Räume halten III - Fight or Flight?

Together with political scientist Natascha Strobl, Fatma Karacakurtoğlu, Chair of Train of Hope e.V., Annegret Debitz from cultural initiative DIE VIELEN, and curator and historian Fidel Amoussou-Moderan, we will discuss how spaces can be designed, maintained and defended against right-wing appropriation and marginalisation.

Natascha Strobl analyses strategies of the (far) right and examines the Kulturkampf, appropriation and conservatism.

In Dortmund’s Nordstadt district, Train of Hope e.V. stands for a place of welcome, community and mutual support, dedicated to practical work towards a diverse society of the future and the prevention of extremism.

DIE VIELEN campaign nationwide for artistic freedom and a society based on solidarity and democracy, opposing right-wing co-optation.

Fidel Amoussou-Moderan combines academic and artistic-curatorial practice with an exploration of Black resistance, anti-fascism and the culture of remembrance.

This event follows on from the first two editions of ‘Räume halten’: The first edition took place as part of the Impulse Festival ‘Monsters and Politics’ on 13 June 2026, and the second during the asphalt Festival ‘Class and Conflicts’ on 18 July 2026.

‘Räume halten’ is a new discourse format that responds to the growing influence of (right-wing) reactionary positions on the art and cultural landscape. At its heart lies the question of how spaces for art, critical thinking and a progressive conception of culture can be defended, asserted and reimagined. These spaces are an essential prerequisite for continuing to enable diverse aesthetic experiences, participation and engagement, as well as critical and complex discourse. The format was developed by the dramaturg Leonie Ute Maria Adam, who will also be moderating the event.

Räume Halten III takes place in cooperation with STADT_RAUM at the Museum of Art and Cultural History (MKK).

The event is funded by the Dortmund Partnership for Democracy as part of the federal programme ‘Demokratie Leben!’.