„Standing Strong“: Strategies for resilience
25 February 2026 | 1:30 pm - 4 pm | online
Our event ‘Standing Strong’ examines the topic of resilience from two perspectives:
1. Cultural policy level – strategies for making the arts and culture scene as a whole more resilient.
2. Individual level – stress management and strengthening resilience in everyday working life.
Experience exciting ideas, practical tips and inspiring discussions – for individuals as well as for the community of creative professionals.
Schedule (brief overview)
1:30 p.m.: Welcome & introduction
1:45 p.m.: Lecture ‘Hook in instead of buckling’ – Fatima Çalışkan
3:00 p.m.: Keynote speech on resilience & stress management – Dr. Isabella Helmreich
Register here!
Hook in instead of buckling
Cultural policy strategies in times of exhaustion
Those who create art often love the adrenaline rush – but that belongs on stage, not in everyday life. Today, artistic work is characterised by funding cuts, a lack of workspaces and political uncertainties. Fatima Çalışkan's lecture is a shared space for reflection: a place to exchange experiences, knowledge and perspectives. The aim is to develop strategies together to become stronger and more resilient.
Fatima Çalışkan
Fatima Çalışkan is an internationally active author and presenter. In her artistic work, she combines in-depth research with entertainment, writing, performing and directing dramatic and satirical productions, including at the Volksbühne am Rosa-Luxemburg-Platz and Ballhaus Ost. As a presenter, she imparts knowledge, conducts critical analyses and moderates conferences, political panels and artist talks. Her focus is on art and cultural policy issues, on which she produces analyses and essays for think tanks, foundations and associations.
Resilience – what strengthens mental resilience
The keynote speech will focus on sharing knowledge about the current state of research on the topic of resilience. It will also highlight how evidence-based measures to promote resilience can be used as a preventive approach to improving health.
The presentation will also introduce various ‘protective factors’ and show how these can be trained to better cope with everyday and professional stress and to remain healthy and confident despite these stresses.
Dr. phil. Dipl.-Psych. Isabella Helmreich
Dr. Helmreich is a licensed psychotherapist and expert in health prevention, particularly resilience promotion. She works for the Leibniz Institute for Resilience Research and in the outpatient clinic of C. Fresenius University. She also works as a lecturer/consultant on the topics of resilience promotion in the field of behavioral and situational prevention and is co-author of a book.
