On Saturday, 13 September, the Other Music Academy (OMA) in Weimar became the stage for the grand finale of the ART’kademie: a full-day micro-conference and vernissage. After four months of residencies, workshops, and collective dedication, this event celebrated not only the artistic results but also the community spirit that had grown around New Inherit.
Over the course of the program, more than eighty participants joined us throughout the day, contributing to an atmosphere full of exchange and creativity. After a warm welcome, our project leader Dr. Ammalia Podlaszewska opened the morning with inspiring words about the vision and achievements of New Inherit. This was followed by a keynote presentation from Ina Valkanova of Gradoscope in Bulgaria, who shared her reflections on how cultural spaces can be reimagined for sustainable and participatory futures.
A panel discussion, moderated by Anna Altsädt, brought together four experts deeply engaged in reinhabiting cultural spaces and promoting inclusion. Our panelists were Dr. Alan Bern of OMA e.V, Hanna Ayeheva from FACK e.V., Prof. Dr. Frank Eckardt from Bauhaus-Universität, and Katja Hellkoetter from C*SPACE Berlin. The conversation highlighted the many ways cultural initiatives can foster belonging and participation while addressing broader social and urban challenges.
After a delicious lunch prepared by OMA’s kitchen, participants returned for a lively World Café session. Here, the audience rotated between tables to discuss a variety of themes, from consortium building and EU funding to social inclusion in cultural spaces, political education, citizen participation, gamification, and experimental design. Each conversation invited participants to share their perspectives, connect with others, and imagine new approaches together. The World Café created a buzzing atmosphere of dialogue, exchange, and collective imagination.
In the afternoon, a short music interlude by Thomas Fleming set the tone for the second part of the event: the Vernissage. The Cultural Ambassadors, who had spent months developing their residencies within New Inherit, guided the audience through OMA’s rooms and outdoor spaces. Each space offered a different experience: a large-scale mural completed just days before, a collage installation inviting visitors to add their own pieces, hands-on space where people could craft with natural materials and explore their roots, storytelling focused on migrant experiences in Germany, and mindful rituals such as drinking tea with awareness. Rather than being passive observers, guests became part of the artistic journey, engaging with the works and with one another.
The day came to a close with a vibrant performance by the Indonesian Ensemble Hamburg. Their music blended traditional sounds with familiar global rhythms, drawing the audience into dance and shared celebration. It was a joyful and fitting conclusion to a day that had woven together ideas, art, and community.
The Vernissage and Multiplier event was more than just a final gathering. It was a living example of what New Inherit stands for: inclusion, creativity and collaboration. All the people who participated felt part of a shared cultural home. Together, we proved that when art and community meet, cultural spaces can transform into places of belonging, imagination, and renewal.
Photography: Ángel Medina
