An Association of Many

A series of migrating discussions titled An Association of Many will seek to illuminate the topic of cultural labor, and the possibility of uniting independent cultural workers to protect their rights. Is a union needed? How do we help each other? What grounds do we have for solidarity and joint action? Why and how do we lobby our interests?

Alexei Kokhanov and Daria Yuriychuk, joined by members of the Berlin State Association for the Independent Performing Arts (LAFT), discuss how to unite independent artists and performance artists, what LAFT is, how it works, what goals it sets and how it achieves results. How does one achieve structural changes in cultural and political spheres? How does one cooperate with the state? How does one lobby the interests of freelancers? The single basic income – is there a chance for it in the future? Institutions and freelance artists: is the collaboration working? In Europe and in Russia.

LAFT Berlin, the Berlin State Association for the Independent Performing Arts, represents the interests of Berlin's independent artists in relations with politicians and the public. It supports its members through networking, consulting, coordination and various services.

Participants:
Christin Eckart (PAP) “Performative Arts Program”
Thomas Fabian Eder (LAFT) art manager and researcher
Daniel Brunet (LAFT) Coalition of Independent Artists, Artistic Director of English Theater of Berlin | International Center for Performing Arts
Kristina Matvienko (theatre expert, curator of the School of the Modern Spectator and Listener at the Stanislavsky Electrotheatre).

Moderators:
Daria Yuriychuk (dance artist, co-founder of the Ice Cream Cafe association),
Alexei Kokhanov (singer, performer, representative of the Artist on Fire association)