Essentially experimental? Symposium in Gothenburg

During the last 15 years the contemporary art world has grown extensively. The term globalisation is often used to describe this process, especially when the explosion of mega events such as biennales and art fairs are discussed. But globalisation is also about competition between regions, nations and continents.

On a higher educational level, this is very well reflected in the so-called Bologna process: a political attempt to make Europe and its surroundings a more attractive milieu and competitive force, economically speaking.

The Bologna process together with a growing interest in artistic research both inside and outside the university systems, an expansively growing art market, and an expanded concept of art and art production; has provoked many discussions and projects in relation to art, education and knowledge.

By organizing this Symposium, Valand hopes to contribute to the critical discussion of this development, inviting speakers working with questions of art and education from many different perspectives.

A core question for the Symposium Essentially Experimental?: What is a relevant art education today, and for whom?

May 12th

Symposium day - Preliminary Schedule

0900 Introduction Leslie Johnson

0930 Presentation talk: Fredrik Svensk

Session A

1000 Gerald Raunig.

1100 Lisa Nyberg & Johanna Gustavsson.

1215 Lunch

Session B

1315 Joseph Backstein

1415 Marion von Osten

1515 Break

1545 Florian Schneider

1645 Panel discussion and summery, Moderator: Fredrik Svensk

1800 End

The talks presented at the symposium will be published as a book by Gothenburg University. A video documentation of the symposium is also planned to be presented at the 10th European League of Institutes of the Arts (ELIA) Biennial Conference hosted by the Gothenburg University, in October 2008.

The symposium and the publication is the second part of the ongoing artistic research project Education Annex. The first part was an experimental international educational exchange and exhibition project at the painters union dacha in Russia and at the second Moscow biennale of Contemporary art, with art students from different art schools, in collaboration with Josef Backstein, director of the Moscow Biennale of Contemporary Art, and The Institute of Contemporary Art, Moscow.