Taking over the entirety of Somerset House, the London Design Biennale explores themes that range from the urban environment to traditional practices, sustainability to the humanitarian response to conflict. The Biennale brings together over 40 participants from across the world to enact new forms of international cooperation and participation through design, under the theme ‘The Global Game: Remapping Collaborations,’ chosen by this year’s Artistic Director at the Nieuwe Instituut in the Netherlands.

The EU Delegation to the UK proudly partakes in this year’s London Design Biennale by showcasing the New European Bauhaus. The New European Bauhaus is a European Commission supported, pan European movement that facilitates and steers the transformation of our societies along three inseparable values: sustainability, aesthetics and inclusion. Join us at Somerset House at our info-stand at the Seamen Hall and our public event on Arts and Design as Agents of Transformation on 21 June at 17:00.

The New European Bauhaus is driven by the goal of delivering the European Green Deal, a package of policy initiatives implemented by the European Commission that strives to make Europe the first climate-neutral continent. As inspiration, the New European Bauhaus takes the approach of the well-known 1919 movement founded by German architect Walter Gropius. The original Bauhaus aimed for creative unity while embracing collaboration across different disciplines and sectors. As radical as the concept was, the New European Bauhaus echoes this and aims to build a greener future by promoting a lifestyle that combines sustainability and style, and encouraging people to embed this into their daily lives. Launched by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in 2020, the New European Bauhaus is also a project of capacity-building and resilience, endowed with tools and responses to a broad range of current challenges, including the disastrous effects of Russia’s war in Ukraine.

The London Design Biennale, now in its fourth edition, showcases the ability of design to better the world we inhabit. It brings together the world’s leading design and design-led innovation, creativity and research, in an awe-inspiring programme that entertains, informs and challenges. It runs from 1-25 June at Somerset House, London and is open daily from 11am – 7pm

Further information: https://londondesignbiennale.com/ and https://new-european-bauhaus.europa.eu/index_en

On 21 June at 17:00, the EU-led public event at Somerset House on “Beauty and Beyond” will explore “Arts and Design as Agents of Transformation in the New European Bauhaus”. The constant flux and innovation of aesthetics has become a fundamental dynamic in our society, driving change and transformation. The New European Bauhaus wishes to explore these transformational qualities of aesthetics to tackle current societal and ecological challenges, and discuss the roles, expertise and resources that the arts and design have to offer. The event will ask how we can enhance beauty agency and turn beauty into a public good.

Speakers

• Prof. Dr. Elisa Poli, Head of the NABA Research Programme

• Dr. Jens Badura, Zurich University of the Arts, Zurich Centre for Creative Economies

• Prof. Dr. Florian Hadler, Creative Entrepreneurship, Berlin University of the Arts

Moderated by Aric Chen, Artistic Director, Nieuwe Instituut, London Design Biennale.

Register here: https://londondesignbiennale.com/sessions/2023/beauty-and-beyond-art-and-design-as-agents-of-transformation-21june1700