The African-German community at Fachhochschule Dortmund hosted a networking event with the motto "From Lost Space to Safer Space" in the Nordstadtgalerie on October 14, 2023. The meeting was aimed at Black People, Indigenous People and People of Color (BIPoC) and is to be seen as a prelude to further events of this kind. A good 50 guests from the community had already responded to the first call. Representatives from urban society in particular were present and praised the FH's initiative.
The aim of the "African Diaspora Come Together" is to bring the African-German community closer together, particularly at the University of Applied Sciences, and to create a place for exchange. At the same time, it also aims to increase the visibility of BIPoC among students, lecturers and employees at Fachhochschule Dortmund.
Two-week series with art and culture
The event was part of a two-week project series at the Nordstadtgalerie. From October 9 to 22, 2023, a mixture of exhibitions and artistic performances were offered there. Some events were designed exclusively for members of the community, while others were open to anyone interested. Excerpts from the program can be seen on the Nordstadtgalerie's Instagram page(Opens in a new tab) .
More than 40 visitors came to the Nordstadtgalerie for the opening of an exhibition in the run-up to the community meeting to admire the works of artists from Fachhochschule Dortmund University of Applied Sciences and Arts, among others. UAS student Calvin Hein showed his photo series "Sugarbread" and UAS student Noëlle Thyrann her installation "Deine Sprache hat Macht". Works by artist Christiana Kamara were also on display. For some visitors, it was the first time they had explored the themes of lost craftsmanship, identity and racism in the German-speaking world.
The works of the three artists can still be seen on two days in the Nordstadtgalerie. On October 19, 2023 from 6 to 8 pm and on October 20, 2023 from 10 am to 12 pm. Admission is free.