The Exchange offers a physical framework from which to reflect and exchange on individual and global violence mechanisms. Participants are invited to consider what they believe about the use of violence, where they learned those beliefs, and how those beliefs focus their attention and actions in conflict.

In the current national and international atmosphere of heightened division across racial, religious, and ideological lines, violent interactions increasingly become a common, if unwanted, norm and a sense of hopelessness often arises. Through the actions of listening, speaking, and walking, The Exchange offers participants a way to consider the effect that we, as individuals, have on the systems of interaction that we take part in daily, and how positive change might take place.

Developed in collaboration with the MichaelDouglas Kollektiv. The project is supported by Culture Department of the City of Cologne, Germany, the Land Ministery NRW, the Kunststiftung NRW, the Center for Contemporary Dance, Cologne, the University for Music and Dance, Cologne, ZAIK, the Atelierhaus Quartier am Hafen and the Orangerie – Theater am Volksgarten.