepared. We expect to receive the results of our funding application in December 2024. We will then be able to confirm our collaboration.
But, by Monday, November 4, we will inform everyone whether we have included your proposal in the project.
