Beijing, 2025- EUNIC - European Union National Institutes for Culture – China Cluster has officially launched ‘Ageing Together · Voices Across Time’ a series of cultural activities on the ageing society which will run through autumn 2025 at various addresses in Beijing.
Ageing Together · Voices Across Time consists of film screenings, exhibitions, debates, workshops, and musical performances that bring together artists and experts from both Europe and China in an intercultural and intergenerational conversation that seeks to foster inclusion, social participation and make the elderly feel recognised and valued. Artists, the elderly, families, and communities will gather to create, to share and to remember. The shared ambitions are to find ways to encourage intergenerational dialogue, to offer cultural insight, and to pave the way for mutual inspiration among Chinese and European professionals.
Highlights include:
The exhibition‘Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night’at Danish Cultural Center in Beijing’s iconic 798 Art District, explores the emotional, existential, and experienced realities of old people through contemporary art. Curated by Li Jia and DRC No.12 Foundation, it brings together Chinese and European artists such as Ines Doujak, Youqine Lefèvre, Li Lang, Li Wei & Liang Chen, Ewa Partum, Pu Xiaoyue, Tang Han & Zhou Xiaopeng, Wang Mengfan, and Wang Youshen.
The EUNIC Film Festival, curated by Wild Lin, will be held at various locations in Beijing including Beijing Normal University. The festival presents an exceptional selection of European films such asThe Universe of Klaas Gubbels, It’s Not Over Yet, Walchensee Forever, with post-screening discussions involving directors, students and artists.
A series of cross-cultural and cross-generational workshops and concerts, supported by the Austrian Cultural Forum and led by Matthias Fletzberger, the concerts will bring together the elderly, families, and young musicians to perform together. One evening will be dedicated to honouring caregivers, highlighting the power of music to connect, and inspire and heal.
- A weekend led by Yin Aiwen “Liquid Dependence”, supported by Embassy of The Netherlands curated by Li Jia and DRC No.12 Foundation, Yin Aiwen will perform in her live-action role play game workshop designed to explore a decentralised model of care systems and lecture thanks to her touch will guide audience in to a remarkable experience where sharing will play the key role.
- The devised theatre performance ‘From memory to Script’, organised by the Italian Institute of Culture in cooperation with Austrian Cultural Forum, Embassy of Finland, Goethe-Institut China and the British Council.Curated and led by Martina Morrocchi and an international artistic team made of Uwe Kraeuter, Jukka Ahonen, Nina Dillenz and Yun Hannah and Chloe Whitehouse, will guide elderly participant, in a co-creation, will transform their personal memories into an original stage performance, blending theatre, music, and visual art.
Quotations:
Federico Roberto Antonelli, President of the EUNIC China Cluster and Director of Italian Institute of Culture said:
“In this context, we are inspired by the rich Chinese tradition of respecting, caring for, and including the elderly, a cultural value that reminds us of the importance of intergenerational bonds and community solidarity.”
Li Jia, curator ofDo Not Go Gentle Into That Good Nightsaid:
“The participating artists, from both China and Europe, bring diverse perspectives and artistic languages. Yet their works open up conversations that cross borders, cultures, and generations. In their works we see a defense of personal dignity and the value of life.”
Wil Lin, curator of the EUNIC Film Festival said:
“This festival shows ageing as a shared human journey. Through film, we open space for dialogue and inspiration between generations in Europe and China.”
About the Ageing Together · Voices Across Time partners
EUNIC - European Union National Institutes for Culture -is the European network of national-level organisations engaged in international cultural relations. EUNIC builds a collective approach amongst its members, to strengthen trust and understanding internationally through culture; advocates for the role and recognition of culture as core component of international relations; is a platform for knowledge sharing and capacity building amongst our members and partners.
The series of activities Ageing Together · Voices Across Time is initiated by EUNIC China, and are carried out in close collaboration with local partners.
Contributing EUNIC China members: Austrian Cultural Forum, Wallonie-Bruxelles International, Danish Cultural Center, Embassy of Finland, Goethe-Institut, Italian Institute of Culture, Embassy of The Netherlands, Polish Institute, Polish Institute, Romanian Cultural Institute in Beijing and the British Council.
Local partners: Anxin Family Pension; Taikang Yan Garden Elderly Service; Cuncao Chunhui; and Skye Digital.
The curators of the exhibition Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night are DRC No. 12 Foundation and Li Jia, both are recognised by their diverse and hybrid practices of collectivism, collaboration, and self-organization as artistic strategies across Asia. Alongside Li Jia’s curatorial work, she writes extensively for leading art journals, including Artforum, ArtAsiaPacific, Flash Art, and Yishu.
Wild Lin is curator of the EUNIC Film Festival curator has been extensively work with non-profit organisations, embassies, film festivals, and exhibitions to enhance appreciation for compelling visual storytelling, combat prejudice, and build a bridge for dialogue between China and the world.
Contact details for enquiries
For enquiries in Chinese, please contact:
Name: 杨晓宁
Email: iicpechino@esteri.it-Telephone 01065322187
For enquiries in English, please contact:
Name: Morrocchi Martina
Email: eunic.vat@gmail.com-Telephone: 185147001797
Key dates
Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night from September 27th until November 15thEUNIC Film Festivalfrom 12th October until December 7th
Cross-cultural Concerts from December 1st until the end of December
Yin Aiwen workshop & Lecture November 1st and November 2nd
Devised Theatre Performancefrom October 26th until the end of November
For full listings and up to date project information please visit the following WeChat account.
