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Youth Exchange | 26 October-2 November 2024 | Innsbruck, Austria
Left: Hassandra, photo by Josh Regitz. Right: Baby Monster, photo by Luz Peuscovich.
Queer/Trans Monstrosity
Why do so many queer people feel a connection to monsters? Why have trans people been writing about their experiences through a lens of monstrosity? What could monster drag look like?
Drag goes beyond drag kings and queens - we can question (gender) norms without adhering to masculinity, femininity or even humanity. In this youth exchange, we want to take participants on a journey into monstrosity in its many forms and shapes. We will not only analyze monsters through a queer and trans lens but also bring them to life by creating monstrous alter egos.
Surrounded by the Tyrolean mountains, participants will also dive deeper into local folklore, queer ecologies and interconnectedness with non-human creatures.
Why do so many queer people feel a connection to monsters? Why have trans people been writing about their experiences through a lens of monstrosity? What could monster drag look like?
Drag goes beyond drag kings and queens - we can question (gender) norms without adhering to masculinity, femininity or even humanity. In this youth exchange, we want to take participants on a journey into monstrosity in its many forms and shapes. We will not only analyze monsters through a queer and trans lens but also bring them to life by creating monstrous alter egos.
Surrounded by the Tyrolean mountains, participants will also dive deeper into local folklore, queer ecologies and interconnectedness with non-human creatures.
What will the exchange be like
Participants will create their own monster persona that they can fully embody in a drag show on one of the last nights (if they want). Participants don’t need to have previous knowledge on drag. We will explore monstrosity in an analytical and embodied way through theory, storytelling, make-up and theater.
As an outcome, we will produce a final performance evening on Halloween (31 October) that will also be open to the queer community of Innsbruck and on which we will produce some video footage.
Participants will create their own monster persona that they can fully embody in a drag show on one of the last nights (if they want). Participants don’t need to have previous knowledge on drag. We will explore monstrosity in an analytical and embodied way through theory, storytelling, make-up and theater.
As an outcome, we will produce a final performance evening on Halloween (31 October) that will also be open to the queer community of Innsbruck and on which we will produce some video footage.
About the organisers
This project is a collaboration between Critical Queer Solidarity and Service Civil International Austria.
Critical Queer Solidarity (CQS) is a Berlin-based intersectional queer activist group that organises international exchange projects, art and political discussions around topics such as drag and gender expression, dating, sexual health, colonial history and queer history.
We understand ourselves as critical of the queer mainstream and try to raise awareness for critical discourses around identities, capitalism and global justice. We want to organise political education projects to support queer people in their process of empowerment, political engagement and solidarity with each other and other marginalized groups. We exist since 2020. We already organised a few drag youth exchanges in the past years. Read more about our work on our website or Instagram.
Service Civil International Austria is the Austrian branch of Service Civil International (SCI), an international peace organisation. We want to promote a culture of peace by organising international volunteering projects and peace education.
In our projects, we bring people from different backgrounds together to promote peace, solidarity and understanding. Service Civil International was founded in 1920 after World War I by Swiss peace activist Pierre Ceresole. SCI Austria is based on Vienna. Website Instagram
The project will be co-facilitated by these creatures:
Deno (they/he) is a non-binary artist, activist and community organizer based in Berlin. Their practice focuses on queer history and ecologies, storytelling, mental health awareness and critical thinking. With his alter ego Baby Monster, Deno explores drag as a form of expression and source of resistance. He co-founded the QT* research group Hot Take and a clown party called Honky Donk. Deno studied Art History and Gender Studies at different universities in Belgium and Berlin. In their master thesis, he analyzed monstrosity as a metaphor for trans rage and its potential for change within the academy.
Thomas (he/they) is a political educator based in Berlin and raised in a village close to Innsbruck. His work focuses on the intersections of queer politics, antimilitarism, global justice, Wikipedia and environmental justice. They have co-founded the collectives Critical Queer Solidarity and Bildung für Utopischen Wandel.
Hassandra (they/them) is a Beirut-born, Berlin-based multidisciplinary performance artist, DJ, MUA and event organizer. They earned a Bachelor’s degree in Theatre and Stage Acting from the Lebanese University in Beirut. Hassandra’s artistic endeavors delve into themes such as migration, nostalgia, and queer archiving. As a co-founder of ADIRA Collective and Critical Queer Solidarity, they are actively involved in these initiatives. Additionally, they co-host the Baby, I’m Home! Podcast. In 2019, Hassandra won the title of Mx. Kotti Pageant, and since then, they have been featured in numerous theatre and film productions both in Berlin and beyond.
