The Sommerakademie is an international platform for contemporary art with theme-specific seminars, which takes place every August. It promotes artistic production and reflection, as well as increased interaction between artists and curators, inviting them for a ten-day programme in Berne to work and network with renowned personalities from the art world.
This year’s academy is presented by Tirdad Zolghadr, curator for the United Arab Emirates pavilion at the Venice Biennale in 2009. The specific context of the Summer Academy is also defined by its local connections. For this reason the School of Arts Berne and University of Berne, together with the Loge in the courtyard of PROGR, are important collaborators. Twelve international fellows, together with Tirdad Zolghadr and the speakers, will analyse the internal necessities of contemporary art.
This year’s theme explores the long-term consequences and impacts of fund raising, artists’ academies, and museum architecture on the production and distribution of art. Our goal is to think beyond conventional exhibition practice, and facilitate feedback and dialogue between artists and curators.
Ethan Breckenrigde has designed the space for the workshops in the Forum of the Zentrum Paul Klee. His construction aims to challenge the promises and possibilities that an experimental academy offers. A satellite installation at the Loge in the courtyard of PROGR encourages further involvement.
Members of the public are encouraged to participate in a number of events, In addition to the programme at the Zentrum Paul Klee, the Sommerakademie 2009 will offer public events in cooperation with the Stadtgalerie at the Loge, in the centre for cultural production PROGR.
Further information can be found at: www.sommerakademie.zpk.org, www.progr.ch and www.stadtgalerie.ch
Concept/Curator:
Tirdad Zolghadr, art critic, curator of the United Arab Emirates pavilion at this year’s 53rd Venice Biennale. Lecturer at the Center for Curatorial Studies, Bard College, New York, and curatorial expert for the Guggenheim Museum Abu Dhabi.
Fellows:
Gürsoy Dogtas (Germany)
Claire Feeley (Ireland)
Linda Franke (Germany)
Agnieszka Kurant (Poland)
Bettina Malcomess (Republic of South Africa)
Mariangela Mendez Prencke (Colombia)
Uriel Orlow (Switzerland, lives in London)
Judith Raum (Germany)
Shirana Shahbazi (Iran, Germany, lives in Zurich)
Oraib Toukan (Jordan, lives in New York)
Ricardo Valentim (Portugal, lives in New York)
Erik Wenzel (USA)
Speakers:
Fabienne Eggelhöfer, Curator, Zentrum Paul Klee
Dr. Bruce Hainley, art critic and Faculty Member at the Art Center College of Design, Pasadena (USA)
Marianne Keller, scientific staff, Zentrum Paul Klee
Vasif Kortun, Director, Platform Garantie, Istanbul
Suhail Malik, Lecturer, Goldsmiths College, London
Dr. Andrea Phillips, Director, “Curating Architecture”, Goldsmiths College, London
Hans Rudolf Reust, Director, “Contemporary Arts”, University of the Arts, Berne
Prof. Dr. Peter J. Schneemann, Professor of Contemporary Art, Institute of Art History, University of Berne
Carey Young, artist
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