‘Collective-Kolektif’ hosts Indonesian collectives including KUNCI Cultural Studies Center, Ace House, OMNI space, Ruang MES 56, and ruangrupa; alongside Melbourne-based groups, this mob, Her Africa Is Real, All Conference, Hyphenated Projects, eleven-collective, and Sound School.

Artist collectives today can be understood as political, industrial, and artistic approaches to self-organisation with creatives collectivising with the aim of achieving forms of autonomy. Historically, a number of Indonesian collectives have formed out of friendships, shared ideologies or political agendas as well as the lack of public funding for developing the arts. Meanwhile, in Melbourne, the artist-run-initiative scene has typically functioned as an enabler or producer, with the founding of collectives making space for emerging and experimental practices post-university. However, Australia has seen a re-emergence of artist collectives as political acts of artistic independence and platforms for alternative narratives.

Through discussions, and performances, ‘Collective-Kolektif’ asks how and why artists work together; what are the conditions required for collectives to thrive; and what is the role of learning and exchange in collectives?

Schedule

Thu 19. Mar 2020

1pm–3.30pm
Panel 1
this mob, ACE House, and Her Africa Is Real

4–6pm
Panel 2
OMNI Space, Hyphenated, and All Conference

Fri, 20. Mar 2020

1–3.30pm
Panel 3
KUNCI, Sound School, and MES 56

4–6pm
Panel 4
eleven-collective and ruangrupa

6–9pm
Performances curated by Liquid Architecture and print workshop by the Artists Union