A big bang, a new beginning…
We were catapulted into the new year with a hefty lurch. And State of the Arts is determined to spin this year more in a direction of our own making. After two years of having our agenda dominated by others – be they mutating viruses or stubborn politicians – it is time to take matters into our own hands.
What do we, as artists and cultural workers, actually think is worth fighting for? What do we want to put on the agenda? What dreams do we have for society at large? And weren’t we the people who were able to visualise those dreams so brilliantly?
So, there is work to be done. For 2022, SOTA has already noted down resolutions:
- Meet with you, artists and cultural workers more often and listen to what’s going on. A first invitation can be found below!
- Organising ourselves so that everyone who wants to become active can find their place in SOTA.
- Use our one-year residency in Monty, Antwerp to welcome you with open arms.
- Deliver a second Fair Arts Almanac by September ’22.
1 SEE EACH OTHER MORE OFTEN
On Tuesday 15 February, from 19 – 21, a new SOTA Open Meeting is planned. We will discuss the great concern about artists’ careers and the increasingly difficult conditions in which they have to work. This observation affects both the new generations and those who can count themselves among the ‘established’ artists. What exactly is going on here and what can we do about it?
Register here if you want to attend.
(Registration is not required, but it helps us to prepare for the evening.)
2 REORGANISING SOTA
Since the beginning of corona, SOTA has been more active than ever. We campaigned on the fate of artists and, with SOS Relief, have organised almost 250,000 euros of interpersonal support. We made a fuss about the new Arts Decree, helped make noise at La Monnaie, won a culture prize and were at the forefront of the renewal of the ‘Artists’ Statute’. We talked to your uncle in the context of Door to Door and together with the Artists Coalition and Still Standing for Culture we forged a broad alliance against political ignorance.
In order to do all this even better in the future, we are taking the time this spring to think about our own structure. We want to be a flexible platform where artists, cultural workers and activists can inspire and strengthen each other across disciplines, and occasionally also present a united front. But how do we do that openly and fairly, without too much burden on too few shoulders? What do we need as volunteers?
The aim is to organise SOTA in a sustainable way, so that everyone can get involved.
Our minister would call it innovation, and who are we to contradict him?
3 RESIDENCY IN MONTY ANTWERP
The ideal place for this reflection will be Monty in Antwerp, where we will be accommodated for a year as part of Lattitude: Monty’s new residency for participatory and collectivising artistic practices, with the aim of stimulating artistic exchange with communities in the city, new artists’ movements or worlds we do not know. State of the Arts may kick off in 2022! Merci Monty.
Besides thinking about ourselves, at Monty we also plan our Open Meetings for those who want to come and do their thing, we are writing the second edition of the Fair Arts Almanac and we are bringing the Door to Door initiative to Antwerp. SOTA also functions as a bridge builder and sounding board for the transition that has started at Monty with its new team. You will be hearing from us soon!
4 PUBLISH A NEW ALMANAC
In 2021, we organised an almost monthly Almanac Session, in which we had discussions on a range of topics that touched on what we believe FAIR PRACTICE to mean.
We talked about the need for rest, laid the foundations for a broad discussion about the socio-economic position of the artistic culture worker, talked about the role of autonomous work spaces, about (the lack of) inclusion in the arts and the difficult transition to ethically sound software… And even after those many discussions, it seems the last word on Fair Practice has not yet been spoken.
In Monty we continue the discussions and at the same time prepare the publication. An open editing and design process to which, once again, everyone is cordially invited.
You will be hearing from us!
WAKE UP CALL
SOTA deeply troubled by the questionable decision to cut a.pass and HISK subsidies.
Last Friday the Postgraduate Program and Research Center a.pass (advanced performance and scenography studies) and the Higher Institute for Fine Arts (HISK) received news from the Ministry of Education that their subsidy will stop by the end of 2023.
The Ministry states in the newspaper that the decision is taken based on a negative evaluation. This news is misleading and reductive. Both institutions received a positive evaluation to continue, a.pass even a very positive one.
As an educational institute, a.pass is strongly embedded in the art scene and an important source for the critical, innovative and transdisciplinary artistic practices for which our art scene is internationally well known.
Closing HISK will take away precious capacity and much-needed development means for visual artists. Potential problems should be solved, not lead to the shutdown of an entire institution.
SOTA stands in solidarity with the entire education field that is facing inexplicable austerity measures.
We need more means for education, not less.
This completely unmotivated austerity action is alarming and should not go unnoticed. We’ll keep you updated.
SOTA deeply troubled by the questionable decision to cut a.pass and HISK subsidies.
Last Friday the Postgraduate Program and Research Center a.pass (advanced performance and scenography studies) and the Higher Institute for Fine Arts (HISK) received news from the Ministry of Education that their subsidy will stop by the end of 2023.
The Ministry states in the newspaper that the decision is taken based on a negative evaluation. This news is misleading and reductive. Both institutions received a positive evaluation to continue, a.pass even a very positive one.
As an educational institute, a.pass is strongly embedded in the art scene and an important source for the critical, innovative and transdisciplinary artistic practices for which our art scene is internationally well known.
Closing HISK will take away precious capacity and much-needed development means for visual artists. Potential problems should be solved, not lead to the shutdown of an entire institution.
SOTA stands in solidarity with the entire education field that is facing inexplicable austerity measures.
We need more means for education, not less.
This completely unmotivated austerity action is alarming and should not go unnoticed. We’ll keep you updated.