Hull Young People Travel To Aarhus For A Futuristic Cultural Exchange

This week [14-16 Dec] five young people from Hull will travel to Aarhus in Denmark to take part in a cultural exchange as part of 2097: We Made Ourselves Over, an ambitious international collaboration with Hull UK City of Culture 2017 and Aarhus 2017 European Capital of Culture.

The group includes 18-year-old Hull College student Sol Fisher-Lyon; University of Hull students George Foster (22) and Cosmin-George Dragu (20); 19-year-old Gap Year student and Hull 2017 volunteer Zoe Walker; and Stacey Windley, 19, a Creative Apprentice at Hull City Council's Youth Service. All will have the opportunity to explore Aarhus' cultural spaces, meet inspirational people making a difference in their communities and compare thoughts and share ideas with their Danish counterparts about their cities and how they'd like to shape them.

The Cultural Exchange forms part of 2097: We Made Ourselves Over, a science fiction project that sees award winning interactive art pioneers Blast Theory working with communities in Hull, UK and Aarhus, Denmark to re-imagine their futures 80 years from now.

The project kicked off in September 2016 when Blast Theory interviewed 'future experts' - specialists in the study of climate change, technology, community and economics - to explore the possible opportunities and challenges the future might hold for each city.

In November, using these conversations as inspiration, Blast Theory held a series of free creative workshops at C4DI in Hull's Fruit Market, during which schoolchildren, over 60s and young people aged 18-24 shared their ideas about how Hull might be transformed in the future - five of which will join Blast Theory in travelling to Aarhus.

Blast Theory artist Nick Tandavanitj says: "It's been striking that the experts we talked to all stressed the importance of inclusion in making choices about the future. The challenges we face are actually choices for all of us. It's our vision for 2097: We Made Ourselves Over to explore these with people in Hull and Aarhus - how can we use technology, our communities and our own imaginations to set a course for the future?

"I can't predict the ideas this trip will inspire among the young people. I'm excited to see what happens. Whatever they come up with will spur us on in the next stage of the project - creating a new science fiction vision of 2097."

Sign up to receive updates on the group's journey in Aarhus as well as other ways to get involved in 2097: We Made Ourselves Over, at www.wemadeourselvesover.com

About Blast Theory

Blast Theory has been making interactive artworks that invite you to question your place in society for 25 years. Renowned internationally as one of the most adventurous artists' groups creating groundbreaking new forms of performance and interactive art, the group has created work for the Venice Biennale and Sundance Film Festival. Led by Matt Adams, Ju Row Farr and Nick Tandavanitj, the group's work explores the social and political aspects of technology. Drawing on popular culture and games, the work often blurs the boundaries between the real and the fictional.

www.blasttheory.co.uk
@blasttheory

About Hull UK City of Culture 2017

Hull UK City of Culture 2017 is a 365 day programme of cultural events and creativity inspired by the city and told to the world. Hull secured the title of UK City of Culture 2017 in November 2013. It is only the second city to hold the title and the first in England.

Divided into four seasons, this nationally significant event draws on the distinctive spirit of the city and the artists, writers, directors, musicians, revolutionaries and thinkers that have made such a significant contribution to the development of art and ideas.

The Culture Company was set up to deliver the Hull 2017 programme and is an independent organisation with charitable status. It has raised £32 million, with over 60 partners supporting the project, including public bodies, lottery distributors, trusts and foundations and local and national businesses. Key contributions are coming from: Host City - Hull City Council; Principal Partners - Arts Council England, BBC, Big Lottery Fund, East Riding of Yorkshire Council, Heritage Lottery Fund, KCOM, KWL, Spirit of 2012, Yorkshire Water and the University of Hull; Major Partners -Associated British Ports, Arco, BP, the British Council, Green Port Hull, Hull Clinical Commissioning Group, MKM Building Supplies, P&O Ferries, Paul Hamlyn Foundation, Sewell Group, Siemens, Smith & Nephew and Wykeland Group.

68 per cent of the funding is dedicated to public facing activities, including the widest range of cultural events in every corner of the city, with a further 11 per cent for legacy and contingency. More than £5 million is being invested in volunteering, learning and community engagement. £1.6 million is being invested to ensure a legacy after 2017. This includes capacity building, such as supporting existing events so they can grow, staging curtain-raiser events, developing future programming for after 2017 and building a new platform to support a unified ticketing system for the city.

Hull 2017's International Partners are: Aarhus, Denmark, which is European Capital of Culture 2017; Reykjavik, Iceland; Rotterdam, The Netherlands; and Freetown, Sierra Leone (twinned with Hull). These relationships are reflected in a number of events throughout the year.

For information go to www.hull2017.co.uk
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About Aarhus European Capital of Culture

Aarhus and the 18 other municipalities in Central Denmark Region celebrate our year as European Capital of Culture in 2017.

The title European Capital of Culture (ECoC) represents one of the most prestigious and prominent cultural events in Europe. Every year, two EU countries are appointed as host countries for the European Capital of Culture. In 2017 Pafos in Cyprus has also been nominated as ECOC. Copenhagen was the first Danish city to host the European Capital of Culture in 1996, and it will be many years before a Danish city can boast the title again.

European Capital of Culture Aarhus 2017 is deeply rooted in strong regionAl Cooperation across the entire region. Royal patronage: HM Queen Margrethe II of Denmark. Official opening: Aarhus, Denmark, Saturday 21st January 2017

www.aarhus2017.dk/en/
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Twitter: @Aarhus2017 Instagram: @aarhus_2017