Arts Collaboratory Network Faces Funding Transition and Self-Governance Challenges
Arts Collaboratory, a collective of 25 artistic spaces from the Global South, is encountering a change in funding as its financial support concludes. Founded in 2007 with assistance from the DOEN Foundation, Hivos, and the Mondriaan Fund, it has transformed into a self-managing community. Notable participants include Raw Material Company, Kunci, Lugar a dudas, Ashkal Alwan, ruangrupa, and Cooperativa Cráter Invertido. Between 2011 and 2019, assemblies promoted collaboration. A significant €3 million grant was allocated to members in 2015, altering power structures. Prominent initiatives include the decentralized Sharjah Biennial 13 and Documenta 15. The network now faces the choice of self-funding or finding new donors, with talks scheduled at the upcoming Assembly in the Netherlands until 23 November.
Key facts
- Arts Collaboratory is a network of 25 art spaces mainly from the Global South.
- It started in 2007 with funding from DOEN Foundation, Hivos, and Mondriaan Fund.
- The network shifted to self-governance in 2015 with a €3 million bulk grant distributed among members.
- Assemblies were held in multiple countries from 2011 to 2019 to foster translocal connections.
- Influential members include Raw Material Company, Kunci, Lugar a dudas, Ashkal Alwan, ruangrupa, and Cooperativa Cráter Invertido.
- The network impacted external projects like Sharjah Biennial 13 and Documenta 15.
- Funding has ended, prompting a decision on self-funding or new donors at an Assembly in the Netherlands through 23 November.
- Membership has remained unchanged since 2012, raising questions about trust and expansion.
Entities
Artists
- Walter Rodney
- Christine Tohme
- Koyo Kouoh
- Marie Hélène Pereira
- Gertrude Flentge
- Jason Waite
Institutions
- Arts Collaboratory
- Raw Material Company
- Kunci
- Lugar a dudas
- Ashkal Alwan
- ruangrupa
- Cooperativa Cráter Invertido
- Triangle Network
- DOEN Foundation
- Hivos
- Mondriaan Fund
- Casco Art Institute
- Sharjah Biennial 13
- Zeitz MOCAA
- HKW
- Más Arte Más Acción
- Centre D’Art Waza
- Documenta 15
- Don’t Follow the Wind
Locations
- Dakar
- Senegal
- Yogyakarta
- Indonesia
- Cali
- Colombia
- Beirut
- Lebanon
- Jakarta
- Mexico City
- Mexico
- Utrecht
- Netherlands
- Ramallah
- Palestine
- Jordan
- Chocó
- Lubumbashi
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Berlin
- Germany
- Costa Rica
- Kyrgyzstan
- Uganda