Annette Kehnel: "The Green Ages”

In The Green Ages, historian Annette Kehnel explores sustainability initiatives from the Middle Ages, highlighting communities that operated a barter trade system on the Monte Subiaco in Italy, sustainable fishing at Lake Constance, common lands in the United Kingdom, transient grazing among Alpine shepherds in the south of France, and bridges built by crowdfunding in Avignon. Kehnel takes these medieval examples and applies their practical lessons to the modern world to prove that we can live sustainably—we’ve done it before!   From the garden economy in the mythical-sounding City of Ladies to early microcredit banks, Kehnel uncovers a world at odds with our understanding of the typical medieval existence. Premodern history is full of inspiring examples and concepts ripe for rediscovery, and we urgently need them as today’s challenges—finite resources, the twilight of consumerism, and growing inequality—threaten what we have come to think of as a modern way of living sustainably. This is a stimulating and revelatory look at a past that has the power to change our future. Professor Annette Kehnel studied History and Biology at the University of Freiburg, Somerville College, Oxford, and LMU in Munich. She received her doctorate from Trinity College, Dublin for her research on Irish convent communities and taught at the TU Dresden, where she received her post-doctorate in 2004. Since 2005 she has held a chair in Medieval History at the University of Mannheim. She has published numerous works on her main topics of research: cultural and economic history and historical anthropology.

Goethe-Institut Boston

Film Screening: Woodland

New Films from Germany Marian Malin (played by the brilliant Brigitte Hobmeier) has everything she could hope for: a successful career, a deep romantic love, and time to pursue her passions. Everything is perfect until she and her husband witness a deadly terrorist attack in the heart of Vienna. Plagued with post-traumatic flashbacks, Marian is unable to function in the city and flees to a Lower Austria country house that once belonged to her grandparents. There, in what seems like relative safety, she freely roams the woods and rekindles a connection to the simple place she once called home. But it is not without its own presences, including old friends Gerti and Franz, both of whom stayed in the village and for whom Marian’s return summons questions about life-defining events. Drawing inspiration from Wald, a 2015 novel by the bestselling author Doris Knecht, as well as her own traumatic experience of witnessing the 2020 Vienna attack, writer-director Elisabeth Scharang retreats to the woods in this atmospheric and soul-stirring film. Directed by Elisabeth Scharang Austria 2023 DCP, 95 min. German with English subtitles

Coolidge Corner Theatre

Concert: Kusha

A US Premiere by Monthati Masebe performed by Castle of our Skins <a href="https://givebutter.com/coos-kusha">RSVP</a> Held on the eve of South African Day of Reconciliation, Castle of our Skins presents the US premiere of “Kusha”: an audience-participatory, highly immersive and largely improvised musical work by South African composer Monthati Masebe. Grounded in African sound healing technologies and a desire to preserve South African indigenous soundscapes, “Kusha” will be performed using instruments built during earlier composer-led workshops. This project is part of round 13 of the Goethe-Institut's International Coproduction Fund, year 2023.&nbsp;The project "Other Histories" deals with the topic "archive" from multiple perspectives and developed out of the two-day Symposium "<a href="https://www.goethe.de/ins/us/en/sta/bos/ver/diversity-in-new-music.html">Diversity in New Music</a>" held at the Goethe-Institut Boston in 2022 in collaboration with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ensemble-recherche.de/?lang=en">Ensemble Recherche</a>&nbsp;(Freiburg). Monthati Masabe Sound Artist, composer and healer Monthati Masebe offers a fresh lens on contemporary classical music with their fusions of south african indigenous sounds and electronic music. Born to a family of artists, Monthati approaches their music from a strong storytelling background with an emphasis on curated rituals that pay homage to their healing practices and expand our understanding of musical value and quality. While you may find a wide range of works from classical ensemble repertoire to soundbaths and afrotech downtempo there is a common theme of textural multiplicities overlaid with ethereal vocalizations with their unique throat singing. Monthati is currently based in the US studying toward their PhD at Duke University with a focus on orchestrating african folk instruments and exploring inclusive notations that suit the dexterities of microtonality and polyrhythmic structures found in a lot of the traditional musics and african composition. Monthati is also known to South Africa as an actor and queer advocate pioneering non-binary representation through their famous role on Generations: The Legacy (a continental TV drama which has been leading South African entertainment for decades). Their music has been described as unearthing, eerie and transcendental. A true experimentalist, explorer and ancestrally led artist. Castle of Our Skins Founded in 2013, Castle of our Skins is a Black arts institution dedicated to fostering cultural curiosity and celebrating Black artistry through music. In classrooms, concert halls, and beyond, Castle of our Skins invites Black heritage and culture exploration, spotlighting both unsung and celebrated figures of past and present.

