About
The Jam Factory Art Center`s team initiated this podcast to “delineate the frames” of participatory art practices, understand the challenges, and define community engagement practitioners’ terminology. We talk about activism and inclusion, the social and creative, about artists who go to people and people who create together. In our discussions, there will be a “before” and an “after” of a full-scale invasion: how participatory practices have changed and taken on new meaning in the wake of a massive wave of internal displacement, and how they can help build civil society in the future. How we light up and burn out, tire, and recover together.
The HOW WE STAY TOGETHER podcast is implemented with the support of the international Platform “MagiC Carpets” and co-financed by the European Union Program “Creative Europe” and the HBCE foundation.
A selection of twelve episodes on podcast platforms
- HOW WE STAY TOGETHER on Sound Cloud
- HOW WE STAY TOGETHER on Apple Podcasts
- HOW WE STAY TOGETHER on Spotify
- HOW WE STAY TOGETHER on YouTube
#0 HOW WE STAY TOGETHER. HOW TO LISTEN TO THIS PODCAST // YEVHENIIA NESTEROVYCH AND ANNA GAIDAI
The podcast host, Yevheniia Nesterovych, and the curator of artistic and community programs at the Jam Factory Art Center, Anna Gaidai, make a simple instruction for listening to the podcast HOW WE STAY TOGETHER.
Here, you will learn:
- why did the Jam Factory Art Center initiate this podcast about participatory practices, how it works with communities through art, and who creates art and community programs at the center?
- who is united by the international art platform MagiC Carpets, and how does it help artists and curators develop and work in the socially responsible field of art?
- what does the name “How We Stay Together” mean, how was it created and what areas of work of the Jam Factory included in “How We Stay Together”?
- which of the practitioners in the art field and participation programs are the interlocutors of the podcast?
- whom and why will the HOW WE STAY TOGETHER podcast be useful for?
- the sounds in the podcast’s sound design were created with the Pidzamche community during the participatory practices of the “Unpacking the Sound” residency, led by artists Anastasiia Voitiuk and Vira Ibriamova-Syvoraksha.
Links to projects and institutions related to the idea of the HOW WE STAY TOGETHER podcast:
- section of the Jam Factory Art Center website about artistic and community activities in Lviv;
- Jam Factory Art Center video channel about artistic and community activities in Lviv with the support of the MagiC Carpets Platform;
- the video channel of the MagiC Carpets Platform about art and community projects in various European countries;
- an interview with the curator of art and community programs, Anna Gaidai, about the special features of such programs.
#1 HOW WE STAY TOGETHER: What are Participatory Practices // Yaryna Shumska, Vira Ibriamova-Syvoraksha, Yevheniia Nesterovych
In this episode, we will explore:
- what are participatory practices?
- how long can a participatory project last?
- when does an artist become a mediator?
Links to the projects mentioned by Yaryna and Vira in the conversation:
- the artistic and community program Unpacking the Sound in Lviv
- Terra Mater art and community program in Rome
#2 HOW WE STAY TOGETHER. ROLES AND RULES OF INTERACTION IN PARTICIPATION // YARYNA SHUMSKA, VIRA IBRIAMOVA-SYVORAKSHA, YEVHENIIA NESTEROVYCH
In this episode, Yaryna Shumska, Vira Ibriamova-Syvoraksha, and Yevheniia Nesterovych answer the questions and also talk about:
- why are safety and trust important in participatory practices?
- what are the roles and game rules in participatory practices?
- how much work with group dynamics has changed since the full-scale invasion?
Links to the projects mentioned in the conversation between Yaryna and Vira:
- art and community program “Unpacking the Sound” in Lviv
- art and community program Terra Mater in Rome
- workshop on the Orff approach and sound of Vira Ibriamova-Syvoraksha at the residence “Unpacking the Sound”
#3 HOW WE STAY TOGETHER. WHY PARTICIPATIVE PRACTICES ARE AN ART FORM // YURII KRUCHAK, STANISLAV TURINA, YEVHENIIA NESTEROVYCH
In this episode, we’ll look at such topics:
- why the participatory practices are an art form?
- why have participatory practices gained relevance in recent decades?
- what is the artist’s self-realization manifested in participatory practices?
