After five years of workshops and talks as part of the inquiry Infinite Ear, Council took part in “Samtidskonstdagarna”, an annual contemporary art summit that brings together art professionals from across Sweden and other countries to discuss current issues for art organizations. The summit was introduced by the following text.

The summit will focus on building networks and alliances as strategies for action in contemporary art organizations today. The last few years have witnessed a large increase in organizational networks across the art field in Sweden. Whether formal or informal, on a more local or national scale, with Nordic or international counterparts, alliances are formed in a variety of constellations between art institutions, self-organized initiatives and other organizations. Are these networks signs of the signature strategy of the neoliberal working world? Or are they responses of mutual support and solidarity by small and medium size art organizations in the changing political landscape and precarious economic conditions? Or are today’s networks merely new forms of age old tools for building assemblies around mutual concerns?

Samtidskonstdagarna 2018 will present a diverse program with guest speakers, performances, site visits and participative workshops that will look into the role and the meaning of networks. Special attention will be given to different ways of operating which can facilitate strengthening these networks today.