An evening of Experimental music with a•pe•ri•od•ic

Chicago’s “most adventurous, disciplined, and focused experimental music group” <a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/an-evening-of-experimental-music-with-aperiodic-chicagos-critically-acclaimed-music-group-tickets-1051950681807?aff=oddtdtcreator">Tickets</a> Chicago’s critically acclaimed experimental music ensemble,a•pe•ri•od•ic, makes its first appearance on the East coast with a performance at Boston’s Goethe Institut featuring music written for the ensemble by Wandelweiser composers Jürg Frey and Michael Pisaro, along with works by Catherine Lamb, Kunsu Shim, and Nomi Epstein. Specializing in notated, acoustic, experimental music, a•pe•ri•od•ic‘s repertoire explores the indeterminacy of various musical elements including instrumentation, structure, pitch, and/or duration. Drawn to works of sparseness, contemplation, and quietude, this "daring group" (Chicago Reader) has a history of interpreting distinctive pieces using a collaborative rehearsal process, deriving meaning and intention from oblique prose scores with great sensitivity. Founded in 2010, a•pe•ri•od•ic is an intersectional, member-run ensemble producing concerts of experimental music that encourage focused listening. Hailed as Chicago’s “most adventurous, disciplined, and focused experimental music group” by Peter Margasak, the ensemble carefully selects creative work by local and international artists of all genders whose works take diverse approaches to composition. The collaborative creation process among the ensemble members and with the featured composers challenges conventional ideas of power relationships in “classical” music-making: each work is an exploratory process encouraging new technique with both traditional and unconventional instruments and probing the relationship between notated and improvised sound. In addition to presenting its own concerts, the ensemble has participated in many of the city’s most prestigious new music festivals with concerts at the Logan Center for Performing Arts, The Arts Club of Chicago, Constellation, Elastic Arts, The Museum of Contemporary Art, The Chicago Cultural Center, and High Concept Labs, in addition to local galleries and more intimate venues. a•pe•ri•od•ic has toured the Midwest with experimental music, premiered numerous works by young, mid-career and more established composers, and welcomed many international composers to Chicago to work with the ensemble. Founded and directed by Nomi Epstein, the ensemble has commissioned, premiered, and recorded works by composers such as Michael Pisaro, Catherine Lamb, Eva-Maria Houben, Jürg Frey, Christian Wolff, Heather Frasch, Tim Parkinson, Magnus Granberg, and Pauline Oliveros. a•pe•ri•od•ic released its debut album,more or less, featuring the music of Jürg Frey, in 2014, and its second album,for a•pe•ri•od•icin 2019, both under New Focus Recordings. a•pe•ri•od•ic has received funding from the Swiss Arts Council, the Earle Brown Foundation, the Goethe Institute, and the Foundation of Contemporary Arts. Program Jürg Frey: Fragile Balance (commissioned by a•pe•ri•od•ic, 2014) Nomi Epstein: combine, juxtapose, delayed overlap (2013/2017) Kunsu Shim: Happy for no reason (2000) Michael Pisaro: festhalten/loslassen (commissioned by a•pe•ri•od•ic, 2013) Cat Lamb: line/shadow (2011) This concert is partially supported by New Music Inc.