Links to the projects mentioned by Yurii and Stanislav in the conversation:
- art and community program “Unpacking the Sound” in Lviv;
- art and community program “How We Stay Together” and a video about the program;
- “ateliernormalno” page;
- “OpenPlace” page
#4 HOW WE STAY TOGETHER. ARTIST’S SELF-REALIZATION IN PARTICIPATIVE PRACTICES // YURII KRUCHAK, STANISLAV TURINA, YEVHENIIA NESTEROVYCH
In this episode, Stanislav Turina, Yurii Kruchak, and Yevheniia Nesterovych continue to think about:
- self-realization of the artist in participatory practices;
- mistakes or failures in such activities;
- realization of their own needs by the practices participants.
Links to the projects mentioned by Yurii and Stanislav in the conversation:
- art and community program “Unpacking the Sound” in Lviv
- art and community program “How We Stay Together” and a video about the program;
- “ateliernormalno” page;
- “OpenPlace” page
- workshop “Common Landscape” by Yurii Kruchak and Yuliia Kosterieva (Open Place) at the residence “Unpacking the Sound”
#5 HOW WE STAY TOGETHER. WHAT IS THE ROLE OF INSTITUTIONS IN PARTICIPATORY PRACTICES // YULIIA KOSTERIEVA, ANNA GAIDAI, YEVHENIIA NESTEROVYCH
In this episode, we’ll look at such topics:
- why does participatory art need an institution?
- what is the difference between the solo interaction of the artist and the community and the institution and the community?
- the topic of community building.
Links to the projects that Yuliia and Anna mentioned in the conversation:
- art and community program “Unpacking the Sound” in Lviv
- art and community program “How We Stay Together” and a video about the program;
- “OpenPlace” page
- workshop “Common Landscape” by Yurii Kruchak and Yuliia Kosterieva (Open Place) at the residence “Unpacking the Sound”
#6 HOW WE STAY TOGETHER. MARKERS OF SUCCESS IN PARTICIPATIVE PRACTICES // YULIIA KOSTERIEVA, ANNA GAIDAI, YEVHENIIA NESTEROVYCH
In this episode, Yuliia Kosterieva, Anna Gaidai, and Yevheniia Nesterovych think about:
- communication design in participatory art and signify the markers of the success of the processes.
Links to the projects that Yuliia and Anna mentioned in the conversation:
- art and community program “Unpacking the Sound” in Lviv
- art and community program “How We Stay Together” and a video about the program;
- “OpenPlace” page
- workshop “Common Landscape” by Yurii Kruchak and Yuliia Kosterieva (Open Place) at the residence “Unpacking the Sound”
#7 Yevheniya Nesterovych, Lyuba Ilnytska, Nina Khizhna // Theater and participatory practices. Experiences of the body
In this episode, Lyuba Ilnytska, Nina Khizhna, and Yevheniya Nesterovych discuss:
- How does theater work with participatory practices and, especially, with experiences of the body?
- What is the relationship between Ukrainians’ self-reliance and the need to support each other during wartime?
- Which of these skills can be gained in participatory programs?
Links to projects mentioned in the conversation between Lyuba and Nina:
- the art and community program “How We Are Together” in Lviv
- a video about the program “How We Are Together”
- the performance “The Art of Democracy. The Art of Love“ as part of the ”Parade-fest” festival (Kharkiv)
- “Someone Like Me” — a performative physical monodrama by Nina Khizhna
- (DIS)CONNECTED: POLARIZATION IN UKRAINIAN SOCIETY. Results of a study by the OPORA Civil Network and the Kyiv School of Economics, conducted by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (September 2024)
#8 Yevheniia Nesterovych, Liuba Ilnytska, Nina Khyzhna // How to Consider Different Voices. Transfer of Experiences
In this episode, Liuba Ilnytska, Nina Khyzhna, and Yevheniia Nesterovych answer the following questions:
- What is empathetic and sustainable creative work?
- How does theatre give space to different voices?
- They also discuss how experiences can be shared with international colleagues and whether there is a demand for this.
Links to the projects mentioned by Liuba and Nina in the conversation:
- the art-and-community program “How We Are Together” in Lviv
- a video film about the program “How We Are Together”
- guides of the volunteer project “How Are You, Brother?”, which aims to collect best practices on how to maintain relationships, restore connection, and support each other during the war, and to share these practices among all Ukrainians, members of the military and civilians
#9 Yevheniia Nesterovych, Asia Tsisar, Liubomyr Tymkiv // What Fear and Anxiety Teach Us in Community-Building Practices
In this episode, Asia Tsisar, Liubomyr Tymkiv, and Yevheniia Nesterovych explore the following questions:
- How do participatory projects bring strangers together through working with family memory?
