German Studies Lecture Series : Why the Unpredictable Space Is the Future: Curiosity as a Cultural Force by Nicola Scherer

Please join the German Studies Lecture Series talk entitled, Why the Unpredictable Space Is the Future: Curiosity as a Cultural Force by Gerda Henkel visiting Professor Nicola Scherer. 

Abstract
In a time of overlapping crises—political polarization, economic pressure, and rapid digital transformation—the cultural sector is navigating profound uncertainty. This lecture examines current debates in German cultural policy within a broader international context, focusing on questions of artistic freedom, participation, and institutional responsibility. Drawing on examples from countries such as South Korea, Italy, and Ireland, the talk explores how cultural policy can move beyond reactive crisis management toward more imaginative approaches. It argues that the future of culture depends on protecting spaces where ambiguity, experimentation, and reflection remain possible. Rather than controlling complexity, cultural institutions may need to embrace uncertainty—the “unpredictable space”—as a condition for new artistic and social possibilities to emerge. At the heart of this space lies curiosity. Drawing on philosophical reflections as well as artistic practices, the lecture considers curiosity not as a simple interest in novelty but as a cultural and political practice. Curiosity allows artists and institutions alike to question familiar frameworks, remain attentive to the unexpected, and open spaces where new forms of artistic imagination and democratic dialogue can develop.

RSVP for talk by Nicola Scherer

The German Studies Lecture Series is hosted by the Department of German Studies, Stanford University.