Talk Artists in the Archive

A Round Table Discussion with Carmin Wong and Monthati Masebe <a href="https://givebutter.com/artists-archive">RSVP</a> Castle of our Skinsinvites you to a round table discussion led by Carmin Wong (poet, playwright, digital humanist, and Creative-in-Residence at Castle of our Skins) and Monthati Masebe (composer, pianist, African indigenous instrumentalist, and featured guest artist for "<a href="https://www.goethe.de/ins/us/en/sta/bos/ver.cfm?event_id=26117111">Kusha</a>" on December 15th, also at the Goethe-Institut Boston). The discussion will center around the definition of “archive,” what it means for today’s artists, and the different ways people engage with these records. As today’s archives should be a living and ever evolving collection that embodies the centered being of the artist, Carmin and Monthati will reflect on their individual experiences as black women in this space. Also part of the discussion is accessibility to accessing archives, beyond the standard institutional libraries that are present in academia. Participants will dive deeper into decolonizing these spaces that prohibit those from accessing resources, along with brainstorming ways to move forward with practicable access points to view artists’ work. The final part of the conversation will focus on storytelling and the importance of allowing room for speculation and imagination in artistic work. Participants will reflect on how archives can embrace multiple perspectives and discuss ethical approaches for archiving today. Audience participationis encouraged throughout the 60-minute discussion, offering a chance for collaborative engagement. This project is part of round 13 of the Goethe-Institut's International Coproduction Fund, year 2023. The project "Other Histories" deals with the topic "archive" from multiple perspectives and developed out of the two-day Symposium "<a href="https://www.goethe.de/ins/us/en/sta/bos/ver/diversity-in-new-music.html">Diversity in New Music</a>" held at the Goethe-Institut Boston in 2022 in collaboration with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ensemble-recherche.de/?lang=en">Ensemble Recherche</a>&nbsp;(Freiburg).

Winners

New Films from Germany Mona and her Kurdish family have fled their home in Syria and ended up in Germany in search of a better life, but Mona is having a hard time fitting in. She’s still learning German and misses her hometown and playing soccer with her friends. Chaos is the order of the day at her new school, where most of the teachers are worn to a frazzle and the students are just as frustrated with their teachers. When Mr. Che, the coach of the girls’ soccer team, sees Mona’s soccer skills, he puts her on the team. Although they are training for an upcoming tournament for all of Berlin’s schools, the team is anything but harmonious. Mona is singled out and blamed for the team’s troubles. With the tournament quickly approaching, they realize that if they want to win, they must stop fighting, treat each other as equals, and learn the true meaning of teamwork. Soleen Yusef’s second feature is an inspirational, fast-paced coming-of-age film with a fresh, young perspective on the importance of family, friendship, and belonging. Soleen Yusef was born in Duhok in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq in 1987. At the age of nine she and her family fled to Berlin due to the political tensions in her home country. Originally trained as a singer and an actress, in 2008 she began studying fiction directing at the Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg. Her third-year film Trattoria premiered at the 2012 Berlinale. Since making her debut feature film Haus ohne Dach (2016), for which she won awards including the First Steps Award, she has been working on international productions for Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Disney+. Presented as part of “Kids Kino” in collaboration with the German Film Office Dir. Soleen Yusef Germany, 2024 119 minutes German, Kurdish with English subtitles