We will also have guest facilitators giving more specific input on monster drag. At the moment we’re still in the process of inviting guest facilitators. :)
This project is a collaboration between Critical Queer Solidarity and Service Civil International Austria.
Critical Queer Solidarity (CQS) is a Berlin-based intersectional queer activist group that organises international exchange projects, art and political discussions around topics such as drag and gender expression, dating, sexual health, colonial history and queer history.
We understand ourselves as critical of the queer mainstream and try to raise awareness for critical discourses around identities, capitalism and global justice. We want to organise political education projects to support queer people in their process of empowerment, political engagement and solidarity with each other and other marginalized groups. We exist since 2020. We already organised a few drag youth exchanges in the past years. Read more about our work on our website or Instagram.
Service Civil International Austria is the Austrian branch of Service Civil International (SCI), an international peace organisation. We want to promote a culture of peace by organising international volunteering projects and peace education.
In our projects, we bring people from different backgrounds together to promote peace, solidarity and understanding. Service Civil International was founded in 1920 after World War I by Swiss peace activist Pierre Ceresole. SCI Austria is based on Vienna. Website Instagram
The project will be co-facilitated by these creatures:
Deno (they/he) is a non-binary artist, activist and community organizer based in Berlin. Their practice focuses on queer history and ecologies, storytelling, mental health awareness and critical thinking. With his alter ego Baby Monster, Deno explores drag as a form of expression and source of resistance. He co-founded the QT* research group Hot Take and a clown party called Honky Donk. Deno studied Art History and Gender Studies at different universities in Belgium and Berlin. In their master thesis, he analyzed monstrosity as a metaphor for trans rage and its potential for change within the academy.
Thomas (he/they) is a political educator based in Berlin and raised in a village close to Innsbruck. His work focuses on the intersections of queer politics, antimilitarism, global justice, Wikipedia and environmental justice. They have co-founded the collectives Critical Queer Solidarity and Bildung für Utopischen Wandel.
Hassandra (they/them) is a Beirut-born, Berlin-based multidisciplinary performance artist, DJ, MUA and event organizer. They earned a Bachelor’s degree in Theatre and Stage Acting from the Lebanese University in Beirut. Hassandra’s artistic endeavors delve into themes such as migration, nostalgia, and queer archiving. As a co-founder of ADIRA Collective and Critical Queer Solidarity, they are actively involved in these initiatives. Additionally, they co-host the Baby, I’m Home! Podcast. In 2019, Hassandra won the title of Mx. Kotti Pageant, and since then, they have been featured in numerous theatre and film productions both in Berlin and beyond.
We will also have guest facilitators giving more specific input on monster drag. At the moment we’re still in the process of inviting guest facilitators. :)
Practicalities
Financial conditions:
- Food and accommodation during the exchange will be provided;
- Travel costs will be reimbursed after the exchange up to an agreed limit depending on the sending country;
- We strongly encourage green travel (i.e. avoid travel by plane, if possible; instead travel by train and bus). We are available to give you advice on this and can offer a higher travel budget for eco-friendly options;
- Other necessary expenses, such as visa fees will be reimbursed after approval by organisers.
Simple life: The exchange will take place in a seminar house with simple living conditions close to Innsbruck, Austria. You will sleep in a room shared with a few other people and will be involved in cleaning and cooking tasks.
Sustainable food: The food we provide will be vegan. This is not just a practical decision, but also an ideological one: SCI and CQS believe in the values of sustainability and climate justice – and if we want to contribute to a more peaceful planet, we need to give up on industrialised animal agriculture and its destructive effects on our planet. After being accepted to the exchange, you can tell us if you have any diets, allergies or intolerances that we should be aware of.
Financial conditions:
- Food and accommodation during the exchange will be provided;
- Travel costs will be reimbursed after the exchange up to an agreed limit depending on the sending country;
- We strongly encourage green travel (i.e. avoid travel by plane, if possible; instead travel by train and bus). We are available to give you advice on this and can offer a higher travel budget for eco-friendly options;
- Other necessary expenses, such as visa fees will be reimbursed after approval by organisers.
Simple life: The exchange will take place in a seminar house with simple living conditions close to Innsbruck, Austria. You will sleep in a room shared with a few other people and will be involved in cleaning and cooking tasks.
