A r t i v i s t i c 2 0 0 7
[ 25-27 October (tbc) :: Montreal ]
< CALL FOR PARTICIPATION >
[ [ [ un.occupied spaces ] ] ]
We are infiltrating all levels of society. Artists, activists, academics,
architects, bureaucrats, the homeless, anarchists, first nations, immigrants,
doctors, geeks, lawyers, teachers, witches, philosophers, clowns. Artivistic
does not only provide a platform for political artists and artistic activists,
but partakes in the very movements that work for change. In the pursuit of
temporary moments of pleasure, we move towards freedom, for resistance is
perpetual and oppression, ever-changing.
We oppose the progression of monolithic thought and work for the development of
new and dynamic forms of knowledge, exchange, representation and practices of
everyday life. We aim to stimulate the mind, the imagination, and the body. We
seek alternative models, portals unto un.occupied spaces. Artistivic moves
beyond the moment, becoming a process of contamination through interpersonal
dialogue that exceeds the event.
Building on the 2005 generation, Artivistic in 2007 will continue to ask
questions that do not leave us thinking we have resolved the issues. We
strongly suggest that you answer one, or all, of our questions with a question
of your own. Please submit your proposal for participation related (but not
restricted) to the following :
< what is indigenous ? >
The very use of the term “indigenous” presupposes a claim to the existence of
rights. The right to land. The right of return. The right to
self-determination. The right to a life with dignity. In what context does
indigenous mean something and how is it represented today? What is the
relationship between identity based on place, the land and/or territories and
the right to resources? What is indigenous in the context of globalisation,
migrations and mobility? (Perhaps the question is not what is indigenous but
how is indigenous?)
< what is a natural space ? >
The environment is in a pretty bad shape. Yet, does not typical
environmentalism often propose “solutions” which alienate the very people that
could make a difference by using a false dichotomy (natural/human-made,
natural/artificial, nature/culture) and by perpetuating the myth of a pristine
nature? Current strategies often make use of fear and guilt to provoke action,
yet will we not be helping our environment in a more efficient way once we let
go of our arrogance as humans and start living with and in the world rather
than of, and alienated from, the world?
< what is (there) to occupy ? >
The term “occupation” often inspires images of invasion, enclosure and rape.
How are spaces and bodies ruled over? What is public space, ultimately? Why do
reserves exist? To ask what is occupation is in fact to ask what is left to
occupy for occupation is more pervasive than it first appears. At the same
time, occupation echoes resistance when it comes to certain forms of
appropriation. So how does one occupy appropriation or how can one appropriate
occupation?
Your abstract or project description should be no longer than 250 words, your
bio 75 words (seriously, we will stop reading after that).
Please also include 50 words on how you will stimulate audience participation
(sorry, NO paper reading).
We welcome proposals for : roundtables, workshops, expeditions & walks,
interventions, performance, projections, show-and-tells, broadcasts, games,
visual arts, media & technology arts, street arts, informal arts, experimental
arts, is-it-art arts, etc. and any combination of the above.
We also welcome proposals having to do with personal experience, lessons
learned, or future projects that could include other participants of Artivistic
(this is a good place to start organising and collaborating).
Deadline : 15 February 2007
Please send your proposals to : participation.artivistic@gmail.com
> The Autonomous Conference
Artivistic also includes an open-source component. Participants will be able to
sign up on the day-of to hold an ad-hoc session that is not in the official
program but is fully part of the event. You can prepare in advance, but you
don’t need to submit anything.
> Co-presentations
Artivistic cannot fulfil its networking and pluralist agenda without
collaborating with existing organisations of overlapping mandates. If you are
an organisation interested in mutual aid in the context of event planning,
please contact us (considerably in advance) with your idea for an event that
you would like to organise and present with us : info.artivistic@gmail.com
> Volunteers
If you want to help us before, during and/or after the event, that would be
really nice of you! We need a lot of extra hands with promotion, billeting,
set-up, facilitation, cooking, tech, time-keeping, documenting, wrap-up, etc.
Please email us at : volunteers.artivistic@gmail.com
> Travel funding
Unfortunately, we are unable to provide funding for your travel (we are not
even getting paid to do this), but will be happy to offer any assistance with
your own steps in finding funding. On the other hand, in-house accommodation
and food will be provided to all Artivistic participants.
> Press
If you want to cover Artivistic, please send us your information by email here
: press.artivistic@gmail.com
Artivistic [ http://artivistic.omweb.org ] is a transdisciplinary three-day
gathering on the interPlay between art, information and activism. Artivistic
emerges out of the proposition that not only artists should talk about art,
academics about theory, and activists about activism. Founded in 2004, the
event aims to promote transdisciplinary and intercultural dialogue on activist
art beyond critique, to create and facilitate a human network of diverse
peoples, and to inspire, proliferate, activate.
General inquiries : info.artivistic@gmail.com