Condition Report

Symposium on building art institutions in Africa

A large number of new art projects, independent art centres and galleries have sprung up throughout Africa in recent years. But what role do they play in establishing an independent art scene and in what ways can they influence the cultural, social and political developments in their respective countries?
In cooperation with the Federal Cultural Foundation and the Goethe-Institut, the Raw Material Company – center for art, knowledge and society in Dakar (Senegal) has invited more than 50 experts – artists, curators, gallery owners and representatives from independent art centres and museums – from Africa, Europe and Latin America to a three-day symposium to address the most recent developments, opportunities and limits of contemporary art institutions in Africa. In addition to discussing case studies from African art institutions, participants will also debate the interdependent relationship between African organizations and former colonial powers who now often serve as their financial backers. Various art institutional models from other regions of the world will also be presented, whose conditions and goals are comparable with those in Africa and from which one can draw conclusions regarding the potential of African organizations.

Keynote speaker: Abdellah Karroum (Appartement 22, Rabat)
Impulse speakers: Françoise Vergès (social studies scholar, Paris), Oumar Ndao (Director of Culture & Tourism, City of Dakar)

Additional speakers: Messekerem Assegued (Zoma Contemporary, Addis Abeba), Yto Barrada (Cinémathèque de Tanger, Tanger), Ruth Belinga (Art Bakery, Douala), Marcio Botner (A Gentil Carioca, Rio de Janeiro), Raphael Chikukwa (National Gallery of Zimbabwe, Harare), Marilyn Doula-Bell (Doual’Art, Douala), Oyinda Fakeye (Center of Contemporary Art Lagos, Lagos), Hama Goro (Centre Soleil Afrique, Bamako), Sunjung Kim (ArtSonje Center, Seoul), Marta Kuzma (Director OCA, Office of Contemporary Art, Oslo), Gabi Ngcobo (Center for Historical Re-enactments, Johannesburg), Jimmy Ogonga (Nairobi Arts Trust, Nairobi), Sarah Rifky (Townhouse Gallery, Cairo), Samuel Sidibé (Musée National du Mali, Bamako), Ousseynou Wade (Dakar Biennale, Dakar), and many more

A symposium by the Raw Material Company - center for art, knowledge and society, Dakar in cooperation with the Goethe-Institut and the Federal Cultural Foundation

Schedule:
18 – 20 Jan. 2012, Symposium, Raw Material Company, Dakar (Senegal)