CHARLOTTE BYDLER CRAIG BUCKLEY STIAN GRØGAARD TONE HANSEN TRUDE IVERSEN ADRIANA KUIPER MARIA LIND GERALD RAUNIG CAREY YOUNG 16 BEAVER GROUP (RENE GABRI AYREEN ANASTAS) The conference takes its point of departure from the current discussions on the structural changes in the cultural field. In the last decade the implementation of new models and methods for organisation seem to have had a polarising effect. The notion of the art institution as a unity of artists, curators, art critics, theoreticians, historians and their respective museums, galleries and educational institutions, is no longer adequate. The conference aims to make a diagnosis of the new forms of administration and their consequences, and analyze these from various angles. Currently, pragmatic, short- or long-term collaborations and identifications take place, defying old differences. This requires a change in the conceptual framework and the hermeneutic horizons ruled by prejudices and preconceptions. Are we witnessing an organizational tendency that tries to avoid an increasing focus on the advantages of large-scale operation and co-operations? Does one seek models of adaptation? Is the forming of new alliances an expression of a pre-modern de-differentiation that undermines arts possibility to function as a critical corrective? Or is it rather a question of softening an inflexible system, a critique of rigid definitions that were concealing unfortunate structures? How does the implosion of neo-liberalism in society affect the production of art and artistic identity? We question whether these issues can be compared with problematics within research and other sectors that have a tradition for being non-profitable. The seminar aims to emphasize and shed light on these topics, by discussing different aspects of various organizational structures, both the cooperative and the so called self-institutionalized. In addition, artists are invited to present suggestions of ways of dealing with and commenting upon this development. Initiators: Tone Hansen, Trude Iversen and Stian Grøgaard Host: Kunstnernes Hus, Wergelandsveien 17, N-0167 Oslo (Phone: 47 22 85 34 10) Supporting institutions: The Freedom of Expression Foundation,KHIO, Arts Council Norway. Registration by e-mailing; oddvar.rosten@khio.no before April 11, 2006. Conference fee: 300 NOK (Students: 150 NOK).Lunch both days are included. For more info, please contact: Trude Iversen: iversen@ikik.org. ( 47 97192788) Tone Hansen: to.hansen@c2i.net. ( 47 91769664) FRIDAY APRIL 21. 10.00 Registration and coffee 10.30 Welcome and introduction by Trude Iversen 11.00 Carey Young 12.00 Maria Lind 13.00 Gerald Raunig 14.00 Lunch 14.40 Trude Iversen 15.30 Stian Grøgaard 19.00 Exhibition opening at UKS: Several Ways Out. Curator Craig Buckley SATURDAY APRIL 22. 10.00 Coffe 10.30 Adrian Kuiper 11.30 16Beaver Group 12.30 Tone Hansen 13.30 Lunch 14.00 Charlotte Bydler 15.00 Panel discussion / summing up. Craig Buckley and others. Moderated by Tone Hansen