25 June: The engagement of art institutions with artists, a debate at Bonnefanten Museum

Thursday June 25th – 8.30 pm – English spoken

The engagement of art institutions with artists.

An evening with Iwona Blazwick and Maria Anna Potocka

Introduction Paula van den Bosch

Interview Annie Fletcher

The connection between art institutions and artists are governed by a mix of public and private elements. Even if the sky is the limit in the official mission of an art institution, socio-cultural contexts seem to influence the relationship with artists, by circumstance or by choice. So the question is: how do the cultural environment effect the possibilities and strategies?

In order to focus on the topic of the discriminating context, Bonnefantenmuseum has invited the directors of two important art institutions, operating in two quite distinct situations:

Mrs. Maria Anna Potocka, director of the Bunkier Sztuki Contemporary Art Gallery in Krakau (Pl) and Mrs. Iwona Blazwick, director of the Whitechapel Art Gallery in London.

The Gallery of BWA in Krakau was established in 1965 and developed into one of the most important venues for contemporary art in Poland. Its history reflects the change of a rather isolated position in an Eastern European country into a well established open position in the international art scene.

The Whitechapel Gallery is an influential Art Centre in a leading art metropolis. Its enlarged Gallery has been opened in April 2009. The Whitechapel, being established in a quite poor and immigrant constituency, has a double focus: a focal point for the local people and a player on the international art scene.

The Agenda of the Evening of June 25^th

- Introduction by Paula van den Bosch, curator contemporary art Bonnefantenmuseum

- Maria Anna Potocka introduces the Bunkier Sztuki Art Gallery and her view on tonight’s topics (20 minutes)

- Iwona Blazwick introduces the renewed Whitechapel Gallery and her view on tonight’s topic (20 minutes)

- Intermission

- Interview by Annie Fletcher, curator Van Abbe Museum Eindhoven.

This evening is the third debating evening in a series accompanying the exhibition Exile on Main St. Previous evenings dealt with the politics of the National Foundations for art subsidies in Holland and the actual Cultural Strategy of the City of Maastricht. The subject matter of the final evening on July 16^th will be eccentric artistic positions.

Entrance (including exhibitions) € 8, reduction € 4, free for students with convenant card.