CALL FOR PARTICIPATION

International Seminar/Workshop for Contemporary Art Professionals:
"Nations in the Age of Global Economic Meltdown"
November 10--11, 2009, Muzeum Sztuki, Lódz, Poland

Guest speakers: Marina Grzinic and Jens Haaning.

Muzeum Sztuki in Lódz, in collaboration with Public Preparation, an
international platform for knowledge-production and networking, is calling for applications to participate in a two-day seminar/workshop dedicated to the critical exploration of interconnections between nationalist ideology and the capitalist economic system.

Amongst other groups, the contemporary art community is witnessing growing tendencies toward nationalism, which in the most radical cases take the form of violent intolerance, racism and xenophobia. With the very recent appearance of the global financial crises, protectionist policies have emerged, re-gained in popularity and started to play a central role in the emergency plans for economies directed by national governments. Capitalism forms a fundamental part of modern economies and, having developed hand in hand with modern nation state apparatuses, recent changes in the global economy and the revival of nationalism force us to recognise, discuss and examine, the changes in relations between these two super-forces which drive
the world. In focusing on the symbiotic link between nationalist ideology and the neoliberal capitalist order, we would like to invite art
professionals, especially curators, theoreticians and artists, who have been dealing with this issue and related topics in their prior practice to
participate, to share their knowledge, experience and ideas during "Nations in the Age of Global Economic Meltdown".

The questions that might be addressed during the two-day seminar/workshop could be articulated as follows: How are national values and traditions used as an excuse for economic activities and corporate politics? How is capital used as a tool of power to fulfill nationalist-imperialist policies in particular regions? How might the return to protectionist politics influence nationalist movements in contemporary Europe during this crises of global capitalism? How do they deal with migration and transnational identity? Why do nation-states behave like companies and companies act like nation-states?
What is behind states branding themselves and using marketing tools and companies becoming multinational empires with their own rules and regulations? How is art and culture  instrumentalised for the sake of strengthening national identity and promoting the nation?

The seminar/workshop consists of a seminar and a screening open to the public plus discussion on November 10, 2009 continuing with closed workshops on November 11, 2009. The workshops will be held by Marina Grzinic and Jens Haaning.

We greatly regret that Muzeum Sztuki and the Public Preparation teams cannot provide accommodation and travel grants, but  we are able to provide supporting letters for funding organisations and assist with individual fund-raising.  And of course we are happy to advise on budgeting options such as good value accommodation.

The seminar language will be English.

If you are interested in taking part in the workshop/seminar, please fill
in the attached form and send it to: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
The deadline for the application is 1 October 2009.

For further information, please, contact the Public Preparation team via
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About the Public Preparation platform:
"Nations in the Age of Global Economic Meltdown" will take place within the
framework of Public Preparation events. Public Preparation is an
international platform for knowledge- production and networking. First and
foremost it is a space for international collaboration focusing on the
current practices of critical thinking and production in the field of
contemporary art. The main agenda of Public Preparation is to concentrate on
questions linked to the concept of an artist as a citizen. Contemporary art
is a crucial part of the public realm, exhibition spaces are places for open
discussion and artists have the power and responsibility to be actively
engaged in the process of examining, imagining and changing social reality.
The current phase of Public Preparation activities deals critically with the
growing tendencies of nationalism in contemporary Europe, aiming to envision
alternative ways to think about the global community. More information about
Public Preparation project can be found at www.publicpreparation.org

Looking forward to see you in Lódz!

Rael Artel, curator, Public Preparation
Magdalena Ziólkowska, host, Muzeum Sztuki