Cultural diplomacy and transatlantic partnership⎮resetNOW! in the HdK

I am speaking with US Consul General Timothy Liston on the most pressing challenges of our time and on US cultural diplomacy for Bavaria/Munich.

The reason for the conversation is the opening of the exhibition "resetNOW! 6th Biennale of Female Artists in the Haus der Kunst Munich" on August 6, 2023 and the support - in particular Kelly Heaton's stay in Munich - by the US Consulate General. US artist Kelly Heaton will be in attendance.

Timothy Liston has been US Consul General in Munich since the end of July 2021, making him the highest-ranking US representative in Bavaria. He is an expert in security policy, international relations and focuses on the transatlantic partnership.

For the first time, the artist association in the Haus der Kunst is devoting the 6th Biennale 2023 exclusively to women: artists whose works are located at the interface between science, technology and art. Invited are 27 national and international contemporary female artists who integrate complex, future-oriented themes and techniques such as AI, cybernetics, augmented reality and bio art into their work.

artists Alexandra Bircken, Birthe Blauth, Tatjana Busch, Luisa Clement, Ursula Damm, Jana Debrodt, Nausikaa Hacker, Kelly Heaton, Alexandra Hendrikoff, Barbara Herold, Franka Hörnschemeyer, Notburga Karl, Brigitte Kowanz, Alicja Kwade, Julia Lohmann, Peggy Meinfelder, Anna Pasco Bolta, Nana Petzet, Anne Pfeifer, Sophia Pompéry, Rasha Ragab, Diana Scherer, Susanne Schütte-Steinig, Selma Selman, Catharina Szonn, Susanne Wiegner, Anne Wodtcke.

The Munich Speech® is an exclusive, international, non-profit series of events, to discuss cutting-edge art- and culture-topics. The name Munich Speech® derives from the celebrated series „Speeking about your own country: Germany“ at the Kammerspiele Munich in 1985 with Joseph Beuys.

Produced and presented since 2014 by Dietlinde Behncke (cultural manager and journalist, formerly at ZDF headquarter Berlin), the focus lies on outstanding positions/ personalities, who change, take action for or develop visions for Munich or change an institution in the world from Munich and who receive direct and immediate attention through the Munich Speech®. Due to the corona pandemic, there were also Munich Speech® digital live streams in 2020-2022.

The events took place three to four times a year until 2022 in André and Dietlinde Behncke's private apartment. The events are currently taking place at behncke gallery, since the gallery was founded on January 31, 2023.
Previous guests in 2017 included Dr. Roger Diederen (Director Kunsthalle Munich) with the FAUST-FESTIVAL MUNICH, 2018 Dr. Angelika Nollert (Director Die Neue Sammlung - The Design Museum in the Pinakothek der Moderne), 2019 2022 Serge Dorny (Bavarian State Opera Director), 2022 Dr. Eva Kraus (Director Bundeskunsthalle Bonn) "No future without transformation?" or Andrea Lissoni (in 2021 and 2022) - Artistic Director Haus der Kunst and Sarah Haugeneder (Boardmember Various Others), Prof. Bernhard Maaz (Director General of the Bavarian State Painting Collections) on the subject of "Art deals with the essence of life" or 2024 Dr. Cathrin Klingsöhr-Leroy (Director Franz Marc Museum, Kochel).