The Contemporary Art Days Summit 2019

Welcome to the 2019 edition of the Contemporary Art Days Summit. The theme for this year’s edition is “Sustainable/Elastic”.

Currently confirmed speakers include:

Kerstin Bergendal, Copenhagen/Gothenburg
Enough Room for Space, Brussels
Sofía Hernández Chong Cuy, Witte de With Center for Contemporary Art, Rotterdam
Francis McKee, Center for Contemporary Arts, Glasgow
Mustarinda/HIAP, Kainuu/Helsinki

The 2019 Contemporary Art Days Summit will focus on the sustainability of art organisations

In order to highlight the interaction between larger and smaller actors and the value of small and medium-sized art activities, the field of art has been described as an ecosystem. The Contemporary Art Days Summit will invite participants to discuss art field sustainability beyond the idea of value. Which relationships between art actors need to become more sustainable? Which platforms can we use or develop to enable us to further our artistic activities? What structural changes are required in order to meet the art field’s current and future challenges?

Socio-Economic and Political Sustainability

Art organisations throughout the country that play an important role for the local community and the field of art are subjected to budget cuts. Pressure is also applied, not least politically, questioning whether art organisations constitute a natural element in the development of society. The demands are high and the support insufficient. How far can these activities be stretched before they snap? Can we reuse the concept of sustainability and together imagine what art organisations require to become sustainable? Do art organisations need to change their working methods to become stronger locally and in society at large?

Sustainability in Relation to the Climate

Human influence on the climate, climate neutrality, climate-impacting emissions, conversions, climate pep talks and climate anxiety are some of the concepts we have grown accustomed to hearing about in the media and in everyday life. What opportunities do art organisations have for creating awareness about individual and societal responsibility for justice and equality in relation to environmental issues? What changes do art organisations need to undergo in order to better meet contemporary climate challenges?

Inspiring lectures and participatory discussion formats will provide participants with the opportunity to address these issues and together map out a way forward.

Held annually, the Contemporary Art Days Summit brings together art organisations from throughout Sweden to discuss current issues that affect them. This is the second occasion that Public Art Agency Sweden is the lead organizer. The Contemporary Art Days Summit 2019 is produced by Public Art Agency Sweden in collaboration with Art Lab Gnesta, Grafikens Hus, Södertälje art gallery with support from Södertälje muncipality and Region Sörmland.

Travel

Long-distance and regional trains

Long-distance and regional train to Södertälje Syd or Stockholm City.
Change to commuter train to Södertälje Centrum from both stations.

Commuter trains

From Stockholm City: lines #40, 41 and 41X to Södertälje Centrum. Journey time: 45 minutes.
From Södertälje Centrum: line #48 to Gnesta via Södertälje Hamn and Södertälje Syd. Journey time: 24 minutes.
From Södertälje Syd: line #48 to Södertälje Centrum via Södertälje Hamn. Journey time: 6 minutes.
From Södertälje Syd: line #48 to Gnesta in the opposite direction. Journey time: 17 minutes.
From Stockholm City to Gnesta: lines #40/41/41X to Södertälje Hamn or Södertälje Centrum; change to line #48 for Gnesta. Journey time: 66 minutes.

Flights

From Arlanda Central Station: commuter train line #40 to Södertälje Centrum.
From Arlanda Airport: Arlanda Express train and Airport Coaches to Stockholm City; transfer to commuter train for Södertälje Centrum.
We encourage participants to travel more sustainably by train.

Accommodation

The Contemporary Art Days Summit offers a discount on accommodation between 1–3 October at Quality Park Hotel and Hotel Scandic Skogshöjd.
Quality Hotel Park is located in central Södertälje and Hotel Scandic Skogshöjd is a 10-minute walk from the centre.
Book directly with the hotels using the email addresses below. The discount code “Samtidskonstdagarna19” provides a 10–15 % discount.
To ensure availability, please book by 1 August. Reservations will be held until 31 August.

Quality Hotel Park Södertälje
Address: Saltsjötorget, Södertälje
Booking email: q.park@choice.se

Hotel Scandic Skogshöjd
Address: Täppgatan 15, Södertälje
Booking email: meeting.skogshojd@scandichotels.com

Food

The participant fee includes dinner on 2 October, lunches, coffee and fruit on 2–3 October. If you have any allergies, dietary preferences or requirements, please contact us by 15 September at samtidskonstdagarna2019@statenskonstrad.se.

Registration

The participation fee for the Contemporary Art Days Summit 1–3 October 2019 is SEK 1000. The fee includes lunches, afternoon coffee, fruit on 2–3 October and dinner on 2 October. For self-organising and artist-run organisations we offer a limited number of places at the discounted price of SEK 500.