Vadim Neselovskyi: PERSEVERANTIA

A Suite for Piano and a String Trio (Violin, Viola and Cello) <a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/vadim-neselovskyi-perseverantia-music-for-piano-and-string-trio-tickets-1038899485327?aff=ebdsoporgprofile">Purchase Tickets here</a> In the words of the composer:&nbsp; “My new work tells a story of compassion and empathy, of willpower and resistance, of sincerity and falsehood, of freedom and the arduous path to it. As a Ukrainian, I feel deeply connected to the current events in my country. However, this music is not only about the devastating war raging in my homeland. It speaks to all of us, reflecting on timeless human challenges and the best and worst aspects of our nature. Each of us has our own perseverantia and I hope this music offers a personal experience for everyone who listens.” PERSEVERANTIA&nbsp;is a suite in 11 movements: &nbsp; Before 24 Twenty-Four March Passacaglia I Don't Need a Ride Orwell in Moscow For Refugees Dance of Ignorance Letter from Mariupol Prayer Perseverantia After 24 &nbsp; Vadim Neselovskyi&nbsp;— composer and pianist As a young composer and pianist growing up in Odesa, Ukraine and then Germany, Vadim Neselovskyi discovered that his calling was not to follow any one stylistic path but to become a “creator of music.” He has long since fulfilled this early promise in ways both inventive and unexpected: as a composer whose vision is expansive enough to spark inspired interpretations from a jazz trio and a symphony orchestra alike; as an improviser carving surprising pathways through the straight ahead, the avant-garde, and the indefinable; and as a collaborator valued by peers, mentors and fellow innovators. The&nbsp;Los Angeles Times&nbsp;has praised Neselovskyi’s “extraordinary playing” while&nbsp;The Guardian&nbsp;(UK) called him “the most promising of the young improvisers.” Whether as a pianist, composer, improviser, soloist or bandleader, Neselovskyi creates music that is truly inspired and wholly unique. His work has been played by jazz greats like Randy Brecker, Antonio Sanchez, Julian Lage, and Gary Burton, as well as classical artists (such as Daniel Gauthier, whose recording of Neselovskyi’s “San Felio” won an ECHO Classical Award) and symphony orchestras in the United States and Europe. Neselovskyi's diverse talents have attracted the attention of revered artists crossing the boundaries of genre, including legendary vibraphonist Gary Burton, who famously enlisted Neselovskyi for his acclaimed Generations Quintet; the prestigious Graz Philharmoniker, which performed his composition “Prelude for Vibes” on their New Year’s program; iconoclastic composer/saxophonist John Zorn, who invited Neselovskyi to contribute to The Book Beriah, the final installment of his Masada project; and French horn/alphorn pioneer Arkady Shilkloper, a profound influence with whom the pianist now shares a longstanding duo collaboration. In 2022, he paid tribute to his hometown with&nbsp;ODESA, a ruminative and poetic solo piano album featuring compositions inspired by Ukrainian landmarks like the Odesa Railway Station, Potemkin Stairs, and Odesa Conservatory.&nbsp;The New York Times&nbsp;classical critic Seth Colter Walls recently featured ODESA in “5 CLASSICAL ALBUMS YOU CAN LISTEN TO RIGHT NOW”. Additionally, the album has had recent media hits on&nbsp;NPR Morning Edition,&nbsp;WNYC's&nbsp;All of It with Alison Stewart,&nbsp;The PBS Newshour,&nbsp;The Boston Globe&nbsp;and many others all over Germany, Spain, France, the U.K., and elsewhere. The New York Times&nbsp;writes about the album: “Vadim Neselovskyi’s … pianism shares the qualities of a sculpture carved in ice: finely wrought detail, sharply traced; glinting elegance; coolness to the touch; refractions of light. His right and left hands converse with each other in eager, enchanted dialogue. “ His latest project PERSEVERANTIA&nbsp;for piano and string trio premiered in 2023 to standing ovations in the US, Germany, Austria, Italy, and Poland. The release of&nbsp;PERSEVERANTIA&nbsp;is scheduled for early 2025. Bengisu Gokce&nbsp;— violin Turkish born and raised Bengisu Gokce is a multi-genre violinist and singer, known for combining her Turkish roots with Eastern-European and Middle-Eastern traditions. As a professionally renowned performer, Gokce's versatile playing has led her to share the stage with several music icons, including Mark O’Connor, Tigran Hamasyan, Aynur Doğan, Shreya Ghoshal, Toninho Horta, Shankar Mahadevan, Simon Shaheen, Amal Murkus, and Pablo Ziegler. Throughout her career she has performed in various distinguished venues such as Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Boston Symphony Hall, American Repertory Theater, MFA Boston, Roulette Intermedium, Shapeshifter Lab, Ithra Theatre (Saudi Arabia) and Monte Carlo Salle Garnier (Monaco). She has also been featured in albums and recording projects with Indian tabla virtuoso Zakir Hussain, sitar virtuoso Purbayan Chatterjee, drummer Antonio Sánchez (Pat Metheny Group), clarinetist Ismail Lumanovski (NY Gypsy All Stars), and many more. Gokce was one of the featured artists in the Berklee Indian Ensemble’s debut album Shuruaat, which was nominated for the Best Global Music Album at the 65th Annual Grammy ️Awards. Mina Kim&nbsp;— cello Hailed as “eloquent” by the Boston Globe, Korean-born cellist Mina Kim has been making music in the Boston area since 2010. As an active performer, Dr. Kim enjoys performing with the Rasa String Quartet and Trio Oko. As an educator, she teaches at Phillips Exeter Academy and College of the Holy Cross. Dr. Kim debuted at Carnegie Hall with ROSIN for a fundraiser for the New York Women’s Foundation in 2017. She has also been a featured soloist with USP Chamber Orchestra and the Busan Philharmonic Orchestra. Her recent recording projects include A Far Cry, Awadagin Pratt, and Roomful of Teeth’s collaboration, Stillpoint. The album features Jesse Montgomery’s Rounds, which received a GRAMMY Award in 2024. Dr. Kim has attended various music festivals such as Tanglewood Music Center, Maine Chamber Music Seminar, and Lyricafest. A former member of the Hartford Symphony, Dr. Kim also enjoys being part of the cello sections of numerous orchestras around New England. Dr. Kim has met amazing mentors along her musical journey, including Yeesun Kim, Mike Block, and Terry King, who have helped her become the cellist and musician she is today. Her dream is to become one of the great mentors for emerging cellists and to help them find their musical voices just as her teachers did for her. In 2023, Dr. Kim received a Doctor of Musical Arts degree at New England Conservatory with a minor in musicology. Sofia Nikas&nbsp;— viola An active orchestral and chamber musician, Sofia Nikas is a member of the New Bedford Symphony Orchestra and the Cape Cod String Quartet. As a chamber musician, Sofia has worked with members of the Borromeo, Miró, Pacifica, and Juilliard string quartets. Notable performances include Mendelssohn’s String Quintet No. 2 with violist Roberto Diaz at Tanglewood Music Center, Webern’s Langsamer Satz at New England Conservatory’s Jordan Hall, and Debussy’s Sonata for Flute, Viola and Harp for Performance Today hosted by Fred Child. Sofia was a member of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago for four years, performing in Symphony Center and in public schools around Chicago. She has also performed with the Milwaukee Symphony, New World Symphony, and members of the San Antonio Symphony (now the San Antonio Philharmonic). For the past two summers, Sofia was a fellow at the Tanglewood Music Center, serving as principal viola under the batons of Andris Nelsons and Stefan Asbury. She has also spent summers at the Spoleto Festival in Charleston, South Carolina, Pacific Music Festival in Sapporo, Japan, and Aspen Music Festival in Aspen, Colorado. Sofia received her Master of Music degree from the New England Conservatory studying with Marcus Thompson, and her Bachelor of Music degree from Indiana University Jacobs School of Music with Atar Arad. She has additionally studied with Li-Kuo Chang of the Chicago Symphony and Peter Slowik of Oberlin Conservatory. Originally from San Antonio, Texas, Sofia began playing viola in her public elementary school’s after-school string program. She continues to be an advocate for free and&nbsp;public&nbsp;music education.

