[artinfo] Introduction to Contemporary Arts and Politics

[Art & Education]

HDK-Valand Academy of Art and Design at University of Gothenburg
hdk-valand.gu.se

Introduction to Contemporary Arts and Politics

Online summer course with attendance expected at ONE meeting
in either Bucharest, Dublin or Gothenburg.
Free to EU nationals.

Application deadline: March 16, 2020

A distance course introducing key political themes and questions in 
contemporary art practices, theories and institutions. This 
international course, delivered in English, is based on a combination 
of distance education and participation in one intensive workshop 
(from a choice of three) in these three cities: Bucharest (June 
23-26), Dublin (August 12-14) or Gothenburg (August 19-21). The 
course is free to EU nationals. Students are responsible for their 
own costs of attending the workshops.

This year the course is delivered in partnership with: the Irish 
Musuem of Modern Art, Dublin; the Bucharest Biennale 9 _Farewell to 
Research_ (curated by Henk Slager) and the Curatorial Studies 
Workshop, "handfuls thrown into air and scattered over earth". The 
teaching team includes: Mick Wilson, Sarah Tuck, Daniel Jewesbury and 
special guests join at the workshop intensives.

Application period is February 20 to March 16. Application is via 
<https://email.e-flux-systems.com/campaigns/ht457wl1bm2ba/track-url/rj476aj0679d5/954ea1d31cbdcc114ce01936215827b1270d6334>universityadmissions.se 
(for International applicants) and via 
<https://email.e-flux-systems.com/campaigns/ht457wl1bm2ba/track-url/rj476aj0679d5/df7c0ea1d91933e6e3807c97426e39ad32b1c1ed>antagning.se 
(for Swedish applicants). Admission is based on letter of intention 
(preferably in English) stating why you wish to attend the course, 
200 to 350 words in length.

Why art and politics?
There is a long tradition of interaction between questions of 
politics and questions of art. However, arguably in the current 
decade this dialogue between art and politics has intensified, 
leading to a fundamental interrogation: What is at stake now in the 
different intersections of art and the political? How are the terms 
"politics" and "the political" articulated within contemporary art? 
What, if any, is the specific political agency of artistic practice?

These questions have acquired ever greater urgency in the wider 
political context of ascendant national populisms and racisms; mass 
displacement and anti-migrant mobilisations; the failure of 
governance structures to respond effectively to climate change and 
ecological collapse; and changing formations of political 
mobilisation from the Arab "spring" to renewed indigenous resistance 
movements; from Extinction Rebellion to Black Lives Matter; from 
Rhodes-Must-Fall to #MeToo.

Through taking this course you will have an opportunity to build your 
own map of the multiple intersections of contemporary art and the 
political. We will also explore together how this may now be changing 
under the impact of recent changes in the wider political field.

Practicalities
Times specified are Swedish (CET). You will require reliable internet 
access and headphones. Some of the content from each workshop will be 
posted online for other course participants to access. Participation 
in the workshops means that your contributions to discussion may be 
recorded for this purpose.

There are 16 online lectures and seminars. The online presentation 
and seminar sessions are scheduled at 4pm (Swedish time, CET) on the 
following days: June 9, 10, 15, 16, 17; July 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 9; August 
5, 6, 11, 20, 21.

Most of the online sessions can be accessed via published recordings, 
at whatever time suits your personal timetable needs. It is strongly 
recommended that you attend the online discussion sessions "live".

Workshops
The intensive workshop, involving physical attendance, is chosen from 
one of the following three options. It is possible to attend two or 
more if you wish, however, you are expected to attend one at a 
minimum. Presentations made as part of the workshop will also be 
posted online for distance access. In most cases material from 
intensive workshops may be streamed live, but this may not always be 
possible.

Bucharest: Tuesday-Friday, June 23-26
Dublin: Wednesday-Friday, August 12-14
Gothenburg: Wednesday-Friday, August 19-21

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HDK-Valand Academy of Art and Design at University of Gothenburg
Kristinelundsgatan 6-8
SE-SE-405 30 Gothenburg
Sweden