RESISTANCE: Participatory Arts Productions

In June 2022, 30 diverse and multidisciplinary arts and culture professionals from across Europe, traveled to Lesvos and participated in the ‘RESISTANCE Residency’, where they explored how arts and culture practices can support the decolonisation of digital spaces and resources, leading to an equitable European digital transformation. Seeking to continuously expand the discourse, research and innovation on practices that lead to an equitable European digital transformation, ARTSFORMATION followed up on the work of the ‘RESISTANCE Residency’, by producing the ‘RESISTANCE Participatory Arts Productions’ in Lesvos-Greece. Between the 11-21st of April 2023, 12 artists from across Europe participated in a facilitated program aimed at providing a dedicated space where artists can create new artworks which generate artistic thinking, processes, and solutions to the societal challenges caused by Europe’s digital transformation. How can different modes of resistance towards digital colonial forces be manifested through artworks? How can artworks serve as equalizers in the societal inequalities caused by the digital transformation? How can artworks help empower the equitable participation of otherwise marginalized communities in Europe’s digital transformation? The programme was aimed at spurring the production of individual artworks that respond to the themes set out by ARTSFORMAITON, the Resistance Residency, as well as the challenges posed by Europe’s digital transformation. During their presence in Lesvos, participants were engage in participatory actions and peer learning sessions that assist ed them in producing new and individual pieces of artwork that respond to the themes of ARTSFORMATION. The artworks proactively respond to the challenges posed by Europe’s digital transformation, and were displayed in Lesvos in a group exhibition that was open and free for the public to attend.