New European Bauhaus

Prof. Dr. Jutta Emes Takes Over as Academic Director of the New European Bauhaus Weimar

If you want to change the world for the better, you have a long and difficult road ahead of you– especially when it comes to the challenges posed by climate change. This highlights the importance of celebrating the milestones that have already been reached: At the end of January 2022, the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar submitted it application for the European Commission’s New European Bauhaus. The EU initiative aims to promote sustainable, aesthetically pleasing and inclusive ideas for climate neutral lifestyles and economies. The Bauhaus-Universität Weimar has applied for a position as one of five pilot projects set to start in 2023.

Last spring, the university called upon instructors, students and staff to contribute their ideas. How can we live in the future? And how do we want to live in the future? How can we reduce the amount of carbon emissions released into the atmosphere? What should a New European Bauhaus look like in Weimar, where the State Bauhaus was founded over one hundred years ago? The Goethe-Institut, the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research and the Klassik Stiftung Weimar, among others, have committed themselves as partners.

Contributions were made by a number of work groups from all four of the university’s faculties, as well as an Ideenlabor, with ideas ranging from a more sustainable approach to textiles to new forms of knowledge exchange. From these suggestions, Prof. Dr. Jasper Cepl, Dr. Franziska Klemstein, Dr. Tonia Schmitz and Prof. Dr. Jan Willmann formulated the EU project application, which summarised the ideas and created a vision for a New European Bauhaus Weimar.

In early February, the group passed the torch over to the new academic director, Vice President Prof. Dr. Jutta Emes, who had previously been a member of the New European Bauhaus steering group and supported its international collaborations. »I see incredible opportunities for the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar as part of this European awakening. We have the chance to inspire others with our research, teaching and art, and others can inspire us to create something new. Reciprocal learning is essential for tackling the challenges posed by climate change, as well as other societal challenges.« The idea of collaborative learning, teaching and designing therefore forms the very core of the New European Bauhaus Weimar: The cooperative aspect of this project transcends disciplinary boundaries — a quality that was also crucial for the historic Bauhaus.

Another change occurred in February: The chair of the steering group, Prof. Dr. Winfried Speitkamp, moved to the new role of State Secretary for Bildung, Jugend und Sport in the Thuringian Ministry of Education. He had previously emphasised that the New European Bauhaus themes should shape the 2020s at the university. Prof. Dr. Jutta Emes, interim President, is equally convinced: This project is about more than just financial support for the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar from the European Union; it is about embarking on a new path. »Future issues, such as sustainable resource use, are key to many of our research projects, part of our seminars and the subject of numerous student initiatives.« Additional New European Bauhaus initiatives launched by both the European Union and the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar can be expected in 2022. All of this bodes well for exciting upcoming projects.

For questions about this article, contact Scientific Editor Dr. Stefanie Waske via e-mail (stefanie.waske[at]uni-weimar.de) or phone (+49 (0) 36 43 / 58 11 24). For questions regarding the New European Bauhaus, contact project coordinator Dr. Helen Fronius, via e-mail (neb[at]uni-weimar.de) or phone (+49 (0) 36 43 / 58 11 23).