a.RTISTS IN TRANSIT

The international art scene is highly mobile. In terms of professionalization, mobility is seen as being important for the development of the artistic career. Therefore the support of mobility of artists and cultural professionals is one priority of the EU cultural agenda and discussions are ongoing on how to better inform people about possibilities and options, on how to overcome obstacles, to strengthen networks, and so on.

IGBK has been concerned with mobility matters for some time. Latest activities were a workshop on ‘social security and mobility of visual artists in Europe’, organised in November 2010 in Berlin as well as the report ‘Challenges for Mobility – Recommendations from the Visual Arts Sector’, the outcome of an experts’ meeting in Linz in December 2009.

With this blog we are now investigating what mobility really means for artists. How does a life in transit affect the artistic work? Do both, work and mobility, only affect each other or should the travelling be judged as the artistic action? Why does mobility take place? Is it a chance or a burden? What do artists find out there by entering new art scenes? And which problems and daily difficulties do they meet?

Read here about first hand experiences of artists in transit: Alfred Banze, Birthe Blauth, Celine Condorelli, Amit Elan, Christine Falk, Susanna Hertrich, Frauke Materlik, Varsha Nair, Tanja Ostojic, Rona Rangsch, and Grit Ruhland.