The ZKM | Center for Art and Media Karlsruhe represents an open concept of art in the digital age worldwide. In our curatorial and academic work, we address the reality and complexity of our times.
As a globally networked institution, we work together with people who represent the diversity of all religions, ethnicities, genders, and social backgrounds. This diversity brings with it a range of political views and positions, some of which are contradictory. We believe that this is important and that ZKM is the right place for different opinions on cultural and social issues to come together. We see ourselves as a forum for free thought, free expression, and dialog, where complex debates and ideas are fostered while promoting mutual respect, respect for human rights, and democratic values.
Today, unfortunately, we are living in a time of great social and political conflicts, violence, wars, and acts of terrorism, as well as increasing extremism that endangers our democracy. We condemn violence against people, especially civilians, in the strongest possible terms. The immeasurable suffering of the victims leaves us deeply affected.
These conflicts and crises also have a major impact on the program work of cultural and art institutions in Germany. The current focus is on the question of how we deal with growing anti-Semitism in culture. A question that has intensified massively with the terrorist act directed against Israel by Hamas in October 2023 and Israel's subsequent attack on the Gaza Strip.
For all our appreciation of the diversity of opinions, we also believe there are "red lines" in freedom of expression and in artistic work. The freedom of artistic programming ends where anti-Semitism, racism, and all kinds of discrimination take place and where violence and terror are glorified and proclaimed. And where the state of Israel’s right to exist is not recognized.
For many years, the ZKM has offered guest residencies and scholarships in Karlsruhe to artists and their families who are threatened by war, terror, and state repression in their home countries. To this end, we work in a network with the Artists at Risk initiative, the Goethe-Institut, the Foreign Office of the Federal Republic of Germany, the Martin Roth Initiative, and other civil society organizations.