Making the World More Than Less Real

Speakers: Rebecca Jane Arthur, Barbara Debeuckelaere, Autocoscienza Writing Group, Laura Huertas Millán, Nuraini Juliastuti, Benny Nemer, Laura Palau, Natasa Petresin-Bachelez, Matylda Taszycka (AWARE), Lola Olufemi, and others.

Organising Committee: Sonia D'Alto, Jana J. Haeckel, Laura Herman, Isabel Van Bos in collaboration with the Archival Sensations Research Cluster.

Location

Zwarte Zaal, Royal Academy of Fine Arts (KASK), School of Arts of University College Ghent, Louis Pasteurlaan 2, 9000 Ghent, Belgium

Kunsthal Gent, Lange Steenstraat 14, 9000 Ghent

About the assembly

The convergence of feminism and curatorial practice has a rich history, initially sparked by a response to the lack of representation of female artists in exhibitions, art collections, and education. Over time, this focus has evolved to embrace various feminist perspectives, including building and deconstructing archives and narratives, creating new interpretative frameworks, and identifying structural inequalities within the art world. In recent years, curating has increasingly explored evolving notions of citizenship, politics, and public participation, particularly in the context of social justice and activism.

The assembly will feature panel presentations, keynote speakers, breakout sessions, and open discussions centered on pivotal questions: How can intersectional feminist curating inform pedagogical strategies in curatorial education? What methodologies can be employed to teach concepts of care, situatedness, collective action, and responsibility in curatorial practice? Additionally, we will explore the current landscape of intersectional feminist art criticism and writing, focusing not just on representing female artists or critiquing art history, but on the practice of feminist writing as a form of wor(l)d-building.

The breakout sessions will be open to students, researchers, and the public, organised as closed workshops aligned with various assembly topics and presentations. These sessions aim to reflect on proposed feminist strategies, discuss alternative pedagogical approaches, and collaboratively develop a Code of Practice that offers actionable suggestions to reshape structures and curricula in art schools and institutions.

Host or Publisher KASK & Conservatorium / HOGENT & Howest