[spectre] call for proposals prague biennale 3: Glocal & Outsiders

[Denisa Kera]

Call for proposals

Center for Global Studies (Academy of Sciences and Charles University)
http://cgs.flu.cas.cz/
International Centre for Art and New Technologies (CIANT)
http://www.ciant.cz
and Prague Biennale 3
http://www.flashartonline.com/pg_PRAGUE_BIENNALE3.htm
invite you to send proposals for

the conference on the interplay between art, culture and technology 
and issues of globalization and international cooperation:

Glocal & Outsiders
(part of the Prague Biennale 3)

Prague, 13. and 14. July 2007

Since the mid 1990's biennial exhibits in cities such as 
Johannesburg, Istanbul, Melbourne, Havana, Sao Paulo and other 
expanded the art world's institutional context beyond any 
imagination. Art became a new global spectacle which exposes various 
cultures and nations to an international audience. Asian contemporary 
art has become something like a fashion and museums are being built 
at an increasing rate in Asia as well as throughout South America 
with new collectors popping up all over the world. Parallel to this, 
art also incorporated emerging technologies and developed various 
interdisciplinary relations to science and industry. Technological 
innovations and artistic creativity joined forces in various new 
media festivals and events which brought new and very diverse groups 
and interests into play. Technology and globalization also changed 
the economic infrastructure of the art world. Internet services such 
as artprice.com allow artists to showcase their work to a very broad 
audience of international collectors which fund the contemporary art 
boom. On the other hand, many artists use the distributive and peer 
to peer properties of the internet to experiment with new economic 
models.
Artists, critics, curators but also buyers are part of these global 
and technological exchanges and it is not clear yet whether these 
interdependences, integrations and interactions lead to reduction in 
diversity, to assimilation or to hybridization:
What are the challenges artworld is facing in the time of 
globalization and increasing technologization? How to balance 
cultural interests and local scenes with global opportunities and art 
with technological innovations? How to view the interplay of art and 
globalization in the context of complex economic, trade, social, 
technological, cultural and political interrelationships? How does 
art reflect upon globalization: does it support intercultural and 
transnational ideals or it is indifferent to claims of geography, 
history, and identity?  How does it resist and how does it support 
globalization? Do new institutions and technologies allow us to enjoy 
and experience art from different cultures or they unify them? What 
new forms of artistic and technical exchanges are taking place? How 
does international cooperation help emerging fields of art? How can 
new technologies expand  the social, economical, cultural and 
artistic aspects? What are the limits or possibilities on the 
technological level to build art projects that improve international 
cooperation? Do emerging technologies and art institutions support 
cultural diversity or they level it?

We are calling for proposals by cultural theorists, cultural 
historians, museum experts, art historians, art curators and experts 
of other disciplines. Any program formats (papers, roundtable 
discussions, media presentations etc.) are welcommed.

Proposals should include the following items:
1. Preliminary abstract, 150-300 words.
2. CV with e-mail address, phone and fax numbers.

Please send them by May 30, 2007 via e-mail to: Denisa Kera (kera AT 
ff.cuni.cz)  and Aurelie Besson (aurelie AT ciant.cz)