Under the motto of “working (together) beyond sectors and media”, third artistic lab of the Future DiverCities project - supported by the Creative Europe programme of the European Union - is taking place from 21st to 31st January 2019 in two Croatian cities, Zagreb and Rijeka. The lab programme consists of two parts: education and training sessions for artists happening in Zagreb, and public programme (performances, presentations and discussions) in Zagreb and Rijeka. Thematic focus of this year’s programme is on developing and exercising special set of skills and practical knowledge needed for successful artistic work in interdisciplinary, cross-sectoral contemporary context, as well as presenting and discussing the exciting intermedia artistic practices of the emerging, upcoming European artists.

Workshop programme

The objective of the workshop for 10 emerging local and international artists is to put structure in the way artists think about planning their future work and endorse them with a new set of skills needed for successful work in intermedia, interdisciplinary context.

The workshop begins with exercises in setting objectives concerning promotion, funding, visibility, networking, grants & competitions, scope of work, thinking outside the box and professional and personal development. It continues with long and short term planning as a constructive way of looking at the future, with the main focus on increasing the productivness of the individual and enabling management of all resources artists have at their disposal. Another important topic tackled by the workshop is media relations - how do artists see media exposure, why and how do they want to handle it, and is there an alternative.

The entire programme is moderated by Jadrana Ćurković, communications and marketing expert with over 20 years of experience in strategical business development, and a collaborator of KONTEJNER. Special guest lecturers and educators will approach the topic from their point of view: Mate Rimac, CEO & founder of Rimac Automobili will talk about “Technology, science, art and passion combined - in automobiles” during his public lecture on the very first day of our workshop; a representative of Erste & Steiermärkische Bank Croatia will offer a significant insight into supporting artistic work from an institutional, fund-giving perspective, while a renown international artist Robertina Šebjanič will present her artistic practices, talk about fundraising and resource management in production of complex hybrid artworks, as well as promotion and distribution of artworks on international level.

Learning together and sharing experiences

The workshop and lab methodology is a combination of presentations and group work, discussions and short non-formal pitches by participants. The goal is to create a friendly, dynamic and open environment where critical thinking is cherished and nurtured, and feedback along with cooperation and sharing is a basis for future learning and development. The participants will test the theories in practice right on the spot, but also be encouraged to meet each other and be supportive to one another in facing new challenges and creating together new and positive experiences. For international artists, days spent in the two cities will bring opportunities to meet wider artistic and cultural communities, get to know the local aspects of the scene and its protagonists, and visit cultural events and programmes.

Performances and talks

The public part of the programme relies on the topic of technology and art and as such is interconnected to KONTEJNER’s Device_art project central for the organization’s activities in 2018 and 2019. The performances and talks focus on sound in intermedia and hybrid practices, its connections with nature and environment, from monumental landscapes to micro flora and fauna, as well as sensory immersion and experimentation with media, musical instruments, formats and channels of communication.

The performance programme was curated by Fabien Fabre (Second Nature, France), Anne Marthe Dyvi (BEK, Norway) and Ena Hodžić (KONTEJNER), and the presented artists are taking part in the first, workshop programme of the lab as well. The artists will have the chance to present their performances to audiences in two Croatian cities, in renowned institutions of Museum of Contemporary Art in Zagreb and Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Rijeka.

Project participants: Tin Dožić (HR), Vitar Drinković (HR), Valentin Durif (FR), Jiska Huizing (NL/NO), Elio Libaude (FR), Luana Lojić (HR), Mathias Loose (NO), Lucas Paris (FR), Sara Salamon (HR), Hrvoje Spudić (HR).