Twin City Challenge – with artists from the twin cities of Bremen and Riga
TCC stands for Twin City Challenge and is aimed at twin cities of the city of Bremen that are challenged to an art and cultural exchange. The aim of the Twin City Challenge is to take up the characteristics of the selected twin city and to bring them into dialogue with the current urban biography of both cities.
In 2023, the Hanseatic City of Riga is invited to enter into an exchange with the Hanseatic City of Bremen with its artists. The twin cities of Bremen and Riga are characterised not only by historical parallels as part of the Hanseatic League, but also by similarities in terms of urban development. Both cities are located on rivers, the Weser and Düna respectively, and near the North Sea and directly at the mouth of the Baltic Sea. Both cities have significant green spaces; Bremen is considered the greenest major city in Germany.
At the same time, there are striking and historically based differences in architecture and urban development that seem equally appealing for a photographic dialogue.
Program
Thursday, 02. November 2023
15 - 21 UhrKurzfilm-Collagen aus Bremen und aus Riga
UMZU, Hanseatenhof
Four short film collages from Bremen and Riga, created by the film artists Krišs Salmanis and Maija Kurševa from Riga and Anne Moder and Jacqueline Peters from Bremen, will premiere during the following days of TCC#2. The collages have a length of 5 to 15 minutes and show new insights, similarities and perspectives of Bremen and Riga. The historical material was provided by the respective film archives of the city, for each city there are about two hours from several decades that could be used. In addition, there is the individually designed sound level of each film, which tells its own, often modern, story and contributes decisively to the effect of the collages.
Visually, the following locations were given special focus: 1. city centre, 2. market, 3. traffic, 4. street scenes/everyday life, 5. architecture, 6. railway station – the historical material from the cities was filtered and selected according to these keywords.
18 UhrThe Black Rooster Lieder des vergessenen Lettlands, Konzert Hanseatenhof
Hanseatenhof
The Black Rooster are named after the composer and musicologist Emilis Jūlijs Melngailis. The six musicians:inside lift musical treasures, such as the Yiddish heritage of the Litvakn, the Latvian Jews. The repertoire consists of songs that tell of times past, whose timbres also make the present shine.
The audience is invited on a musical journey through a variety of Latvian regions and ethnic groups. Decades before the concept of multiculturalism became popular, this music had already laid the foundation, which is now being rediscovered by The Black Rooster.
YoutubeChannel – The Black Rooster
Band:
Ilga Vālodze Ābele – voice, kokle (Latvian zither), flute, bagpipes
Elīna Ellere – voice
Jānis Zemgus Jātnieks – voice, bayan (button accordion)
Craig Judelman – voice, violin
Sasha Lurje – voice, percussion
Ilya Shneyveys – accordion, guitar, bass, percussion
20.30 UhrFilm-Collagen aus den Partnerstädten Bremen und Riga
City 46 Kommunalkino Bremen, Birkenstr. 1
How do artists from Riga and Bremen look at their cities and their respective histories? What similarities, differences and themes are there to discover?
Creative and surprising answers and perspectives are provided by the artistic short film collages that filmmakers from Bremen and Riga have created especially for the Twin City Challenge Festival from historical material from the two state film archives. With film sequences from the 1920s, footage from the middle and end of the 20th century and some very recent footage, the short films span a wide range of time and content. Sometimes documentary, sometimes experimental, they allow us to see historical places and events, but also current developments in Bremen and Riga with new eyes and sometimes even merge the two twin cities on the screen.
Added to this is the individually designed sound level of each film, which tells its very own, often modern, story and contributes decisively to the effect of the collages. The artists Sina Behnke and Anne Moder, Maija Kurševa, Patrick Peljahn, Jacqueline Peters and Liesl Lindeque, as well as Krišs Salmanis will be present in the cinema to personally present their works and discuss them with the audience.
Moderation: Illona Rieke.
Friday, 03. November 2023
15 - 21 UhrKurzfilm-Collagen aus Bremen und aus Riga
UMZU, Hanseatenhof
Four short film collages from Bremen and Riga, created by the film artists Krišs Salmanis and Maija Kurševa from Riga and Anne Moder and Jacqueline Peters from Bremen, will premiere during the following days of TCC#2. The collages have a length of 5 to 15 minutes and show new insights, similarities and perspectives of Bremen and Riga.
