Common Stage – Forum I

Opening of the discussion about the development of an advanced transcultural and cross-disciplinary education format in the framework of a future ZHdK Study Centre in Hong Kong.

27 February to 1 March 2014, School of Creative Media, City University of Hong Kong, Run Run Shaw Creative Media Centre, Hong Kong

Starting Situation

Based on its experience of Common Stage, ZHdK will initiate a process with existing partners, other art institutions, artists, and theorists to discuss a long-term perspective for developing a postgraduate educational format (MA level) in the field of transcultural and cross-disciplinary TransArt (Studies) in Hong Kong. “Forum I” will serve as a starting point for establishing a common basis and for exchanging ideas about setting up a collaborative educational format in the period 2014-2016. To start this project as a transcultural collaboration, we are convinced that it is important to address, analyze, and discuss some fundamental questions concerning the topics “cultural references”, “transculturality”, “cross-disciplinarity”, and “tradition/identity”. Thereby it is crucial to connect theoretical analysis and scientific reflection with personal experiences and institutional conditions. Below we outline briefly the four focal topics of the first two days of “Forum I” and ask to which extent this might be productive for the development of advanced art education in the 21^st century.

Content

1^st day: Fields of Reference/Tradition & Identity

a. Fields of reference: Presentations and discussions of personal and institutional fields of reference (cultural backgrounds, mind-sets, living environments, issues and urgencies, perspectives):
Artists, teachers, and theorists – we all are oriented towards a field of references. This framework is obviously culturally and historically shaped. That does not mean that it is homogenous and compliant. As a start it could be important and interesting for our meeting and collaboration to reflect, outline, and discuss these different fields of orientation within which we construct and experience our present. Which cultural and artistic fields are important, which representatives, which kind of philosophical horizon, which culture of critique, which conceptions of a future are we dealing with?

b. Tradition & Identity: Discussion of questions, problems and potentials of transculturality, specific interests in the other culture (Asia-Europe), motivations of working together and open up to other cultures:
In the present age, we are characterized by tradition(s). We wonder how we happened to become what we are. Is the “past” of fundamental importance – and if so, how and why? What do we mean when we say “tradition”: Is it a master narrative or a personal invention? Is it possible to bring tradition up to date – or should we annihilate and forget it? Such a perspective also raises the question of “innovation” in art and culture, that is, the question of what is “new”, of what constitutes “progress”, etc.

2^nd day: Cross-disciplinarity/Transculturality

a. Transculturality: Discussion about opportunities, strengths and weaknesses of the concept of working cross-disciplinary in the arts; art disciplines to be involved in performance (studies):
The economy goes global, and political systems are intertwined worldwide: goods, information, signs, and humans are on the way to (apparent) boundlessness. Trans- and multiculturalism seem to be the order of the day. But what does this “categorical imperative” mean exactly? Are our local or regional orientations obsolete? Are we now always on the road, “in-between”, schizoid and manifold in our identities? How can we gain the skills and the know-how to engage in different cultures, so as to appreciate and to relate to them?

b. Cross-disciplinarity: Discussion about opportunities, strengths and weaknesses of the concept of working cross-disciplinary in the arts; art disciplines to be involved in trans-arts/performance (studies):
The development of the arts and sciences (since the 16th and 19th centuries, at least in the West) is distinguished by differentiation and specialization. For about twenty years, however, we can observe a growing focus on “trans-“, “mixed-“, and “cross-“ as countertendencies to any monolithic conceptions of the arts and design. Art practice and education , and their corresponding theories, pursue different strategies and forms of interactions, decussations, and interdependencies.

3^rd day: Conclusions/Orientation and Format of a Future Education Programme

a. Future Education Format (considering discussions of day 1+2): Conclusions about orientation and format options of a common education programme, discuss possible steps for 2015:
Based on our exchange of experiences, ideas, and awareness during the first two days, Day 3 will focus on possible concepts for a long-term educational program that we want to establish as a collaboration. How can we develop the “Common Stage” project and how might this program be integrated into the curriculum of a postgraduate course to be test-launched in fall 2015.

b. Planning of “Forum II”: Draft of “Forum II” in fall 2014 considering discussions and conclusions of day 1+2; schedule date and participants, set goals and responsibilities.

Conclusions

Contents and Added Values

• What would be the attractiveness and added value of our programme? Benefit within existing programmes?
• How are we able to offer a programme, which has an added value for ALL partners and students from Europe/Asia?

In the perspective of ZHdK the programme needs to focus on subjects that can only be experienced and explored in this very specific transcultural and cross-disciplinary setting. Therefore we suggest to set questions of transculturality, tradition and identity, values, ethic and different forms of life as the central thematic subjects of the programme. On the background of an economical driven globalisation the debate on the “crisis of values” is a primary urgency that is of interest and needs to be discussed between the different cultures and is at the same time a fundamental issue in the arts and design. Hong Kong is predestined as an exemplary location within this thematic context. There was also seen a potential towards other thematic focuses of the ZHdK-Study Centre (e.g. urban studies).

