Europe Grand Central, a two year EU-funded project to share and develop methods of inclusion across Europe (where Bordr is a key initiator), opened its beta-database during the summer. The project is now in an intense development phase with test users (artistic researchers) across the continent.
The end result, opening up over the fall and expected to be fully launched in February 2017, will be an open database attempting to collect, structure, share, and develop lessons and methods from practitioners using artistic means (workshops, actions, projects, exhibitions, and interventions – collectively called “Departures”) to find common ground and understandings between people and groups. The overarching metaphor is that of a giant rail network connecting people of all origins with all destinations through the common act of crossing borders. Partners and users (Stations) are theatres, photo centres, craft centres, networks, mobility operators, and individual artists active across the continent and also in North Africa and the Middle East. In the soon future the database will open for contributions from an even wider community.
The development process is now open on www.europegrandcentral.net but some functions and access are still limited, a lot of content is missing, and features are changing. The open development of the database is part of the concept – and to enable users to share the context of their work with their audiences. Bordr has initiated the project, we contribute conceptually with the Bordr “booking system”, key staff are Bordr initiators, (project leader and lead developer) and we share the core idea and values of Europe Grand Central.