Document:Q10610

wir_hier is a media project with long-term detainees at a state prison in Vienna, Austria. The performing artist Beate Goebel launched the initiative program in 2003 with the aim to support artistic potential that has so far been neglected and carry creative work out into public space. I joined the project in 2004 as a photographer and video artist. Other members include Helmut Prochart (webdesign), Michael Zagorski (graphic design/animation), Markus Raffelsberger (graphic design/animation) and Maria Pointner (costumes).
wir_hier organizes acting workshops inside the prison and stages small theatre plays, produces audio plays, a DVD with performance work and distributes a selection of art work printed on t-shirts and consumer bags. Regular exhibitions (photography/mixed media) and lectures on any given situation seek to inform the public on the situation of prison inmates and cause public awareness. The website http://www.wirhier.at features previous and current events.
The project is supported by the Federal Chancellary of Austria and the Vienna city council. wir_hier went 4th place at the annual "Innovationspreis der freien Kulturszene Wien".