STUDIO 170 WEINBAR

Join us for a delightful evening at our Weinbar Raffle and Networking Event! Sip on delicious wine and enjoy tasty bites while supporting your local arts community. Every ticket purchased will go towards Studio 170 to help us meet our goals. Don’t miss out on a night of building connections and community spirit! Cheers to making a difference! Learn more about Studio 170 and our goals: <a href="https://studio170.org/aboutus">Studio 170 at Goethe Institut Boston</a>

The Berliner Philharmoniker @ Goethe

Concert with Berliner Philharmonker musicians &amp; Conversation on Community Engagement with Berliner Philharmoniker and Boston Symphony Orchestra Leadership ﻿Join us for a special evening featuring Berliner Philharmoniker musicians in concert and a conversation with BP General Director Andrea Zietzschmann and Boston Symphony Orchestra President and CEO Chad Smith on the topic of Music Education and Community Engagement. The evening begins with a concert featuring a Violin Trio and a Clarinet Quartet from the Berliner Philharmoniker. This is followed by a conversation with BSO and BP executive leadership exploring what responsibilities large ensembles have to reach out to new audiences and communities and with what goals in mind. Andrea Zietzschmann and Chad Smith will present on their organisations' approaches to community engagement adn education, and discuss where their priorities lie looking to the future. We have invited Boston-area educators, musicians and students dedicated to making a difference through music education and engaging community through music to join us for this evening of music and discussion.&nbsp; Presented in partnership with Celebrity Series and The Berliner Philharmoniker.

