Open call for art Critics

Open Call for Art Critics
How to Write About Cold-War Heritage in a Contemporary Context?

We invite art critics, curators, art historians, heritage researchers, and other cultural professionals from Europe* to apply for a specialized training program focused on writing about Contemporary art against the backdrop of (Vienna’s) Cold-War heritage like policies, monuments, and architectural and cultural sites.

Participants will enhance their skills in critically analyzing and interpreting art and cultural heritage connected to the Cold-War period. Over two days, two experts will guide the participants through a series of knowledge-sharing sessions, methodologies, and practical experiences, enhancing their writing skills in art criticism. The training will particularly focus on the intersection between cultural heritage and politics, highlighting Cold War heritage sites as a shared European resource for artistic interpretation and collective memory.

The training is organized by BLOCKFREI organization as part of the Creative Europe project (In)Visible Traces: Artistic Memories of the Cold War and is co-funded by the European Union.

Training Details:

Location: DAS WEISSE HAUS, Hegelgasse 14, 1010 Vienna, Austria
Dates: November 11-12, 2024
Participants: Six Europe-based participants and two Austria-based participants will be selected

Covered Costs:
- Training fees
- Catering during the training will be provided.
- Accommodation in Vienna for three nights for participants traveling outside of Vienna
- Travel reimbursement for return tickets to and from Vienna (air/train/bus), based on the participant's departing country, in line with EU Commission regulations.

Objectives:

- To deepen participants’ understanding of methodologies for interpreting Cold War cultural heritage in contemporary contexts.
- To enhance skills in art criticism, with a focus on the intersection of cultural heritage and politics.
- To promote Cold War cultural heritage as a shared European resource for artistic interpretation and collective memory.
- To foster international collaboration among emerging professionals.

Format:

The two-day intensive training will be led by experienced art critics and lecturer mentors Kate Sutton and Kathrin Heinrich, and will feature:

- Theoretical and practical sessions
- Discussions on creative interpretations of Cold War-related art and heritage sites
- Collaboration on articles for publication

Target Group:

This open call is for art critics, curators, art historians, and other professionals with a strong interest in Cold War heritage, art, and politics of memory.

The program is conducted in English and requires participants to have a high level of proficiency in the language.

Application Process:

To apply, please submit:

- A one-page motivational letter outlining your idea for a text that addresses a Cold War topic, a heritage site, or an artwork in Vienna (or elsewhere)
- Narrative biography (up to 1 page)

Deadline: October 25, 2024 (24:00 CET)

Contact: For questions and submissions, please email info@blockfrei.org We look forward to your applications!

For more information about the project, please visit the page of the lead project partner, DOCUMENTA – Center for Dealing with the Past.

* Europe* - For more detailed information on eligibility, please follow the link to the document: List of non-Eu Participating Countries in the Creative Europe Programme