“Becoming another” was one of the key expressions of the meeting. The programme that ZHdK suggests will allow to explore and experience the own and the other (culture, tradition, discipline,..) on a very practical level and with the focus on artistic collaborations. If “transculturality” (and all it’s associated topics like values, tradition, identity, different forms of life etc.) is the main subject of the programme, “cross-disciplinarity” and “performativity & stage” are the setting to explore these questions, make them visible and bring them into dialogue with an audience. Theoretical inputs will help to reflect and gain further knowledge and cultural management will support the professional realisation of artistic projects in a highly competitive environment. Important is that education is not an abstract curriculum, but should be based and focused on personal experience. The experimental character of the programme emphasises the focus on research and will help to develop further research initiatives.

Institutional and Organisational Issues

Based on the fact that the future format will become an institution and programme itself and will be part of different institutions and programmes at the same time, we are asking ourselves following questions:

a. Institutional

• Do we aim for a “classical” form of education with a strong curriculum or are we seeking for an “experimental studio”?
• Are we defining clear goals or are we working process oriented?
• Do we design a tightly patterned curriculum or is it case- and project-based and allows cooperation with partners in the cultural field (e.g. internships)?
• Are our students “customers” or do we involve them in the education and programming?
• Which roles do the professors play? Mentors, facilitators or also part of the programme (do they become “students” too)?

b. Organisational

• Do we aim for a full MA/MFA-programme or rather a semester programme within existing MFA-programmes?
• How do we organise accreditation and guarantee credits?
• How do we organise the connection and integration into the various study programmes and institutions?
• How do we finance the programme and what is the time schedule?
• How do we secure the evaluation and further development of the programme?

ZHdK has suggested two models for a collaborative education format. Either “Model A” a full MA/MFA-programme or “Model B” a semester programme for MFA-students of all disciplines and partner institutions. We suggest aiming for “Model B” as a first step. Students of all partner institutions will have the possibility to apply to study one semester within this specific programme. Ideally their master thesis/project deals with questions of transculturality and artistic collaboration. Like this we are able to offer a unique and advanced programme that follows a different concept compared to a usual exchange semester (which normally offers a specialised programme in one discipline without thematising transcultural aspects).

The programme would take place in Hong Kong (with and at the different partner institutions) with the option that certain workshops can be accomplished in other parts of Asia or Europe. We will need to discuss and find a solution about the selection and conditions for partner institutions. Therefore we have to define which persons and/or institutions are interested to participate and willing to take responsibilities from Hong Kong, Mainland China and the greater area.

List of Participants

Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK):
Prof. Hartmut Wickert, Vice-President ZHdK and Director of Performing Arts Department
Prof. Patrick Müller, Head Connecting Spaces Hong Kong – Zurich, Head of MA Transdisciplinarity
Daniel Späti, Project Lead Common Stage, Lecturer and Research Fellow
Nuria Krämer, Artistic and Scientific Associate, ZHdK Study Centre Hong Kong

National Academy of Chinese Theatre Arts (NACTA):
Prof. Zhou Long, Vice-President and Director of Performing Department
Prof. Liu Xiaoqing, Project Lead Common Stage, Head of Costume Design

Hong Kong Academy for the Performing Arts (HKAPA):
Prof. Ceri Sherlock, Chair of School of Drama
Gillian Choa, Chair of School of Theatre and Entertainment Arts

City University of Hong Kong (CityU):
Prof. Dr. Maurice Benayoun, School of Creative Media
Dr. Harald Kraemer, Associate Professor, School of Creative Media
Dr. Bo Zheng, Assistant Professor, School of Creative Media

Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK):
Prof. Dr. Frank Vigneron, Head of Graduate Division, Dep. of Fine Arts
Arthur Wong, PhD candidate Performance Studies, Singapore

Shanghai Theatre Academy (STA):
Prof. Tian Mansha, Vice-President, College of Xiqu
Prof. Dr. Hans-Georg Knopp, Senior Advisor for International Development Strategy (former Secretary General of Goethe Institutes worldwide)

China Academy of Art, Hangzhou
Dr. Shi Ke, Associate Professor Performance Art, School of Transmedia Art

Experts (Hong Kong, Mainland China, Europe):
Danny Yung, Director, Artist, Founder Zuni Icosahedron, Board Member WKCDA, Hong Kong
Zhao Chuan, Director, Writer, Shanghai
Michelle Wong, Researcher, Asia Art Archive (AAA), Hong Kong
Anthony Yung, Project Coordinator/Senior Researcher, Asia Art Archive (AAA), Hong Kong
Vivien Ku, CEO Novel Hall Performing Arts Centre, Taipei, Taiwan
Prof. Dr. Jörg Huber, Critical Theory and Aesthetics, Zurich
Minli Han, Joyden Hall, Performance and Event Centre, Singapore

Translation
LeeAnne Yu, Connecting Spaces Hong Kong – Zurich, ZHdK

Supported by Mercator Foundation Switzerland