Community project »Futur X – When is Tomorrow?«

The problem of time is nothing new. Even Aristotle grappled with the question of how to comprehend this phenomenon. His tripartite division into past, present and future ultimately proves inadequate, as time constantly shifts and blurs these boundaries. A moment that was the future just a moment ago is already a thing of the past in the blink of an eye. So, the question of which moment we are truly living in is anything but simple. This season, the Elbphilharmonie takes this inquiry further in its community project »Futur X«, asking: When is tomorrow? What shape does it take? What does it feel like? And what does it sound like?

In their quest for answers, 85 Hamburg residents have come together to shape and express a shared vision of the future through art. Since September, they have been meeting regularly at the Elbphilharmonie Kaistudio and the Bugenhagenschule school in Alsterdorf – sharing their dreams, hopes, fears and personal stories, forming bonds and friendships along the way. Guided by professional artists, they channel their emotions into music and original compositions, into songs, poems and stories, into movements and a collective choreography – all with the aim of bringing their vision of tomorrow to life on stage in the Elbphilharmonie Grand Hall.

For Evelina Dineva, this project holds special meaning – it is her farewell to Hamburg. This summer marks the beginning of a new chapter in her life, as she prepares to move to the USA. Her husband and their two daughters relocated to Bloomington, Indiana, four years ago, while Evelina remained in her home city. It took time for Hamburg to truly feel like home. When her parents emigrated from Bulgaria in the 1980s, Evelina was just 13. Her father’s job in the shipping industry brought the family to Germany, initially intended as a temporary stop. But then they ended up staying. Evelina completed her schooling in Germany, studied mathematics and later applied her numerical skills to neuroscience in her doctoral thesis, focusing on the cognitive development of infants and children. She is especially intrigued by how we learn physical movement sequences – a fascination that led her beyond academic theory and into the world of dance. Participating in dance projects became a meaningful counterbalance to her desk-bound work and deepened her appreciation for the aesthetics of movement.

She also opted for the »Dance« workshop at »Futur X«. »The people who take part here are all open-minded and keen to learn something new.« Shared experiences help bring people together. One particularly memorable moment involved all participants holding hands and synchronising their breath: »That collective pause felt really good. I felt a deep connection – we were a community with a shared destiny.« Another lasting image in her mind is of an exercise that explored the dynamics of closeness and distance. Considering the potential for climate change to drive future migration, societies will need to rethink how they allocate and share living space. »It helps us confront important issues within our movements and create expressive moments,« she reflects. She remains deeply concerned about these issues, especially given the current political climate in the United States. Still, she stays hopeful: »What truly gives me hope is the solidarity among people. If we share our resources instead of fighting over them, we can accomplish so much,« she says, aspiring to contribute to building stronger communities that transcend national borders.

Ali Khademi also attends the »Dance« workshop – although everyone who knows him would expect him to be in the »Word« group. Ali is a passionate actor with a strong affinity for text and literature. Originally from Iran, he writes his own poems, plays and short film scripts. He recently translated a book on improvisational theatre into Persian and had it published in Iran. At »Futur X«, however, he is eager to explore new challenges. Embracing the unknown has always been his guiding principle. »Whenever I’m faced with a choice, I choose to go for it. That way, I don’t miss out on anything and avoid the regret of wondering what might have been if I hadn’t given it a shot.«

Ali’s decision to move to Germany is another turning point in his life. At just 16, he developed a sudden fascination with the country, its language and culture. He enrolled in a language course, swiftly advanced through all proficiency levels, and began studying German in his home city of Isfahan. Then in 2020, he made his dream a reality by moving to Hamburg, where he completed the Studienkolleg to qualify for university admission and briefly considered studying education – after all, he had greatly enjoyed teaching German in Iran. However, the academic approach felt too theoretical for him, so he decided to pursue vocational training instead, which he will complete in two years. What comes next is still open. He’s brimming with ideas and has a strong interest in psychology and film production – either of which could become his next path. But Ali isn’t in a rush to decide. He trusts his instincts to guide him when the time is right.

Ofelia Maresz’s story is quite different. At just 16 years old, she is the youngest participant in the community project, yet she already has a clear vision for her future. She plans to study music, with a focus on the saxophone. While jazz is her favourite genre, she remains open and curious about exploring other styles. Her goal is to learn as much as she can and draw inspiration from those around her. That’s why she joined the »Music« workshop. During the sessions, she experiments with her voice and body percussion, often stepping outside conventional boundaries. The experience has also sparked new ideas for her saxophone playing: »I’ve never worked with my instrument like this before. We try out a lot of things in the sessions. For example, I played only on the mouthpiece or simply blew air through the instrument. That produced some interesting sounds.«

Beyond the musical ideas, Ofelia especially values the opportunity to connect with other participants. In her usual environment, she often feels like an outsider. She has a strong interest in politics and social issues but finds it difficult to have meaningful conversations about them, partly because such topics can easily lead to conflict. One area where she particularly diverges from her peers is in her view of social media. She is highly critical of its influence on society. Ofelia didn’t get her first mobile phone until she was 14 – by choice. »When I’m out and about, so many people are just glued to their smartphone screens. Sometimes I feel like I have to stand up and shout. Then I feel really angry that society is heading in this direction. It really frustrates me.« She feels that real dialogue becomes impossible as a result.

The community project offers a refreshing change: »Everyone is heard and different opinions are genuinely welcomed.« Ofelia is glad to have found others who share her concerns and interests – people she can talk to about major global issues like climate change and the rise of authoritarian governments. »I want to make a difference, but I also understand the limitations of what one person can do. That’s why it’s encouraging to know I’m not alone.« Some of the participants have even formed a group with plans to attend demonstrations regularly. Ofelia might join them someday – it would be a first for her. But she firmly believes that, »Engaging with the future and speaking up about what matters is a crucial first step.«

In the final performance of »Futur X«, all participants will do exactly that – express their visions of the future through music, words and movement. Their dreams, hopes and concerns will take centre stage in a creative and personal way. What the audience will ultimately see and hear remains the community’s closely guarded secret until the big reveal. But perhaps, by the end, there will be a glimpse of an answer to the question: »When is tomorrow?«

This article appeared in the Elbphilharmonie Magazine (Issue 2/25).