The International Arts in Context Symposium
Three Days of Sharing in the Arts
8 - 10 June 2022
How can art make a difference in a contemporary world dominated by complex and intense political, economic, environmental challenges and conflicts? What can happen if art and arts education become dominated by a socio-political rationale?
The interdisciplinary research platform Arts in Context (KiK) at the Faculty of Fine Arts, University of Agder (UiA), in collaboration with Fluks - Centre for Young Art (UiA) and ArtEZ University of the Arts invite artists, art educators and researchers within – and across – the disciplines of music, theatre and visual arts to share their practices and research agendas in relation to these questions.
For three days we will investigate how we can maintain the integrity of art production, art education and research - while simultaneously act in globally responsible and ethical manners. Contributions from symposium participants will act as points of departures to shed light on the possibilities in art and art education engaging with contemporary urgencies and changes in comprehensions, attitudes and behaviours to such agendas. The symposium will also explore the potential pitfalls of instrumentalisation and hence marginalisation of the arts as meer tools that deliver on other social aims.
The symposium will challenge regular formats of conferences and symposia by using University campus surroundings and the city of Kristiansand as venues: parts of the symposium will take place in the forest within a short walking distance from UiA. Both the tribune and the hike offer opportunities for discussions and explorations related to people and surroundings. Hence dialogues will emerge and new understandings will be gained between humans and the environment.
Invited Guests & Speakers
Contributions from international artists, researchers and educators
Pelle Brage (b 1978) is a Danish artist who lives and works in Kristiansand. His art is often community based, inviting people to join in. In April-May 2022 his artwork The Battlefield of Art (2022) will take place in the city center of Kristiansand inviting people to discuss, make and deconstruct art in public. The Inflatable Museum by JAM – Pelle Brage was made in 2021 with the support from the Cultiva Foundation, and was on tour various places in Kristiansand aiming to bring art to the people, and in particular to people who don't usually visit museums. The Inflatable Museum will be placed on the Campus lawn during the symposium days and will serve as the Arts in Action artwork.
See more of Brages art projects here: http://pellebrage.com
Call for contributions
Symposium participants are encouraged to relate their contributions to the following questions or similar issues. Additionally we aim to develop further relevant questions from our contributors.
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How do artists, art-educators and -researchers relate their practices to urgencies of the world?
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How can art, democracy and politics interconnect in aesthetically and sustainable ways?
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How are autonomy and instrumental justifications of the arts reflected in our practices?
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How are artists and art educators affected when inclusion, participation and outreach become the cultural policy?
Contributions may be related to one of four research groups within the KiK platform: Art and Conflict, Art and Social Relations, Art and Young People and Reconfiguring Early Modern Performance. The research groups are responsible for the parallel sessions in the symposium.
Art in Context (KiK) is one of two research platforms at Faculty of Fine Arts, University of Agder, and comprise four different research groups and one PhD specialization.
Publication
Some contributions may be invited to publish in the journal and platform APRIA (ArtEZ Platform for Research Interventions of the Arts) www.apria.artez.nl
Program
Wednesday June 8: UiA / City Centre / Odderøya
Thursday, June 9: UiA / City Centre
How to get to Kilden:
Friday, June 10: UiA / Vaffelbua (in the Woods)
The Symposium artwork, The Inflatable Museum by Pelle Brage, will be open all three days of the event
About // Information
Scientific committee
Department of Visual Art and Drama // Faculty of Fine Arts - University of Agder
Department of Music // Faculty of Fine Arts - University of Agder
Department of Visual Art and Drama // Faculty of Fine Arts - University of Agder
Department of Music // Faculty of Fine Arts - University of Agder
Department of Visual Art and Drama // Faculty of Fine Arts - University of Agder
Department of Music // Faculty of Fine Arts - University of Agder
Organising committee
Department of Visual Art and Drama // Faculty of Fine Arts - University of Agder
Department of Music // Faculty of Fine Arts - University of Agder
Fluks - Centre for Young Art // Faculty of Fine Arts - University of Agder
Sørlandet Art Museum