Open Labs—Flood the Zone with Courage

OpenDemocracyLab - Photo: IG Demokratie

Flood the Zone with Courage

Collection

Open Labs—Flood the Zone with Courage

Flood the Zone with Courage sparks protest not only against something, but for something. Inspired by thinkers like Judith Butler and Hannah Arendt, the project understands protest as the physical manifestation of democracy—not merely symbolic dissent, but an embodied vision for a different future.

Most of the open labs take place in the Pavilion against Indifference, serving as a space for collaborative reflection, exchange, and creative resistance. Together, we explore new forms of protest in times of uncertainty—through dialogue and shared action.

  • LAUGHING STRATEGIES

    ATI Collective (IT/IR/TR/AR), space&designstrategies – University of Arts Linz (AT)

    What does it mean to laugh in the face of crisis? Is laughter a radical act of joy that defies despair, or a dangerous detachment that numbs us to urgency and responsibility?

  • Songs of Resistance

    Nancy Bates (AU)

    Join renowned Barkindji song writer Nancy Bates for Songs of Resistance, a powerful open lab on collaborative songwriting. Create a song of civil courage, resistance, and empowerment in chaotic and challenging times.

  • OpenDemocracyLab

    Stefan Schartlmüller (AT), Lisa Praeg (AT), Martyna Lorenc (PL/AT), Letícia Carneiro (BR/AT)

    Understand political structures as a common good, find effective questions, methods, and levers to renew democracy every day, from the grassroots to all levels. And have fun doing it!

  • Restlessness (Open Lab)

    Alfredo Miralles Benito (ES), Jaime Redondo (ES), Pedro Fraguela (AR), Sayaka Fujio (CL/JP)

    In this open lab, participants are invited to share testimonies, which become a sound layer in the eponymous performance, and embroider words onto an e-fabrics interactive instrument.

  • Night Terrors (Open Lab)

    Lisa Derksen Castillo (NL/ES), Suzanne van Dongen (NL)

    In this open lab, participants are invited to share personal “night terrors,” which are written on canvas and later integrated into a video mapping performance.

  • Humans (Open Lab)

    Isabella Lee Arturo (CO), Mahla Mosah (IR), Martin Müller (DE)

    Rather than perceiving data as mere numbers, this open lab aims to bridge the gap between quantitative information and body-based knowledge.

  • T-NET for Natural Disasters

    Alexandru Berceanu (RO)

    T-NET is an applied theater method to facilitate the processing of adverse life events by creating closure and meaning.

Please note: The program for the Ars Electronica Festival 2025 is still in progress.
We are currently preparing all the information for the website and plan to put the full program online in the coming days – stay tuned!