The historical material was provided by the respective film archives of the city, for each city there are about two hours from several decades that could be used. In addition, there is the individually designed sound level of each film, which tells its own, often modern, story and contributes decisively to the effect of the collages.
Visually, the following locations were given special focus: 1. city centre, 2. market, 3. traffic, 4. street scenes/everyday life, 5. architecture, 6. railway station – the historical material from the cities was filtered and selected according to these keywords.
16 UhrWorkshop für lettischen Bordun-Gesang
Gemeindehaus der Domgemeinde, Sandstraße 10-12
Dauer 1,5 Std
One of the most outstanding and archaic forms of traditional Latvian singing is polyphony with drones. In this workshop, different types of drone songs from different regions of Latvia will be sung. Ilga Vālodze Ābele will take participants to the northernmost region of Latvia, where drone singing is an integral part of traditional music. The songs are sung in different dialects and tell stories about Latvian festivals such as Midsummer Night, the autumn harvest and traditional weddings.
Participants will have the opportunity to take part in a flash mob on 4 Novembers at 5pm.
No previous experience is necessary. Children are welcome. The workshop will be held in English.
Pre-registration by 25 October is requested: tcc@sternkultur.de
17 UhrStadtrundgang
UMZU, Hanseatenhof
Dauer 1h
Daniel Schnier and Oliver Hasemann, AAA – Autonomes Architektur Atelier Bremen, invite you on an unusual city tour through Bremen’s city centre. The city tour is based on short films produced by Anne Moder and Jacqueline in connection with the TCC#2 KunstKulturFest and can be seen at the UMZU during the festival.
The city tour follows a cinematic city collage made from materials from the Landesfilmarchiv Bremen and the National Archive of Latvia and uses architecture to discuss urban dilemmas that can be experienced in almost every German city centre and also throughout Europe, namely the disappearance of the distinctive features and peculiarities of every city.
18 UhrMasken Tradition in Lettland, Vortrag
2b Active, Hutfilterstraße 2-4
Dauer 1h
Masking is often an integral part of traditional cultures in different parts of the world, including Latvia. The Latvian custom traditionally starts at the beginning of November and extends until the beginning of spring. Ilga Vālodze Ābele uses this Latvian tradition to give us insights into a world full of strange stories, endearing characters and energetic liveliness.
The lecture is in English.
Saturday, 04. November 2023
11 UhrWorkshop die Mārtiņi - traditionelle lettische Maskierung
2b Active, Hutfilterstraße 2-4
Dauer: 3h
Masks are a part of traditional cultures in various parts of the world, including Latvia. The custom of Mārtiņi masquerades usually started at the beginning of November and lasted until the beginning of spring. The masks were made from materials found in nature or from used things lying around in the attic. These things were collected throughout the year. People then went together in processions through the neighbourhood and around the houses.
The Mārtiņi with their masks are part of St. Martin’s Day and announce the first cold days. They represent the souls of the dead who have come to visit the world of the living and also to test people’s wisdom. Unlike other traditional mask-wearing groups, the Mārtiņi do not make much noise.
Under the guidance of Ilga Vālodze Ābele, there is an opportunity to make simple and individual masks from natural, natural and recycled materials.
Learn more about the fascinating background of the Mārtiņi and learn an easy-to-learn song about them. Immerse yourself in the world of Latvian mask tradition and experience the magic of these ancient customs first hand.
Participants will have the opportunity to take part in a flash mob on 4 November at 5pm.
Registration by 25 October tcc@sternkultur.de. Material for making the masks is available, you can also bring your own material.
The workshop is in English.
11 UhrWorkshop - traditioneller lettischer Tanz
Gymnastikhalle, Verein Vorwärts, Violenstr. 27
Dauer: 3h
The band The Black Rooster invites you to a festive dance class: Latvian polkas, couple dances, group dances in slower or faster tempo and a Latvian dance game called Rotaļas will be presented with live music. The dances at the workshop will be accompanied by violin, bayan, accordion, drums, flutes and other instruments.
It will be an intense experience, so don’t forget to bring water and comfortable shoes. Dance partners are welcome to come along, singles are welcome!
Participants will have the opportunity to take part in a flash mob at 5pm.
