Independent art from Belarus in the MQ Artist-in-Residence programme – 3 years of focus

Independent art from Belarus in the MQ Artist-in-Residence programme – 3 years of focus

Thu 27.06.2024, 19h l MQ Summer Stage, Main Courtyard l Free entry
In case of bad weather, the event will take place at MQ Room D.

The presidential elections in Belarus in summer 2020, which were not recognised by large parts of the international community, including European countries and Austria, led to nationwide peaceful protests by the Belarusian population. Since its foundation following the collapse of the Soviet Union, the European country has seen only one president, who has remained in power to this day. In 2020, there was a real chance of being voted out of office for the first time, but the opposition candidates were arrested or forced to flee and the ensuing protests were violently suppressed. Since then, the Belarusian government has ruled with unrelenting severity, largely out of the public eye. It is not least creative independent artists who feel threatened by repression. 

Since spring 2021, a cooperation with the Austrian Foreign Ministry has offered Belarusian artists the opportunity to participate in the international Artist-in-Residence programme from the MuseumsQuartier. It is the only scholarship programme specifically for Belarusian artists in Austria. The prominent panel with the philosopher and author of the book "The Revolution is Female", Olga Sparaga and the curator Aleksei Barisionok, as well as the Belarusian artist Arina Grinevich, who studies with Anna Jermolaewa at the University of Art and Design Linz, will provide an insight into the current state of the art scene in Belarus and in exile and explore the questions of what we should know about independent art production in and from Belarus and how it can best be supported. 

With:
Arina Grinevich (Artist, curator bmeia Studio im MQ für 2024)
Aleksei Borisionok (Curator Matter of Art Biennale 2024, Prag)
Olga Sparaga (Philosopher, author, activist, IWM Wien)

Moderation:
Simon Mraz (Curator MQ)

The conversation will be held in English.

© MuseumsQuartier, Photo: Simon Veres