Ajith Kumparasiri, a musician living in Sri Lanka, is one of many artists today that connect to the issues of the Jewish Kulturbund artists who lived in Nazi Germany. They are musicians, actors, choreographers, dancers, and visual artists, continuing their art despite the pressures, threats, and oppression they experience. They make tough choices about whether to stay in their countries or emigrate, often leaving behind their loved ones. Sometimes they have to flee for their lives. We are telling the stories of these artists, beginning with the Kulturbund and shows how their issues are relevant today.
Ajith is one of the participating artists in our collection of Shared Stories. Please explore sample interviews and stories of our participating artists, below.
Participating artists from around the world
The Jüdische Kulturbund Project is honored to include stories by contemporary artists living around the world who connect to the issues of those experienced by the Kulturbund living in Germany in the 1930s. We explore with the artists issues such as identity, living under oppression, choosing to stay or leave their homeland, and responding to oppression through art and music. Please view our video sampler to understand how we connect the Kulturbund artists to current-day artists living under tyranny.
Each country below contains at least one participating current-day artist who shared a story and interview with the project. We will continue to add to the list as more artists share their stories with us.
Afghanistan
Argentina
Burma (Myanmar)
Cambodia
Chile
China
DR Congo (DRC)
India
Iran
Israel
Mali
Niger
North Korea
Pakistan
Palestine
Poland
Russia
Rwanda
South Africa
South Sudan
Sri Lanka
Sweden
Syria
Uganda
Ukraine
United States
Zimbabwe
Artist stories and sample interviews
Shared Stories
Kulturbund Artists
Featured Short Stories
Theatre Workshop Artists