Reflecting on the Role of Contemporary Art and Culture in the Critique of Racism
With this 2 days long colloquium (with workshops, lectures, round table and film screening) we specifically target the university environment asking for forms of action, relationships and practices that expose and oppose structural racism in the educational system.
In 2021, artist, activist, youth worker and student of the Academy of fine arts Vienna, Asma Aiad, conceived the multidisciplinary exhibition project Muslim* Contemporary, which addressed anti-Muslim racism and reflected on violence against the Muslim community. The exhibition opened an open discussion on the significance of the participation of Muslim communities in Austrian society with a variety of formats. The project was an impressive event that took place at the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna. Instead of taking up the offer of dialogue, some ÖVP municipal councilors tried to discredit the event in the municipal government. This experience prompted us presently to revisit the question of how structures and positions of power are used to stigmatize and criminalize certain groups of people. The colloquium aims not only to contextualize structural racism in Austria historically, but also to open a discussion about the extent to which it can affect our everyday lives.
We invite all staff and students of the Academy, but also all who are interested in this topic, to join experts, artists and representatives of the Documentation Center for Anti-Muslim Racism, the association ZARA, the anti-racism petition Black Voices, the Ombud for Equal Treatment, Salam Oida – the organizer of Muslim*Contemporary to reflect on how we can shape a reality that opposes racism and confronts its violent forms of discrimination. On a linguistic, factual and artistic level, we would like to ask very concretely: Where do we see spaces for action (play) in the environment of the academy? What should the role of art in the critique of racism look like?
The colloquium was conceived by Ingrid Schacherl in cooperation with the Student Welcome Center / Project Platform Diversity, Institute for Artistic Teaching, Studio for Post-Conceptual Art Practices and Studio for Contextual Painting.
Special thanks to Asma Aiad (Muslim*Contemporary), Marina Grzinic (Studio for Post-Conceptual Art Practices), Ruby Sircar (Studio for Contextual Painting), Valerie Lange (Institute for Artistic Teaching), Christina Fasching and Selina Stritzel (Student Welcome Center) Vitória Monteiro (Assistant and Design), Wiktoria Pelzer (Stadtkino), to the contributors, the NGOs involved, and the Rectorate of the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna.
Tue, October 4th
10-14 h
Workshop
Studying Critically of Racism - Community-Oriented Through Everyday Student Life with Persy-Lowis Bulayumi
M13a, Mezzanin, Schillerplatz
Please register at: https://www.termino.gv.at/meet/en/b/2dad6e31a03529bf80418a6f13d13296-146027
15-17 h
Workshop
The Flaw in the System: Racism in (Educational) Institutions with Amani Abuzahra (in collaboration with Studio for Post-conceptual Art Practices and Studio Contextual Painting).
Conference room EG, Schillerplatz
Please register at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/424941520527
17:30 h
Opening Rectorate in the Aula
then Lecture
Racist exclusion mechanisms and the freedom of art and science with Dudu Kücükgöl
Moderation: Asma Aiad
Please register at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/rassistische-ausgrenzungsmechanismen-und-die-freiheit-von-kunst-und-wissens-tickets-418883089597
Wed, October 5th
10-14 h
Workshop
Racism-critical Language with Claudia Lomoschitz, Melinda Tamás
Conference room EG, Schillerplatz
Please register at: https://www.akbild.ac.at/de/universitaet/interner-bereich/personalentwicklung/weiterbildungsprogramm
15-17 h
Ways of acting against structural racism: What are demands on art and the art universities?
Round Table with representatives from the association ZARA, the Documentation Center for Anti-Muslim Racism, the anti-racism petition Black Voices, the Ombud for Equal Treatment, and Salam Oida / Muslim*Contemporary
Introduction: Asma Aiad
Aula
Please register at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/handlungswege-gegen-strukturellen-rassismus-tickets-418891304167
20:15 h
Film Screening at Stadtkino: Sun from Kurdwin Ayub
Stadtkino Wien, Akademiestraße 13, 1010 Wien
Please register at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/film-screening-im-stadtkino-sonne-von-kurdwin-ayub-tickets-418895225897
Closing