As of May 2024, the number of forcibly displaced people in the world has reached a staggering 120 million, marking another historic increase and the twelfth consecutive annual rise in the global figures for forced displacement. Apart from the official numbers of registered/counted refugees and asylum seekers, there are millions of those who find ways to stay in a safer state by applying for student, work or artist visas hoping that those would help them smoothlier integrate into new cultures and bureaucratic systems.
Initially conceived in 2023 by the team of Musik der Jahrhunderte Stuttgart as an independent virtual space for creation and exchange that aims to support politically persecuted artists from Belarus, PlatformB soon decided to address a broader public and invite for collaboration musicians, performers and writers whose exile was not geographically connected with any particular region of the world.
We believe that talking with/about artists in exile is crucial for amplifying silenced voices and ensuring diverse cultural perspectives in cross-cultural landscape. Often coming from backgrounds where their voices are suppressed and their lives physically at risk, exiled artists have a lot to share and teach relatively problem-free European community–they can show examples of resistance and courage, but also of empathy and hope. Moreover, by preserving their cultural heritage, exiled artists keep traditions alive and accessible, promoting collaboration beyond nation states. And PlatformB is proud of contributing to this polylogue.
In addition to working on the regular updates of our diverse content, being a project of Musik der Jahrhunderte Stuttgart, PlatformB is engaged in organizing festivals and exhibitions built around the experimental musical core. We prioritize collaborations that bring together multiple actors representing different disciplines. Our goal in this regard is to create a vibrant and inclusive space that engages, enriches and supports.
Our Team
Christine Fischer–artistic director of Musik der Jahrhunderte
Olga Bubich–interviewer, translator
Hanna M.–communication management
Anton Zherebnov–SMM