International Dresden Dialogue

What happened?

The second edition of the International Dresden Dialogue was dedicated to youth, arts and culture and how we want to live together. Designed as a three-day conference, the IDD 2019 focused on the question: What means Heimat for young people today and how can young people create, shape and protect their Heimat? The aim of the conference was to jointly learn, discover and experience new ways, tools and ideas to create places we would like to live in now and in the future.

Who was here?

Up to 150 participants from 24 different cities across Europe and beyond. Young people (pupils, students), artists and local policy makers from Dresden joined the International Dresden Dialogue 2019.

How was the confernce designed?

The IDD wanted  to do things differently. It worked with various artistic approaches and methods in order to foster another kind of exchange and dialogue between participants. They were challenged to exchange and express their ideas and thoughts in a song, movement or painted statement. However, room for discussions and debates on differents methods of youth participation was also given in various workshops.

But why choosing Creating Heimat as a title of the conference?

As many other cities Dresden is directly affected by challenges such as climate change, globalisation, new migration trends and changing urban landscapes.  In a world in transition, how can a city be a safe place and how can citizens still keep their sense of belonging? How do we deal with the challenges on a local and global scale which we are facing right now?

The use of the term Heimat, a typical German word loosely translated as „home“,  has become instrumental for Dresden and ist current quest to find answers to those challenges.  Due to its importance it has been chosen to be the motto for Dresden’s bid to become European Capital of Culture in Europe in 2025. The newly created Youth Council Dresden 2025 is accompanying Dresden’s bid to become European Capital of Culture in 2025 and contributed to the IDD 2019.

The results of the conference will not only be included in the Dresden’s bid to become European Capital of Culture but also to Dresden’s youth participation strategies.