- What can fear and anxiety teach us in community-building practices?
Links to the projects mentioned by Asia and Liubomyr in the conversation:
- the art-and-community program “Who keeps the memory in Lviv
- the community festival “Who keeps the memory in our families” in Lviv
- a video film about the art-and-community program “Who Remembers”
- Post Bellum-Ukraine — Documenting. Telling stories. Strengthening. Ukrainian voices in history and the future
- the research department “Tymutopiapress”, gallery and Mail Art Museum
#10 Yevheniia Nesterovych, Asia Tsisar, Liubomyr Tymkiv // Shared Space: What Makes It Safe?
In this episode, Lyubomyr Tymkiv, Asia Tsisar, and Yevheniya Nesterovych discuss the following questions:
- how shared space is created and how safety is fostered within it,
- how personal space can become shared and what benefits this brings,
- how communities form around specific territories and across borders.
Links to the projects mentioned by Asia and Liubomyr in the conversation:
- the art-and-community program “Who keeps the memory” in Lviv
- the community festival “Who keeps the memory in Our Families” in Lviv
- a video film about the art-and-community program “Who Keeps the Memory”
- War Childhood Museum // Museum of War Childhood
#11 Yevheniia Nesterovych, Svitlana Tymkiv, Olha Marusyn // Community Art and Participatory Art
In this episode, Svitlana Tymkiv, Olha Marusyn, and Yevheniia Nesterovych discuss the specifics of working with organic communities and community-building, as well as the similarities and differences between participatory art and community art. They also explore how coping strategies in crisis situations resonate with ritual practices.
Links to the projects mentioned by Svitlana and Olha in the conversation:
- the art-and-community program “Who Keeps the Memory” in Lviv
- the community festival “Who Keeps the Memory in Our Families” in Lviv
- a video film about the art-and-community program “Who Keeps the Memory”
- video documentation of the performative practice “Exercises Around Emptiness” by participants of the “Who Keeps the Memory” program
- “Jam for Bread”, an article by Svitlana Tymkiv, invited expert of the “Who Keeps the Memory” program, on community art and participatory practices
- “Like a Fish in the City”, a quest created on the initiative of the City Museum with children’s participation
- “Musical” — in 2022, a musical ensemble gathered at a Lviv shelter managed by the volunteer initiative “Kitchen-Lviv”, curated by Olha Marusyn
- soma workshop
#12 Yevheniia Nesterovych, Svitlana Tymkiv, Olha Marusyn // New Rituals. Self-Reliance. Magic
In this episode, Olha Marusyn, Svitlana Tymkiv, and Yevheniia Nesterovych reflect on new forms of ritual, self-reliance, and magic in participatory projects, as well as the role of attention and imagination in community-based art.
Links to the projects mentioned by Svitlana and Olha in the conversation:
- Episode #3 Why Participatory Practices Are Art // Yurii Kruchak, Stanislav Turina, Yevheniia Nesterovych // Podcast How We Are Together
- City Museum
- “Musical” — in 2022, a musical ensemble gathered at a Lviv shelter run by the volunteer initiative “Kitchen-Lviv”, curated by Olha Marusyn
- the art-and-community program “Who Keeps the Memory” in Lviv
- the community festival “Who Keeps the Memory in Our Families” in Lviv
- a video film about the art-and-community program “Who Keeps the Memory”
- video documentation of the performative practice “Exercises Around Emptiness” by participants of the “Who Keeps the Memory” program
Read the book
The handbook offers an overview of the approaches and practices of four artists who participated in the How We Stay Together residency at the Jam Factory Art Center in Lviv. It recounts their observations and illuminates small discoveries and big revelations. This publication aims to provide insight into how one can be sensitive to own conditions and reach out to diverse audiences and different age groups, expanding the understanding of inclusiveness.
Online Handbook How We Stay Together
Team
Podcast host: Yevheniia Nesterovych
Guests: Anna Gaidai, Yaryna Shumska, Vira Ibriamova-Syvoraksha, Yurii Kruchak, Stanislav Turina, Yuliia Kostereva
Curator: Anna Gaidai
Managers: Elena Subach, Sofiia Korotkevych
Communication managers: Lesia Dunets, Yuliana Chorna
Technical support: Sebto Media
The unique sound design of the podcast is based on the voices and sounds recorded during the participatory practices of the artistic and community residency ‘Unpacking Sound’ (Lviv 2023)