Vienna becomes an art platform with festival character during the 4th viennaartweek
Published July 16th, 2008
Wider programme and new date offer an autumn highlight in the art calendar
From November 17 until 23, the viennaartweek takes place outside the VIENNAFAIR for the first time. Along with the new date comes the opening up of the concept for the public interested in art. The festival is an event organised by the Art Cluster Vienna, an association of all important Viennese museums, exhibitions and cultural institutions. All over Vienna there will be exhibitions and talks, guided tours and studio visits as well as parties. The art festival aims at pooling the activities in fine arts in order to position Vienna internationally as a vital and top-class art site.
viennaartweek is perceived as a platform for the international artistic discourse. Again, an exclusive time is offered for talks with personalities of the Viennese art scene, insights into unique collections, studio visits and top-class panel discussions. Three thematic blocks called Big Time, Ahead of Time and Private Time subdivide 50 events of around 45 programme partners. Robert Punkenhofer, artistic director of viennaartweek, is pleased about the chance for dialogue at the festival: „Great international names of the art scene are coming to Vienna in November. We offer the audience some extraordinary art experiences, while professional circles can gain exclusive information connected to Vienna.“
„Big Time“ – thematic diversity and lucrative viennaartbook award
All events labelled with „Big Time” are open for the interested public. Included are exhibition openings at the involved museums and galleries. During the „Gallery Nights“ on November 18 and 19, a total of 39 art sites at Eschenbachgasse, Seilerstätte as well as in the 6th and 7th district will open their current shows. Additionally, “Kunst im öffentlichen Raum (KÖR)“ (art in public spaces) presents installations that are not only decorative elements but confront the audience with content and symbolism of the shown works amidst the city.
For the third time, the world’s best art publication of last year is going to be granted with the viennaartbookaward, the most lucrative award of this kind. The price amounting to 25.000 Euro is donated by the Dorotheum, the Liechtenstein Museum, the Galerie Sanct Lucas and the LGT (the bank of the royal house of Liechtenstein). The original focus of the viennaartbookaward on Old Masters widens in 2008, now including modern and contemporary art, stretching again from painting over sculptures to applied and graphic arts.
„Ahead of Time“ – art discourse and market analysis
The analytic debate on art and the art market is made possible at events labelled with „Ahead of Time“. Open panel discussions broach for example the issue of the increasing virtuality of art, the conjunction of the art and design market, as well as the future of museums, galleries and art criticism. In addition, art education is also a subject at one of the top-class manned podiums: One panel discusses the education policy of the art sector. The symposium ‚Art/Knowledge’ introduces the new Ph. D. programme „Practice“ at the Academy of Fine Arts. This new training aims at a better alliance between artistic practice and theoretical reflexion during education already.
„Private Time“ – specific dialogues between experts
For professional circles, the viennaartweek offers high-level events that are closed for the public. At „Studio Visits“, established Viennese curators lead through the studios of Austrian artists with international reputation. The Viennese curator and artist Lorenz Seidler – known as eSeL – presents artists in their work environment at a tour to the off-spaces of the 6th and 7th district. In the process, amblers can discover positions, networks and strategies in the context of urban development, cultural and educational policy, and cultural institutions. Small round table talks and cocktails top off the programme and provide an opportunity to international exchange of ideas and trends. Thereby, the notion of Vienna’s insider position at the art market is strengthened.
vienna artweek
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