Revolutionale 2021: Leipzig again a meeting place for civil society discourse with guests from East and West
“Revolutionale!” What a big name. From October 6 to 10, it will be brought to life in the city of Leipzig and beyond. As in previous years, civil society organizations and activists will then be meeting here for a Round Table in parallel with a Festival for Change. The event was initiated by the Foundation of the Peaceful Revolution and will focus on networking among activists and on promoting international movements for democracy and freedom, in the spirit of the Peaceful Autumn Revolution of 1989.
The International Round Table has been taking place in Leipzig since 2017; in 2019, the meeting was augmented by a Festival for Change with art and interaction, and since then it bears the name Revolutionale. This year, more than 60 participants are coming to the meeting from up to 20 countries: from Russia to France, from Belarus to Turkey. Both the date and the city of Leipzig are deliberate choices: this is where the Monday demonstration that played a decisive role in the Peaceful Revolution took place after the peace prayers on October 9, 1989.
Civil society commitment only brings change when it thrives in public. Thus, discussion and cooperation became integral parts of the Revolutionale. In 2021, citizens and the participants of the International Round Table will again seek out conversations and controversies in commemoration of the Peaceful Revolution.
Thus, every two years Leipzig again becomes a European symbol of the movement for freedom and democracy, as it was in 1989. With the Revolutionale, the Foundation of the Peaceful Revolution reminds us of the values for which people took to the streets in 1989. And of course: the issues and challenges facing civil society have changed. They are more global, and the voices of active people and movements reach further. So the Revolutionale 2021 is something to look forward to.
International Round Table
At the conference of the International Round Table about 60 NGO representatives and socio-political activists from all over Europe discuss ten urgent topics of our time on October 6 and 7.
The aim of the International Round Table is the exchange of ideas between people from different socio-political fields of activity. The conference offers space for networking and planning of joint actions to the participants.
We want to underline the importance and effects of civil society engagement and promote democratic, human rights-based change processes.
The days of the International Round Table conference have two themes, which are Change through Solidarity and Change through Participation.
They build a bridge between the diverse fields of activity of the participants. These themes will be taken up in two public lectures of prominent international speakers with subsequent audience discussion, which will take place on October 7 and 8 at 19.00. Beforehand, the results and discussions of the day will be publicly compiled and jointly evaluated from 17:00 to 18:30.
Public Transfer
October 6
07:00 p.m. opening event / welcome Revolutionale at Moritzbastei
moderated by Sarah Ulrich
Space is limited in order to comply with the corona protection ordinance. We will broadcast the event over loudspeakers to the Moritzbastei courtyard. We allow officially tested, vaccinated or recovered people the entrance to the event.
October 7
“Öffentliche Versammlung” (public assembly) at Matthäikirchhof, moderated by Sarah Ulrich
05:00 – 06:30 p.m. Public discussion International Round Table
07:00 p.m. Lecture by Nay San Lwin (FreeRohingyaCoalition) about the political situation in Myanmarand the situation of Rohingya
08:00 p.m. Concert “Klänge der Hoffnung” at Gewandhaus
October 8
“Öffentliche Versammlung” (public assembly) at Moritzbastei, moderated by Sarah Ulrich
05:00 – 06:30 p.m. Public discussion International Round Table
07:00 p.m. Lecture by Wafaa Albadry (UnbiasTheNews) about diversity in journalism
Art and Cultural programm
Art and culture can create closeness where there is distance. A cultural program will accompany the international round table at the Matthäikirchhof. The overarching themes of this year’s REVOLUTIONALE change through solidarity and change through participation are to be artistically commented on by film and installation.
The cultural program including the film program at the Matthäikirchhof will be announced on Monday, October 4th.
All events are free
October 07, Gewandhaus
8:00 p.m. Orchestra concert in the “Mendelssohnsaal”
The new orchestra from our partner project “Klänge der Hoffnung” will play as part of the festival. A musical journey around the world with arrangements specially developed for the ensemble and orchestra. The musical focus is on traditional melodies from the Persian, Arabic and Klezmer cultures.
This event is not for free. Tickets can be purchased here.
Foundation of the Peaceful Revolution
The Team of the project REVOLUTIONALE (from left to right):
Susanne Lysenko (staff member Internationale Round Table)
Edith Bohl (staff member International Round Table)
Adriano Schwanke (project manager Revolutionale)
Henning Schindler (staff member finance)
We thank the board of directors for their active support.
We would like to thank the following institutions for supporting our work:
Within the framework of REVOLUTIONALE 2021, two projects will take place that were organized with the support of various sponsors. For the project “International Round Tables” as well as for the project “Festival for Change” we would like to thank the following sponsors for their donations and cooperation.
REVOLUTIONALE was supported by:
Free State of Saxony
REVOLUTIONALE 2021 – Festival for Change was supported by:
Adult Education Center Leipzig
The Federal Archive Stasi Record Archive
Contact
REVOLUTIONALE
Stiftung Friedliche Revolution
Nikolaikirchhof 3
04109 Leipzig
Germany