Occasionally, we will meet in an exhibition or other space. Attendance is as and when people have time and are interested.

The first sessions are on:

7 Nov, 15.00-16.00 at Ellen de Bruijne Projects, Singel 372, 1016 AH, Amsterdam and online: https://uva-live.zoom.us/j/86485810725 We will introduce ourselves and hear each others’ ideas on future sessions, while Lucile Desamory installs her show. 

5 Dec, 16.00-17.30, location tbc, https://uva-live.zoom.us/j/87679563021: Louis Hartnoll will lead a session on 'infrastructural critique', a notion that aims to broaden and reframe contemporary debates about art-critical practices beyond the horizon of the institution. For this session, we will primarily draw on the work of the late Marxist-feminist theorist, Marina Vishmidt, who was at the forefront of developing this concept. Readings will be circulated two weeks in advance.

From the collectively written draft blurb for the group:

"Considering the times we live in - overwhelmed with colonial legacies and witnessing ongoing violence - the need for this research group/network has become poignant. The question of the role of art, its infrastructures, such as the art space, museum, the university and the various disciplines that attend to art in our times of multiple crises raises itself urgently - and demands community: if art is a means to proceed in life (Judith Butler), how can contemporary art, its curation, its institutions be actors in societal discourses, or, more broadly, contribute to social dynamics? How do we think and develop both tactics and strategies in the face of systemic violence, rising fascisms and war?"

When thinking through the field of art and universities holistically, as infrastructures, what are desirable conditions? What does infrastructural critique in our fields enable (Marina Vishmidt)? In terms of resourcing, can one create alternatives to survivalist agendas, i.e. find propositions to renew institutions and establish a virtuous cycle (of funding), when disciplinary, universalized structures no longer seem to apply, but situated knowledge needs to be fostered? Models such as The Question of Funding and Lumbung (ruangrupa) are showing the way towards alternative ways of organizing, sharing resources, and creating mutual support - which is what returns us to how we started thinking of the need for this group. What will its members, armed with the texts, art practices, discussions and the community assembled here do?"

Anyone interested in joining, please mail: l.c.hartnoll@uva.nl and c.m.lermhayes@uva.nl