Congress of IKT

Congress is addressed to IKT members. Part open to audience is on May 13.

Each year congress takes place in a different country. Its main initiator is the International Association of Curators of Contemporary Art (IKT) which unites over 500 art curators around the world. In 2016 the association voted to hold its 2018 congress in Gdańsk. Since 1973, when it was founded, IKT visited Central and Eastern Europe only three times. The congress in Tricity (Gdansk, Sopot and Gdynia) is co-organized by the Laznia Centre for Contemporary Art. Guests of the congress will meet with artists and visit cultural institutions in the Tricity area, including Gdansk City Gallery, State Art Gallery in Sopot, NOMUS – New Art Museum (branch of the National Museum in Gdańsk under construction), and City of Gdynia Museum. Congress is organized within 20th Anniversary of Laznia Centre for Contemporary Art.

The congress is adressed exclusively to IKT members. Another important congress event is the two-part symposium titled The Common Grounds: Learning from Contexts and Communities. The first part of the conference is addressed exclusively to IKT members and will take place on May 11 at the Academy of Fine Arts in Gdańsk. The second part, open to a broader audience, is scheduled to be held on May 13 at the European Solidarity Centre. 

Symposium: The Common Grounds: Learning from Contexts and Communities
May 13, 2018
10am–1pm
Gdansk, The European Solidarity Centre
Coordinator of the symposium: Zofia Cielatkowska
Conference speakers​: Nina Czegledy, Roger Malina, Jens Hauser, Edith Dekyndt, Emily Gee

The idea that art has fluid borders and works at the edges of different disciplines, contexts, and communities is not new. However, the way it appears in contemporary practices and theories requires a fresh analysis. Such concepts as engagement, participation or interdisciplinarity in art projects are usually considered as enriching, educating or breaking the rules.

The symposium is dedicated to Leonardo/ISAST, which celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2018. Leonardo is the International Society for the Arts, Sciences and Technology (new media) that operates within the global network of distinguished scholars, artists, scientists, researchers and thinkers through programmes focused on interdisciplinary work, creative solutions and innovation. For an organization that defines itself like that, the question of common grounds seems crucial.

One of the symposium’s topics will cover art and science, and more specifically the potential connections between these areas, curating and art practice. The conference will focus on such themes as the impact of technology and digitization on the art world (in both its positive and negative aspects)—its influence on financing, art platforms, models of curating and the nature of presented works. The question of the relevance of film, video and "media art" will also be discussed.

Symposium at the European Solidarity Centre will also include a showcase of the Ego Meter by Christa Sommerer and Laurent Mignonneau. More information: laznia.pl and iktsite.org

Coordinator of the Congress in Tricity: Jolanta Woszczenko
Cooperation: Emilia Golnik

Organizers: IKT International Association of Curators of Contemporary Art, City of Gdańsk, ŁAZNIA Centre For Contemporary Art  

Coorganizers: Adam Mickiewicz Institute, European Solidarity Centre, Academy od Fine Arts in Gdansk, City of Gdynia, MHMG, NCK, SMS/CAC w Wilnie

Partners: Austrian Cultural Forum, Goethe Institut, City of Sopot, Danish Cultural Institute, Leonardo Journal, Muzeum of Second World War, Gdansk City Gallery, Centre of Polish Sculpture in Orońsko, Gdynia City Museum, Nomus, City Culture Institute, State Art Gallery in Sopot