11 UhrRunder Tisch
Arbeitnehmerkammer Bremen Kultursaal, Bürgerstraße 1
Dauer 1h
Can twin cities inform each other about different urban problems and challenges? The TCC opens a round table discussion with urban planners from Bremen and Riga to discuss similarities, differences and the possibility of mutual learning.
Participants:
Prof. Dr. Christian von Wissel (School of Architecture Bremen an der HSB), Stadtplaner Jonas Buechel (University of Latvia, faculty of social sciences, department of sociology OR with the University of Applied Science RISEBA, faculty of architecture and design) und Oliver Hasemann (Dipl. Ing der Raumplanung AAA – Autonomes Architektur Atelier Bremen).
13 UhrContemporary Urban Issues - Student films
UMZU, Hanseatenhof
Dauer 1,5h
Architecture students view and discuss current urban issues through the lens of a video camera. The teaching professors are Christian von Wissel (HSB) and Jonas Buechel (University of Latvia).
TCC Bremen-Riga in cooperation with the School of Architecture Bremen of the Hochschule Bremen and the University of Latvia, faculty of social sciences, department of sociology.
14 UhrWorkshop für lettischen traditionellen mehrstimmigen Gesang
Gemeindehaus der Domgemeinde, Sandstraße 10-12
Dauer 1,5h
The Latvian polyphonic singing workshop will be led by Elīna Ellere. Elīna Ellere is a Latvian singer with decades of experience in traditional “open-air singing”. You will learn Latvian songs from different periods of Latvian music history and hopefully learn the art of Latvian open-air singing – with a broad and powerful voice.
The workshop consists of a 20-minute lecture and 70 minutes of practical singing.
In the practical part, Elīna will be accompanied by two members of The Black Rooster – Jānis Zemgus Jātnieks and Ilga Vālodze Ābele, with whom she has a long musical collaboration. Participants will have the opportunity to take part in a flash mob at 5 pm.
For the workshop, please bring: Drinking water, reading glasses, your singing voice and anyone from your own environment who wants to join in.
14.30 UhrStadtrundgang
UMZU, Hanseatenhof
Dauer 1 h
Daniel Schnier and Oliver Hasemann, AAA – Autonomes Architektur Atelier Bremen, invite you on an unusual city tour through Bremen’s city centre. The city tour is based on short films produced by Anne Moder and Jacqueline in connection with the TCC#2 KunstKulturFest and can be seen at the UMZU during the festival.
The city tour follows a cinematic city collage made from materials from the Landesfilmarchiv Bremen and the National Archive of Latvia and uses architecture to discuss urban dilemmas that can be experienced in almost every German city centre and also throughout Europe, namely the disappearance of the distinctive features and peculiarities of every city
15 - 21 UhrKurzfilm-Collagen aus Bremen und aus Riga
UMZU, Hanseatenhof
Four short film collages from Bremen and Riga, created by the film artists Krišs Salmanis and Maija Kurševa from Riga and Anne Moder and Jacqueline Peters from Bremen, will premiere during the following days of TCC#2. The collages have a length of 5 to 15 minutes and show new insights, similarities and perspectives of Bremen and Riga.
The historical material was provided by the respective film archives of the city, for each city there are about two hours from several decades that could be used. In addition, there is the individually designed sound level of each film, which tells its own, often modern, story and contributes decisively to the effect of the collages.
Visually, the following locations were given special focus: 1. city centre, 2. market, 3. traffic, 4. street scenes/everyday life, 5. architecture, 6. railway station – the historical material from the cities was filtered and selected according to these keywords.
17 UhrParade Gesang – Tanz und Maskentradition
Hanseatenkirchhof
Winter may be uncomfortable and bring a lot of uncertainty. We welcome it by parading through the streets of Bremen’s city centre with artists from Riga and masks from the Mārtini tradition.
Accompanied by traditional Latvian singing and the dance game Rotalas, all evil spirits will be driven away and the helpful forces strengthened to get through dark times well.
6.10. bis 5.11.2023
TäglichRiga - Blicke auf Bremens Partnerstadt
Ausstellung
Bremer Volkshochschule, Faulenstraße 69
daily Mo. – Fr. 9 – 20 Uhr, weekend 10 – 17 Uhr
Gabriele Witter shows you Bremen’s twin city Riga with a photojournalistic view of the place and the events in the style of classic travel photography.