Recomposing Home - an Uncommon Perspective of Musical Life in Germany

Trio Gaia performs works by Mauricio Kagel, Clara Iannotta &amp; Clara Schumann In Recomposing Home the Boston-based Trio Gaia presents an uncommon perspective of musical life in Germany, showcasing three global figures of classical and avant-garde art whose careers began, ended, or were shaped by their time in Germany. With her 61-year long career, Clara Schumann is at once an archetype of the 19th-century European virtuoso, yet also a formidable figure who defied social expectations by continuing to teach, travel, and perform in spite of the obligations of marriage and motherhood. Meanwhile, two “ausländers” from opposite ends of the 20th century present intriguing challenges to traditional assumptions of assimilation and homogeneity in German artistic life. Amidst significant cultural renewal post-World War II, we meet Mauricio Kagel of Argentina and Clara Iannotta of Italy; both are part of a new wave of artists drawn to Germany’s rapidly expanding avant-garde community who make Germany their new home in different ways. Kagel moves to West Germany at the age of 26 and stays on in Köln for the rest of his life, eventually succeeding Stockhausen as director of the Cologne Courses for New Music and making numerous indispensable contributions to the city’s musical life. Still based in Berlin today, Iannotta’s story stands worlds apart from her namesake, constantly crossing boundaries of geography and art as her music pushes the standards of experimentation and exploration. In tandem with Harvard Art Museum’s new Special Exhibition, Made in Germany?, this program takes a look at three composers whose varied careers offer a broader view of German artistic identity and recenters the migrant creatives who continue to redefine and enrich the cultural life of the country and beyond. Trio Gaia, New England Conservatory's most recent graduate piano trio in residence, formed in 2018 and is dedicated to offering audiences dynamic, personally relevant experiences inside and outside the concert hall. The trio has won 1st prize at the 2022 WDAV Young Chamber Musicians Competition, as well as prizes in the 2022 Premio Trio di Trieste International Music Competition, 2021 Chamber Music Yellow Springs Competition, and the 2019 Plowman National Chamber Music Competition.

The Goldfish

German Film Screening in Roxbury From life in the fast lane, portfolio manager Oliver (Tom Schilling) ends up straight in a wheelchair: paralyzed after a serious self-inflicted car accident. In addition to a broken body and his new degrading feeling of being “disabled”, Oliver has another problem: He must get his illegally earned money from Switzerland to Germany as quickly as possible. Organizing a group excursion for his disabled living community, who call themselves "the goldfish”, to Switzerland for a camel therapy, seems like his best option.&nbsp;The fast-paced road movie, which challenges the perception of what is considered “normal”, can begin. A great cast with Jan-Hendrik Stahlberg and Axel Stein as autistic people, Jella Haase as the compassionate caregiver, Birgit Minichmayr as a brash blind woman, Kida Khodr Ramadan as a stoic carer and - great discovery - Luisa Wöllisch as a young woman with Down's syndrome, the humor of this fast-paced road movie doesn't stop at any minority - and no majority either. Everything is ruthlessly attacked, laughter can be so liberating.&nbsp; Die Goldfische Directed by Alireza Golafshan Germany, 2019 DCP, 112 minutes German with English subtitles

Parker Hill Branch of the Boston Public Library

Authors Nakia Hill and Sharon Dodua Otoo in Conversation

An open conversation on approaches to supporting Black authors in Boston and Germany Join authors and activists Nakia Hill and Sharon Dodua Otoo for an open conversation on approaches to supporting Black authors in Boston and Germany. Hill and Otoo present from their own experience with creating formats and platforms for Black writers and then invite the audience to join in an open dialog. The aim is to create an inclusive and welcoming space post election for reflection and support. &nbsp; Nakia Hill&nbsp;is a writer, poet, journalist, and educator. She is the author of&nbsp;Water Carrier, a book of poetry,&nbsp;&nbsp;I Still Did&nbsp;It, an intergenerational anthology on resilience and the newly released anthology&nbsp;How We Take Up Space&nbsp;focused on spatial justice.&nbsp;A proud native of Roxbury,&nbsp;Hill was named an artist-in-residence by the Mayor's Office of Arts and Culture in 2018 and a GrubStreet&nbsp;&nbsp;Teaching Fellow in 2023. She is a recipient of multiple awards and honors for her work. She is committed to using her skills and expertise to inspire, inform, and empower others through the power of storytelling. Sharon Dodua Otoo&nbsp;is a novelist and political activist. Otoo won the Ingeborg Bachmann Prize in 2016 with the text "Herr Gröttrup setzt sich hin". Her first novel "Adas Raum" was published by S. Fischer Verlag in 2021 and has been translated into several languages, including two English language versions "Ada's Realm" (MacLehose Press, 2023) and "Ada's Room" (Riverhead Books, 2023). In collaboration with the Ruhrfestspiele, one of the oldest, largest and most renowned theatre festivals in Europe, she curates the Black German-language literature festival "Resonanzen".

