About Kultursymposium Weimar

The Kultursymposium Weimar is a three day, discursive-artistic festival for new networks and ideas. Every two years, the Goethe-Institut brings together over 500 people from all over the world. It reflects the richness and complexity of urgent social issues with varying focal points from a global perspective, such as the previous edition from 10th to 12th May with the topic trust and as such provides new inspirations for an international cultural exchange.

People gather at the festival site of KSWE. The Kultursymposium Weimar 2019 at the E-Werk premises. | © Jörg Gläscher

As part of an interdisciplinary programme of lectures, discussions, participative formats and artistic interventions, the varying topics are illuminated with participants from across the world, including representatives from culture, science, economy, media and politics. The programme is inspired by varied contacts and cultural cooperation projects of the global network of Goethe-Institutes.

The first Kultursymposium Weimar took place in 2016 under the title »The Sharing Game«. The second was held in 2019 with the title »Recalculating the Route« and focused on the major upheavals of our age. In contrast to the first two editions, the Kultursymposium Weimar 2021 was realised in a digital space due to the pandemic. This edition with the topic »Generations« continues to be available online.

The Kultursymposium was held in Weimar once again from 10th to 12th May, 2023. Numerous international guests from culture, science, economy, media and politics will gathered at the E-Werk premises and further locations in the cultural city of Weimar to exchange ideas on the multifaceted topic of trust, under the title »A Matter of Trust«. Selected programme items were realised in cooperation with the following local partners: Bauhaus-Universität Weimar, Deutsches Nationaltheater Weimar, Galerie Eigenheim, Klassik Stiftung Weimar and Lichthaus Kino.