CALL FOR PAPERS
Elementy. Sztuka i Dizajn. (Elements. Art and Design) – Issue 7: Institutional Criticism
We invite you to submit your proposals of papers to be published in the 7th issue of the Elements. Art and Design (Elementy. Sztuka i Dizajn) academic and artistic journal.
In today’s day and age, we see a rising wave of interest in institutional criticism, both in Poland and abroad, as public cultural institutions are at their weakest, facing various pressures from many sides, succumbing to political, ideological and economic impacts and being appropriated by various groups. The events of recent years – the pandemic, coupled with numerous climate and financial crises, as well as a full-scale war in Europe – highlight the need to look at the role of institutions from a different point of view. These days, we see them not only as the arbiters of prestige and elegance, as well as guardians of hierarchies, but also as actors endowed with new powers and responsibilities – they provide safe havens, accept difference and otherness, and offer opportunities for new encounters. One could say that this new situation is an opportunity for cultural institutions to transform into institutions of care. On the other hand… Is this something that is actually happening, or are we just witnessing fashionable declarations?
There is little doubt that these new circumstances require reshaping the existing institutions and adopting new operating strategies. How can institutions fulfil their public mission in this day and age? What are the possible ways out of their crisis? Is it possible to avoid politicisation of institutions, or are they political by design, in a sense? Are there models of successful contemporary institutions that others can follow? What are the institutions of the future going to be like? These are some of the many questions that we want to ask in the 7th issue of Elementy. You can find the extended list of topics below and feel free to submit your paper proposals.
Suggested topics:
- A perfect institution – models and practical attempts
- Global art events (biennials and art fairs) – what is their purpose? How they change? Are they experiencing a crisis today, and if so – why?
- Private galleries – role in Polish art circles, history in the aftermath of the regime change, role as a culture-forming actor
- Art competitions – recent history, problems, model solutions
- Private-public relations in the institutional field of art in Poland – capital transfers
- Civic Contemporary Art Observatory and other grassroots activities undertaken by artists and other actors active in the field in pursuit of defending their rights (insurance, market, relations with public institutions)
- Postcolonial and decolonial institutions in Central and Eastern Europe – examples
- Institutions as a way of managing visibility in art
- Laws regulating the activities of institutions – outline and possible development strategies
- Signs of the Times collections – history, role, current state, possible development strategies
- Cultural institutions established in the aftermath of the accession to the European Union
- Relations between private galleries and institutions in Poland and abroad
Authors are requested to submit their paper proposals in the form of an abstract (up to 500 words) to: elementy@asp.krakow.pl
Paper proposals deadline: 31 January 2024.
The selection will be announced by: 15 February 2024.
Paper submission deadline: 15 May 2024.
Please submit papers of 20,000 – 35,000 characters with spaces (including footnotes and works cited). The submitted papers may not have been previously published. All papers approved by the editorial team are submitted anonymously for peer review, carried out by two reviewers.
You may find detailed editorial guidelines at: https: https://elementymag.art/en/dla-autorow/