Institut für Neue Soziale Plastik

Projects from a jewish points of view

We develop projects from Jewish perspectives. We focus on the topics of antisemitism in art and culture, Jews in the GDR, early Zionism and the examination of Jewish traditions. Our work as a cultural organization can be roughly divided into two areas: Artistic projects on the one hand and, on the other, offers of advice, further education and networking.

Artistic projects
Consultancy, Training, Networks

Artistic projects

The work of the Institute for New Social Sculpture is often characterized by interdisciplinary productions such as performances, exhibitions and theater. In close cooperation with cultural venues, theaters and museums, our artistic projects cover the topics of contemporary Judaism, antisemitism and the culture of remembrance. One focus of our curatorial work is on making Jewish artists visible and empowering them.

The picture shows the exhibition view of the first tour of the Jewish School of Art. Two abstract paintings in earth tones hang on a white wall in bright exhibition rooms with large windows. In the foreground, an organic-looking sculpture hangs from the ceiling.

Jewish School of Art

The Jewish School of Art is comprised of courses by internationally renowned artists for Jewish students and other young adults who are critical of antisemitism. Through masterclasses and workshops in a range of disciplines the Institute fosters the artistic development of students of the arts and young professionals.

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The picture was taken during Purimshpil 2025 at the Münchner Kammerspiele and presents the performance series House of Diaspora. You can see two people in eye-catching costumes, one with a large hat and the other with a glittering headdress. The characters are King Achashverosh and King Esther.

House of Diaspora

The performance-series House of Diaspora draws on traditions, rituals and themes of the Jewish calendar and transposes them into contemporary artistic settings. House of Diaspora focusses on the diversity of Jewish life in the German Diaspora. It becomes possible to pass on Jewish knowledge, interpretations and cultures, widely unknown in German mainstream culture. One such example are the Institute‘s Purimshpiln that have been staged several times at Munich’s leading Kammerspiele theatre.

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The picture shows the exhibition view of the first tour of the Jewish Art School. Three people are looking at a painting of a vending machine with water bottles, jam jars, fruit and vegetables in a gallery.

Where to now? Jewish survival after 1945

Hundreds of thousands of Jews asked the question Where to now? following their liberation in 1945. At Institut für Neue Soziale Plastik we have taken up this question to explore it anew, creating a series of artistic events in co-operation with Munich’s Kammerspiele theatre. In autumn 2025 Kammerspiele will platform a programme with two world premieres and a dense series of multi-disciplinary accompanying events.

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The picture shows several stacks of the publication »Religion: Dissident« published by the Institute. The cover has a color gradient illustrated by colorful stripes.

jewish cultureclub eastberlin

The project is dedicated to life and work of Jewish remigrants and their descendants, as well as the culture of remembrance and anti-Semitism in the GDR.

The jewish cultureclub eastberlin (jüdischer kulturklub ostberlin) organises film screenings, scenic readings, performances, collects film testimonials with Jews from East Berlin, and has edited a publication with new essays and literary collages. The project’s team offers training for and co-operation with cultural institutions interested in antisemitism or memorial culture of the GDR.

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The picture was taken during the premiere of the play Dualidarity. It shows one of the two actors standing in front of a wall on which images of two large, fragmented Apollo sculptures can be seen. The actor casts a shadow on the wall, showing a hand with outstretched fingers.

Dualidarity – a phonecall under fire

Dualidarity (in the German original: Dualidarität) is a new theatre piece by acclaimed Israeli playwright Avishai Milstein that was commissioned by Institut für Neue Soziale Plastik. Sharply observed and pointedly put it spells out the contradictory reactions of the German theatre world to the events of October 7 and their aftermath.

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The picture shows two people standing in front of a large canvas and speaking into microphones. A colorful, expressive painting can be seen on the canvas.

Writing about ›the situation‹

New texts about war and antisemitism

Through its project Writing about ›the situation‹ the Institute has commissioned new texts by Israeli authors and Jewish authors in the Diaspora. Following October 7 they regularly write new pieces about an evolving present marked by great pain and a lack of security.

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On display is one of the small greenhouses in the exhibition at Messingwerk on 100 years of Jewish migration history in Brandenburg. The house, made of transparent panels, stands in a dark corner of a large industrial hall. The door is open. A video projection is playing inside. A poster can be seen on the outside of the house.

Messingwerk

On display is one of the small greenhouses in the exhibition at Messingwerk on 100 years of Jewish migration history in Brandenburg. The house, made of transparent panels, stands in a dark corner of a large industrial hall. The door is open. A video projection is playing inside. A poster can be seen on the outside of the house.

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Consultancy, Training, Networks

The Institute for New Social Sculpture has a high level of expertise in topics related to antisemitism, art and culture thanks to its many years of collaboration with independent artists, artistic groups and cultural institutions. This knowledge enables us to offer advice and training tailored to the cultural sector, to develop academic handouts and to expand a network of Jewish artists and artists critical of antisemitism.

The image is a still from the video showing the collapse of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge. It shows a car standing on the heavily swaying bridge. Above the image, the title of the study is written in white letters: ‘Resonances. German-Israeli Cultural Relations – Inventory, Trends and Recommendations.’

Resonances: German-Israeli cultural relations

Taking stock, analysing trends and making recommendations

May 2025 marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Germany and Israel. At this occasion Institut für Neue Soziale Plastik takes an in-depth look at German-Israeli cultural relations to assess their status, also by conducting expert interviews.

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Panel discussion at the final event of the project »Reclaim Artistic Freedom: Anti-Semitism Criticism, Art and Culture«. Five people can be seen in front of an audience, with a large projection in the background.

Reclaim Artistic Freedom

The project Reclaim Artistic Freedom is a networking and advocacy project addressing antisemitism in the arts and culture from the points of view of Jewish artists and allies who share the critique of antisemitism.

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A graphic presenting the logo of the Open Arts Hub Berlin. It shows yellow text on a blue background.

Open Arts Hub

Open Arts Hub is the Berlin contact point for cultural practitioners and arts institutions on all issues related to antisemitsm. It is run by Institut für Neue Soziale Plastik together with OFEK, provding added value by combining the two organisations‘ respective experiences.

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