Cultural Mapping & Place-making

Open Modes: Workshop with Janet Pillai (MY)

Open Modes 2015: Mobile Networks
Register via form: http://offenerbetrieb.mur.at/en/

3.7. 18:00 Talk: “A Place Close to You- Place-making with Communities”, Presentation of cultural mapping projects in Penang and grill-talk.
4.7. - 10.7. from 11:00 - 17:00 Workshop to introduce the process of cultural mapping. Pilote mapping at Triestersiedlung, Theory at Schaumbad. Monday off.
12.7. 17:00 Presentation of Workshop Results at Schaumbad and on the way to kunstGarten
19:00 Chillout and conversation at kunstGarten

The sociologist, theater maker and activist Janet Pillai from Malaysia applies her methodology of Cultural Mapping as a way for residents and outsiders to understand the situation on the southern fringe of Graz. Based on her long term work with youth and communities of different cultural backgrounds (Chinese, Indian, Malay) in the UNESCO Cultural Heritage of George Town in Penang, Pillai developed a manual about Cultural Mapping of historic sites and their inhabitants, providing the basis for a more sensitive future urban planning.

In a workshop with artists, art students, educators and cultural workers Pillai will convey her rich experiences in the work with diverse social and cultural groups in Penang. Her topic includes the understanding of communities, building of working groups, mobilisation of communities, planning of relevant projects and their realisation. In the socio-cultural diverse environment of the Triestersiedlung in Graz she will apply her methods  for how everyone can participate  to identify problems and  develop creative solutions.

Janet Pillai is a researcher, practitioner and activist in the field of arts and culture education, specialising in creative pedagogy, cultural research and community outreach. She established Arts-ED, a non-profit orgainisation which works in community area revitalisation projects in partnership or consultation with artists and professionals, local agencies and community.

Pillai is also a theatre director who works in collaboration with performing artists and young people to produce multi-media productions in community settings. A former associate professor at the School of Arts, University Science Malaysia, she now works freelance as a trainer, researcher and project consultant.

Pillai also contributes as expert resource person with the education training units of UNESCO Bangkok and APCIEU Korea and has authored numerous articles and three books.

OPEN MODES 2015
Mobile Networks
2.7.–18.7.2015

Open Modes is a growing network of art spaces and artists in Graz dealing with practice and reflection for the exchange of artistic skills and strategies – in a time where not only art education, but also mainstream education systems are in question at large.

The goal of Open Modes 2015 is to reveal the (im)material, fluid educational institution ‘City’ in all its complexity and disparity. How could we transform informal flows of knowledge transfer into resources for all? How to construct spaces for art? Open Modes is a platform for methodological and cultural research. The program, at the same time, is an invitation to all Grazers to share their ideas and wishes about the city.

Open Modes Graz is a project by: Akademie Graz, Camera Austria, ESC, Forum Stadtpark, Grazer Kunstverein, IZK Institut für Zeitgenössische Kunst TU Graz, KM– Künstlerhaus, Halle für Kunst & Medien, , Schaumbad -–Freies Atelierhaus Graz