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Art campaign on the Oder: Building bridges against isolation!
Art event “Break on through to the OR side” in Märkisch-Oderland on 19/20. and 26/27. July 2025 promotes cross-border dialogue.
Art campaign on the Oder: Building bridges against isolation!
Next weekend the time has come: The Oder will become the setting for an extraordinary art project called “Break on through to the OR side”. This event will take place over two weekends, the 19th/20th. and 26/27. July, on the banks of the Oder near Zollbrücke in the Märkisch-Oderland district. The cultural event is part of the theme year “Connecting Worlds” and aims to use creative interventions to combat isolation and promote cross-border dialogue. Daily Mirror reports that director Heiko Michels emphasizes the importance of the Oder Valley as a mirror of our modern life.
A highlight of the festival will be the ferry connection across the Oder, operated by a Polish-speaking ferrywoman and a German-speaking ferryman, who symbolically transport German-Polish relations. Entry to the exhibition and performance area is free, although donations are welcome to support the art projects.
Art and dialogue across borders
The second weekend will be particularly exciting, when the German-Polish music festival “Liederlistenen” will take place. The project, curated by Heiko Michels and Almut Undisz, brings together artists from different backgrounds, including borderland artists such as Michael Kurzwelly, who presents his imaginary country “Nova Amerika”. Political topics are also addressed, including in a talk on the arms debate moderated by Tomasz Kurianowicz.
The concept of promoting dialogue between nations is not new. Historically, the Oder was of great importance for the city of Frankfurt an der Oder and the neighboring Slubice. After the Second World War, the Oder became the border line between Germany and Poland, which was enshrined in the German-Polish border treaty in 1990. In the early 1990s, the region experienced a rapprochement fostered by a strong cross-border project. Since then, Frankfurt has focused on language, reconciliation and nature conservation Planet knowledge explained.
The path to cultural connection
The number of border crossings has increased more than tenfold since 1990, highlighting the potential for cultural exchange in the region. The street bazaar in Osinów Dolny became an attraction for tourists and shows the economic benefits that have resulted from the opening of the border.
The “Oder-Neiße cycle path” and the “Unteres Odertal” national park are further examples of successful cooperation on both sides of the border. These cross-border initiatives highlight not only the economic but also the cultural connections that extend beyond the Oder.
In this spirit, the art project “Break on through to the OR side” will certainly write another chapter in the history of cross-border cooperation and dialogue between Germany and Poland. Don't miss this spectacular event!