Luisa Neubauer and Lydian String Quartet: Beethoven meets Climate Justice in E-Flat Major

Join Luisa Neubauer from Fridays for Future Germany and the Lydian String Quartet for a journey into the universe and back, and a conversation about climate justice. Luisa&nbsp;Neubauer is a youth climate justice activist and lead organizer of the German "Fridays for Future" climate movement. For over five years now,&nbsp;Luisa&nbsp;and Fridays for Future have brought hundreds of thousands of people to the streets. In 2022 TIME Magazine included her among the "100Next" leaders. In „Neubauer vs. Germany“ she and others won a landmark constitutional court ruling against the German government (then led by Angela Merkel) in 2021,&nbsp;forcing the government to improve its climate law. She and others are now suing the (new) German government again. She has published three best-selling books on the climate crisis. One of them is&nbsp;available in English:&nbsp;Beginning to End the Climate Crisis. A History of Our Future,&nbsp;published by Brandeis University Press in 2023. Her&nbsp;Ted Talks&nbsp;on climate action have been watched more than 4 Million times.&nbsp;Luisa&nbsp;Neubauer is currently completing a&nbsp;Masters degree in Geography. She is the host of the award-winning Podcast "1,5 Degrees". A Visiting Research Scholar at the Center for German and European Studies at Brandeis University this fall, she normally lives in Berlin.&nbsp; From its beginning in 1980, the Lydian String Quartet (Clara Lyon and Julia Glenn, violins; Mark Berger, viola; Joshua Gordon, cello) has been acclaimed&nbsp;by audiences and critics across the USA and abroad for embracing the full range of the string quartet repertory with curiosity, virtuosity, and dedication to the highest artistic ideals of music making. Residing at Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts since the group’s founding, the quartet has continued to build a reputation for their depth of interpretation, performing with “a precision and involvement marking them as among the world’s best quartets” (Chicago Sun-Times). From the acknowledged masterpieces of the classical, romantic, and modern eras to new remarkable compositions written by today’s cutting edge composers, the Lydians approach music-making with a sense of exploration and personal expression that is timeless.

Hito Steyerl and Mark Terkessidis on Transatlantic Aspects of Migration

Illegal Migration – A Global Issue While Germany recently implemented border checks to prevent illegal immigrants from entering the country – in contrary to the Schengen-agreements-,&nbsp;Mark Terkessidis argues for a radical intercultural opening. All institutions should be scrutinized to determine whether they actually give people, regardless of their origin, the same opportunities to participate. This is the only way to harness the potential of a diverse society, he says.&nbsp;&nbsp; Terkessidis and Steyerl have met before to talk about the effects of a radical cultural opening of our society. A week before the election in the US, this topic is especially poignant. At this event,Hito Steyerl will interview&nbsp;Mark Terkessidis about the current political situation, the role of political decision-makers, and possible outcomes from the elections in Germany and the USA. This will shed light&nbsp;on how migration, illegal entry and border policy shape the political climate and what benefits a cultural opening of a society could bring. This panel is the last in a series of events organized by the Goethe-Institut Boston that contextualizes exhibition “What is Germany? Art and Identity in a Global Nation” currently on view at the Harvard Art Museums through January 5, 2025.&nbsp;Three of Hito Steyerl’s films related to the exhibition topics can be seen in this exhibition. Hito Steyerl is an internationally renowned artist, filmmaker and writer. She was born in Germany, studied filmmaking in Japan, attended the University of Television and Film, Munich and completed a doctorate in philosophy at the Academy of Fine Arts, Vienna. She currently lives and works in Berlin and teaches as a professor at the art academies in Munich and Berlin. Mark Terkessidis is a migration researcher and author of numerous non-fiction books, including “Whose memory counts? Colonial Past and Racism Today” (2019; Hoffmann und Campe), ” Nach der Flucht.&nbsp;Neue Ideen für die Einwanderungsgesellschaft” (2017; Reclam) and ‘Kollaboration’ (2015; edition suhrkamp).&nbsp;From 2012 to 2018, he was a lecturer at the University of St. Gallen (HSG). Terkessidis studied psychology in Cologne and completed his doctorate in Mainz about racism.

