Solidarity with Black Stammtisch

Venue: In the shamiana meeting space

At the Löwenbräukunst Open House 2026 as well as on the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, the Canopy Session with Black Stammtisch is dedicated to the museum's annual theme of solidarity. The community-based discussion picks up on the exhibition chapter Insurgent Communities and explores how communities develop cohesion, care and resilience under difficult conditions. It addresses questions such as: Where does solidarity begin, who does it belong to, who decides whose pain and voices become visible?

The Stammtisch focuses on listening as a tool for racism prevention. It calls for empathy, self-reflection and questioning one's own prejudices. During the Stammtisch discussion, the audience is invited to sit in the circle and follow the conversation. At the same time, the Stammtisch celebrates Black Joy – the joy, solidarity and positive experiences within the Black community that are made visible and tangible for everyone.

Founded in 2021 byWalesca Frank as part of her master's thesis at the ZHdK, the Black Stammtisch offers the Black community in Switzerland a safe space for exchange and shared experiences. In addition to discussions, activities such as skiing, hiking and concert visits are organised to break down social barriers and strengthen the community. The project was supported by Armelle Ako, Cevinica Singleton and Laura Yuri Kaufmann, among others. In 2024, the Black Stammtisch was part of the participatory exhibition Stretching Thresholds, Holding Streams at the Migros Museum für Gegenwartskunst.

The Canopy Sessions are a series of talks with actors from art, culture, science and activism in the Shamiana meeting space, an open textile structure in the exhibition Disobedience Archive (Canopy for Broken Time) – In Dialogue with Raqs Media Collective. Here, archives can be experienced as living spaces for storytelling, remembrance and the transmission of knowledge. In addition to talks and readings, the sessions also include practices from our everyday lives that show how deeply knowledge is stored in ourbodies. Each session takes up the chapters of the exhibition and asks how shared vulnerability can lead to new forms of attention, relationship and solidarity.

Awareness: This evening is a space for listening, reflection and respectful exchange. The audience is invited to respond attentively and thoughtfully to the conversations and to formulate questions as open feedback. Everyone present is responsible for treating each other with respect. Together, we contribute to ensuring that this space remains safe, mindful and appreciative.

• Language: Swiss-German, German
• Barrier-free access (lift)
• Seated event (chairs with backrests)
• Bright direct light
• No registration required
• Free of charge