The latest political and social turbulence in Europe and beyond shows that traditional discourses and patterns of order no longer work. In times of fake news, the disappearance of familiar borders and an increasing focus on the national level, the aims must be to protect freedom and cultural identities, foster links between societies and facilitate political understanding.

Cultural relations and education policy has put these aims at the heart of its work. It improves access to culture and education at national and international level and as regards developing a common European culture and stands for active policies to foster freedom of the arts, science and opinion. Furthermore, it promotes cultural cooperation rather than representation.

On Friday, 1 June 2018, the Federal Foreign Office will take part in the Long Night of Ideas, once again showing the importance of the social power of culture and education in view of social and political turbulence around the world. Under the motto, 15 Locations – 15 Ideas, we are joining forces with cultural professionals and numerous partner organisations to show the whole range of our cultural relations and education policy work in striking locations in Berlin’s cultural scene, including the Humboldt-Forum, the Maxim Gorki Theatre and the Silent Green Quarter in the Wedding district of the city.

How can we counteract the increasing scepticism towards Europe through culture and education? What needs to be done to establish and protect open spaces in civil society for the arts, culture, science and freedom of expression? How will artificial intelligence shape the societies of the future? These and many other questions will be addressed in 15 events, which will include exhibitions, panel discussions, interactive experiences, music, theatre, literature and a poetry slam. The focus will be on the question of open societies versus cultural sovereignty.

The schedule has been organised so that visitors can attend several events in different locations.

Admission is free of charge. Apart from events marked with an *, visitors do not need to register in advance.

Journalists can sign up for the event with the Press Division of the Federal Foreign Office (presse@diplo.de; tel: +49 (0)30 5000 2056) or Dr. Gabriele Minz GmbH, the agency coordinating communication on the events (presse@minzgmbh.de; tel: +49 (0)30 88 47 13 910).

The Long Night of Ideas is an initiative of the Federal Foreign Office, its intermediary organisations and other important partner organisations from civil society, research, academia and foundations.

We would like to thank the following partner organisations: Artists-in-Berlin Programme of the German Academic Exchange Service, Barenboim-Said Akademie, Gallery Association of Berlin, German Archaeological Institute, Goethe-Institut, Haus der Kulturen der Welt, Humboldt-Forum, ifa (Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen), Maxim Gorki Theatre, Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation, Public Art Lab, re:publica GmbH, Savvy Contemporary, Tagesspiegel, Traduki and Villa Aurora/Thomas Mann House.