Erasmus+ Blended Intensiv Program (BIP)  in collaboration with Bauhaus University Weimar (Sound Ecologies and Media Environments), the Estonian Academy of Arts (Master of Craft Studies), and Potsdam University of Applied Sciences (Department of Design).

The northeastern coastline of Estonia is extremely rich in oil shale reserves that have attracted the interest of imperial powers and totalitarian regimes throughout the 19th and 20th centuries. The unfettered violence of colonial and capitalist extraction has left behind vast mountains of industrial ash and polluting materials, creating queer ecologies of techno-natural relations that collectively remake environments leaving received boundaries between waste, residue and resource open to continuous renegotiation and change.

During this 5-day workshop, we want to explore the recurrent cycles of decomposition, death and regenerative capacities that are shaping the ambivalent landscapes of extractivism in Estonia, making their queer connections and affinities visible and apparent for critical inquiry and future research.

The field trip will be supplemented with online lectures before and after the field visit. 

The outcome of our field trip will be documented in a shared workbook (digital/online publication) based on group projects with students from all partnering universities. 

Please note that the number of participants from Angewandte is limited to 8 students. To apply, please send a written application, including your CV and a short motivation letter (max 300 words) in English to mitra.kazerani@uni-ak.ac.at by February 17th, 2025. Subject: BIP Application

Make sure you are available to travel between May 18th – 25, 2025 and that you can attend all online classes listed below.

Erasmus+ Program Stipends are available to support travel expenses, accommodation, and per diems.