Workshop: Language Creates Reality

Saturday, 11 July, 9:30 am–12 pm Workshop with Paulina Seyfried, followed by lunch from 12–1 pm. The event is part of the three-day symposium Speculative Pen.

Cultural workers are increasingly expected to solve societal challenges. Their institutions are expected to serve as spaces for entertainment, education and encounter — for the broadest possible audience. At the same time, budgets are shrinking and cultural policy is becoming more restrictive. When we think about changes that are possible without a budget, we need to remember that language does not merely describe the world, but actively constructs it. In order to become more accessible, we need to communicate more clearly — within our organisations as well as with our audiences. This is a question of confidence, hierarchy and transparency, but also of the words we use to describe what we do. This workshop is for anyone interested in unlearning academic language.

It offers the opportunity to:
* reflect on where you stand personally and professionally think together about how power operates through language — especially in the art world
* understand language not only as a barrier, but also as a way of opening doors

We will speak and write together. Language can exclude — but it can also help people find a place and move socially.

What we will do:
We will begin with a check-in and a short introduction. We will then move into practical writing and translation exercises and work with plain language.

To take part, we ask you to:
* read a short introductory text in advance
* be open to trying out new ways of writing and communicating set academic language aside
* bring something to write with