Sustainable food: The food we provide will be vegan. This is not just a practical decision, but also an ideological one: SCI and CQS believe in the values of sustainability and climate justice – and if we want to contribute to a more peaceful planet, we need to give up on industrialised animal agriculture and its destructive effects on our planet. After being accepted to the exchange, you can tell us if you have any diets, allergies or intolerances that we should be aware of.
Who can participate?
Be queer, questioning or an ally! This project is made by LGBTQIA+ people for LGBTQIA+ people, those who are on discovery for their sexual or/and gender identity and strong allies. With this project, we want to create a safer space for all of those of us who identify with being trans, inter, non-binary, lesbian, gay, bisexual, pansexual, asexual and queer.
People with multiple discriminations prioritized. We will prioritize applications by LGBTQIA+ people who also experience other forms of discrimination (e.g. racism, classism, ableism). We want to include diverse identities within the LGBTIQA+ community.
Safer space and awareness: While we acknowledge that it is not possible to create a safe space and exchanges like this are always also learning spaces, we will do our best to make the project a safer space, to create an awareness concept and take the individual needs of all participants into account.
Accessibility: The venue is within walking distance from a tram that can be taken directly from the Innsbruck train station. There are a few stairs up to the entrance of the building. The venue has a quiet room in case of sensory overload. Please let Deno (honey@cqs.berlin) know if you have any specific questions or needs around accessibility that you’d like answered before applying.
Living in Armenia, Austria, Germany, Kosovo or Poland and be between 18 and 30! We unfortunately cannot make exceptions due to our funding. The “group leader” from each country can also be above 30 years old.
Be able to participate in the whole period 26 October-2 November 2024! Due to our funding, we cannot reimburse you for your travels or other expenses if you arrive late to the project or leave early.
You don’t need to have experience at all! This project is made for people who are just interested in doing drag, but don’t have much experience or no experience at all with doing it yet. If you’re more experienced with drag, please be prepared to share your knowledge and enthusiasm with newcomers!
Be queer, questioning or an ally! This project is made by LGBTQIA+ people for LGBTQIA+ people, those who are on discovery for their sexual or/and gender identity and strong allies. With this project, we want to create a safer space for all of those of us who identify with being trans, inter, non-binary, lesbian, gay, bisexual, pansexual, asexual and queer.
People with multiple discriminations prioritized. We will prioritize applications by LGBTQIA+ people who also experience other forms of discrimination (e.g. racism, classism, ableism). We want to include diverse identities within the LGBTIQA+ community.
Safer space and awareness: While we acknowledge that it is not possible to create a safe space and exchanges like this are always also learning spaces, we will do our best to make the project a safer space, to create an awareness concept and take the individual needs of all participants into account.
Accessibility: The venue is within walking distance from a tram that can be taken directly from the Innsbruck train station. There are a few stairs up to the entrance of the building. The venue has a quiet room in case of sensory overload. Please let Deno (honey@cqs.berlin) know if you have any specific questions or needs around accessibility that you’d like answered before applying.
Living in Armenia, Austria, Germany, Kosovo or Poland and be between 18 and 30! We unfortunately cannot make exceptions due to our funding. The “group leader” from each country can also be above 30 years old.
Be able to participate in the whole period 26 October-2 November 2024! Due to our funding, we cannot reimburse you for your travels or other expenses if you arrive late to the project or leave early.
You don’t need to have experience at all! This project is made for people who are just interested in doing drag, but don’t have much experience or no experience at all with doing it yet. If you’re more experienced with drag, please be prepared to share your knowledge and enthusiasm with newcomers!
How can I apply?
You can find the application form here (You cannot edit it directly there, you need to download it). Please fill it out by 25 July 2024 and send it to the sending organisation in your country of residence:
♥ Germany and Austria: Critical Queer Solidarity / SCI Austria – honey@cqs.berlin
♥ Armenia: PINK Armenia - info@pinkarmenia.org
♥ Poland: You Simply Can Foundation -
♥ Kosovo:
We are looking forward to your application :-) Deno, Thomas and the Critical Queer Solidarity and SCI Austria team
You can find the application form here (You cannot edit it directly there, you need to download it). Please fill it out by 25 July 2024 and send it to the sending organisation in your country of residence:
♥ Germany and Austria: Critical Queer Solidarity / SCI Austria – honey@cqs.berlin
♥ Armenia: PINK Armenia - info@pinkarmenia.org
♥ Poland: You Simply Can Foundation -
♥ Kosovo:
We are looking forward to your application :-) Deno, Thomas and the Critical Queer Solidarity and SCI Austria team
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