German EU Council Presidency
EU 2020: The Goethe-Institut for Europe

How does climate-neutral travel work? For months, the participating teams of the #oekoropa project thought about this and developed concepts. The winners with their ideas and impulses as well as the jury's reasons are now gathered in a digital exhibition.

What is the state of freedom in Europe today? This is a question that has grown even more urgent in the coronavirus era. The Goethe-Institut is bringing together thinkers and people in culture and the arts from all over Europe to address that question at the hybrid pan-European “Freiraum Festival” from 30 October to 1 November 2020.

Following events in Prague, Helsinki, Zagreb and Sarajevo, there are now nine more events in nine European countries scheduled to take place until December 2020, which will use digital and analogue formats to evoke the memories of well-known Europeans and examine them in the context of current debates on Europe.

The Goethe-Institut’s online contest “#oekoropa” aims to show – first in theory, then in practice – that it’s possible to travel around with little or no carbon footprint these days. High schoolers age 16 to 19 and teachers from all EU member states are invited to submit innovative ideas for carbon-neutral ways to travel Europe.

The interactive wall installation “Disappearing Wall” combines quotes from European high and pop culture to demonstrate Europe’s diversity. From summer 2020, the striking installations can be seen in ten European countries.

What happens when we invite strangers to the table? Between August and December 2020, ten artists will reach out across borders to engage with citizens in ten different European cities and rethink Europe together. Where better to start than at the kitchen table?

Europe is more than a continent or an idea. Europe consists of many different stories – personal stories of people from different generations. The project “Tell me about Europe” brings the memories of well-known Europeans alive and invites you to listen and join in the discussion.

Big data, algorithms and deep learning: artificial intelligence is everywhere nowadays and changing our daily lives. What potential does AI really offer and how can we work it safely into future society? The “Generation A = algorithm” project uses a variety of formats to explore these questions. The “Couch Lessons” series on Wednesdays, for example, takes an inside look at various uses of AI.

“Earth Speakr” is an artwork created by Olafur Eliasson with his studio, kids, creative partners, researchers, and experts. The open-ended artwork launches officially 1 July and will evolve over the course of 2020 with the active participation of kids across the EU. It is funded by the Federal Foreign Office on the occasion of the German Presidency of the Council of the European Union 2020 and realised in cooperation with the Goethe-Institut.

Physical distancing, border closings and surveillance have shaped the lives of Europeans during the coronavirus pandemic – freedoms have been restricted. What is the status of freedom in Europe today? This question will be the focus of the Freiraum Festival on 30 and 31 October.

24 official languages, 60 regional and minority languages, countless dialects and language variations: Europe is a continent of multilingualism. Germany, the country in the EU with the most neighbours, and a glance next door: what can we learn from each other? On the occasion of the European trio presidency Germany – Portugal – Slovenia, the Goethe-Institut’s Europanetzwerk Deutsch will examine these and other questions with high-ranking experts.