This is the third program in the Wende Museum and the Thomas Mann House’s monthly virtual program series on art and politics in times of crises. The freedom of art is one of the imperatives of every democracy. But does this freedom make art inconsequential? Does art have a role in addressing social issues, promoting social justice, or in defending democracy when it comes under pressure? In short: does art have a political mandate and what is the role of art in weakened democracies?

The Student Council consists of a team of highly engaged, talented, and diverse high school, undergraduate, and graduate students who invite prominent guest speakers to discuss topics relating to art, culture, politics, and society. In conversation with visual artists, musicians, dancers, writers, theater and filmmakers, cultural critics, curators and others, the students will explore how the arts can make a difference in times of social and political crisis; on what social issues they can give new impulses; how they can help shape local communities; and how the alleged freedom and autonomy of the arts might impede or help the arts in terms of social and political significance.

The program takes place live every fourth Wednesday of the month 4.15pm PST, where you can join the Q&A . More details HERE

ABOUT GHAYATH ALMADHOUN
The guest speaker for our March program is Ghayath Almadhoun, a Palestinian poet born in Damascus, Syria. Almadhoun emigrated to Sweden in 2008 and currently lives in Berlin. He has published four poetry collections in Arabic and his work has been translated into dozens of languages. Almadhoun has collaborated with other poets and artists and his poetry has been part of the work of US artist Jenny Holzer, German musician Blixa Bargeld, and others. His latest collection Adrenalin, published in English by Action Books in 2017, was among Small Press Distribution’s Poetry Bestsellers in the US and was nominated for the 2018 Best Translated Book Award. His selected poems Ein Raubtier namens Mittelmeer (A Predator Called Mediterranean) ranked top of the LitProm-Bestseller list in 2018 of best books translated into German. Almadhoun is currently a 2023 Thomas Mann House fellow in Los Angeles.