Introducing ETOM-NEB-Lab

Diversity & Values The motto “Diverse Modernism | Modern Diversity” merges as well the heritage and the future perspectives of Modernism: in terms of build heritage and history of modern ideas, and especially focusing the sustainability and resilience of modern values, such as societal emancipation, social equality, and democratic participation. 

Bottom-up background & partners 
The idea for ETOM, for a trans-European co-creation-platform on Modernism and decentralized triennial festival, builds on the “Triennale der Moderne” (TDM) in Berlin, Dessau, and Weimar, which recurred for its fourth festival edition in 2022. The ETOM initiative was born bottom-up during the pandemic in 2021 by the Berlin TDM-curators together with partners across Central-Europe, originating from a loose network based on the 2019 “re-bauhaus”-festival as well as from DOCOMOMO and ICOMOS and from the NEB-community. 

Emphasis on Central Europe & current topicality 
ETOM from the beginning draw special attention on the Central European and Eastern European region, on its significant importance and major role for a stable European unity and cultural resilience, to overcome a persisting, but outdated East-West divide. What is the basis for a common European identity, against all inner and outer threats and conflicts. Very urgently the aggressive war in Ukraine shows the importance to emphasize on Central Europe for the European coherence, not at least relying on cultural collaboration and equal modern values. 

Addressed European potentials 
With the understanding of “Diverse Modernism | Modern Diversity” the ETOM addresses three trans-European core-potentials of Modernism, to be unlocked and further developed trans-nationally by the ETOM-NEB-Lab : (1) the rich and incredibly diverse modern cultural heritage, (2) the diversity of historic protagonists as well as current actors, topics, and formats, and (3) its relevance and diverse perspectives for contemporary challenges and opportunities. 

Cross-sectoral partners & European benefit 
ETOM-NEB-Lab members incorporate four sectors, to build ETOM on a cross-sectoral and thus sustainable collaboration between cultural, civic society and municipal and governmental actors:

• 1. large to small cultural institutions
• 2. civic society initiatives (NGOs) 
• 3. municipal bodies and
• 4. national governmental organization (GOs) 

From each country at least three actors from the four sectors are involved on a parity basis: one cultural institution and one NGO as well as one GO (municipal and/or national governmental organization). The GOs as well act as funding-organizations to provide national/local grants for European grant-applications. 

Common topics & challenges 
Based on the works and needs expressed by araound 40 partners from 15 countries, seven clusters of common challenges and opportunities across Europe were identified to jointly work on for a better sustainable future: 

• 1. Diverse Trans-European Modernism: Dialogue, research, visibility 
• 2. Modernism in Central Europe (CE): The Case of Brutalism and the missing links between East and West 
• 3. Appreciation & Continuation: Modernism – sustainable contemporary cultural heritage and tourism 
• 4. Endangered heritage – Lost Data, Lost Buildings: strategies to capture, unlock, protect, and access 
• 5. Modern Housing – Inhabited Heritage: built substance and social structures 
• 6. Modern Reuse – Fluid Heritage: innovative and alternative strategies and practices 
• 7. Modern Design: public design and co-design between East and West 

Creative process & sustainable dissemination
ETOM incorporates a circular ecosystem, based on a three-year period, which includes (1) a continuous cross-sectoral capacity building process and (2) a recurring transdisciplinary co-creation process which is beginning and culminating with (3) the triennial ETOM-festival as for public presentation and target/starting-point for the process. The cooperation takes place in cross-sectoral and match-making formats and collaborative cultural productions in a multi-stage co-creation process (5Cs): starting with lessons-learned (co-learning), within the recurring three-years period transnational best practice projects are co-developed (co-design, co-production) and publicly presented at next ETOM-festival (co-presentation and co-evaluation). This fosters long-term cooperation, builds capacity, networks, and target groups, qualified on trans-European level, and achieves sustainable dissemination. 

Special feature: Triangle for Modernism 
In a triangle-collaboration ETOM and the internationally widely connected network-organizations DOCOMOMO international and ICOMOS international have built-up a strategic „Triangle for Modernism“ (TFM) and partnership for dissemination (DIS). This is involving as well the Goethe-Institute (GI) for a broader approach to the general public. The TFM is a long-term partnership and DIS-platform, e.g. based on periodical magazine (DOCOMOMO journal), on joint online DIS-activities and on recurring international conferences. 

Physical Lab-location & hub in Berlin 
For the ETOM-NEB-Lab the BHROX bauhaus reuse in Berlin – official NEB-partner since 2021 – serves as a physical Lab and international hub in the center of the city. The BHROX bauhaus reuse is a transdisciplinary center and participatory urban laboratory. It is built with reused façade elements from the Dessau Bauhaus, from its major post-war renovation in 1976, provided by the Bauhaus Dessau Foundation. The BHROX is a foundation by zukunftsgeraeusche GbR, in cooperation with the Berlin District Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf as well as TU Berlin, UdK Berlin and with a multitude of partners and supporters – in Berlin and internationally. 

• See all partners of the ETOM-NEB-Lab