Film Screening Elbow

New Films from Germany Q&amp;A with Director Aslı Özarslan and Author Fatma Aydemir following the screening Hazal’s greatest wish is to have a life. Despite many applications, she isn’t invited to a single job interview. Instead, she is stuck in a Job Centre training program that fails to open up any new opportunities for her. But on her 18th birthday, Hazal feels powerful. It is like the old days when she and her friends believed they could achieve anything as long as they stuck together. It’s only when they’re lining up to get into a hip club that Hazal feels they don’t belong there. And she’s right. The bouncer refuses to let them in. On their way home, they’re verbally abused by an arrogant student. The situation escalates, Hazal’s frustration about all the rejections erupts into a fatal act. Hazal flees headlong to Istanbul, a strange city in a country unknown to her. There, she has to survive on her own, no matter what the cost. Elbow tells the story of a young woman who is pushed out of society and has to reset the course of her life. We want to run through the night with her; we want to know what happens next – for her, and for us all. Directed by Aslı Özarslan based on the novel Ellbogen by Fatma Aydemir Germany 2024 86 Minutes, DCP

S22: conversations

Wondering what to do in Boston? Places to eat? Free activities? Good for a group? Date night spot? Girls night out? The best things to do? Ask Joyraft!

Best places to go in Boston? Things to do? Places to eat?

Questions & answers about things to do in Boston

Recs 💬

Community recs 💬

S4: top picks

The most fun, cool and unique things to do in Boston. Can’t miss events, shows and experiences. Concerts, restaurants, bars, free things in Boston and beyond.

The most fun and cool events happening around Boston

Hot and new things to do in Boston

Hot & new

Hot & new 🔥

S11: happening this weekend

What to do in Boston this weekend? From festivals, concerts, performances, free events, screenings and more, Joyraft has the best things to do in Boston.

25+ things to do in Boston/Cambridge/Somerville this weekend

Things to do in Boston this weekend

This wknd

This weekend for you

S21: roundups

Our top picks: outdoor dining, free events, spring festivals, best bars, upcoming concerts, museum parties - the latest in and around Boston.  Slug: joyraft-top-picks-best-things-to-do-boston-ma

Top picks of the best things to do in and around Boston

Joyraft picks: Boston’s best things to do

Roundups ⭐️

Curated by Joyraft ⭐️

S28: calendar experiences

This week in Boston

This week in Boston 📆

This week 📆

S20: c+d experiences

Discover new, unique events and experiences happening in and around Boston. Perfect for date night, good for a group or with a friend. Be the first to know.

The newest events happening in and around Boston

The newest events on Joyraft

Just added

Just added to Joyraft

S16: editor picks

The most unique and can’t miss things coming up in Boston / Cambridge / Somerville and beyond. Festivals, food, drinks, fairs, concerts, art and free activities.

Unique and Can’t Miss Things to Do in Boston

Can’t-miss things to do in Boston 🚨

Can't-miss things to do 🚨

S2 (A): top experiences

The most popular things to do on Joyraft. Concerts, restaurants, bars, events, parties, openings, kid friendly, date ideas, free things in Boston and beyond.

Top 20 things to do in Boston

Top 20: Joyraft’s most popular

Top 20

Top 20 on Joyraft

S3 (A): trending experiences

Discover can’t miss events and things to do in Boston. The most fun, unique and cool events coming to the Boston area this spring and summer.

The hottest events happening in Boston

Trending events on Joyraft

Trending 📈

S17: interest based

Your guide to everything free in and around Boston. From events, to fairs, to festivals, to outdoors. Joyraft has all the free events happening near you.

100+ free things to do in Boston and beyond

Free things to do in Boston

Free things to do

S19: interest based

Discover kid-friendly fun in Boston, Massachusetts, and surrounding areas! Enjoy hands-on exhibits at the Boston Children’s Museum, explore the New England Aquarium, and visit the Franklin Park Zoo. Find parks, playgrounds, and seasonal events perfect for families across Massachusetts.

Top 20 kid-friendly things to do in Boston, MA

Kid-friendly things to do in Boston

Kid-friendly events

S18: interest based

Where to eat and drink in Boston? Joyraft has Boston’s newest bars, restaurants and specials. Drinks and pre fixe dinner menus. Cambridge & Somerville too.