The artist John Yeadon from Coventry had the idea of founding Coventry/Dresden Arts Exchange (originally a working title) and in 2011 he reached out with the help of Coventry Association For International Friendship to Deustsch-Britisch Gesellschaft in Dresden and at the opening of the Dresden Trust’s British German Friendship Rose Garden in Dresden, contact was made with Dresden artists Monika Marten and Jean Kirsten. This was the tentative beginnings of setting a dialogue with Coventry and Dresden artists, of collaborative exhibitions, projects, residencies, talks and forums.
Coventry/Dresden Arts Exchange began with an exhibition by Jean Kirsten “For R. Laban” at the Roots Gallery (Glass Box) in Coventry which launched Coventry Peace Month 2012.
During Jean’s residency he was able to develop his research in to Rudolf Laban theories which stretch far beyond dance; they are utilised worldwide in acting, ergonomics, personality assessment, and dance-movement therapy. Jean visited Dartington Hall in Devon where Laban sought refuge in 1938 and the Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance in London. This establish the idea that the Coventry Dresden residency is not just a residency in Coventry but can encompasses visits around Britain and areas of research initiated by the residency
