Project

CROSSKICK – German Arts Societies host European Art Academies

The exhibition and lecture series CROSSKICK is a project initiated by the Working Group of German Arts Societies (ADKV) with the aim of presenting current approaches by young artists and linking them with new directions in visual arts training in both eastern and western Europe.

The term CROSSKICK, borrowed from football, characterizes and guides the project. CROSSKICK wants to support cooperation and team-play between universities, so that it may become easier to pass the ball across Europe and thus to stimulate mutual relationships between art societies and academies of art.
CROSSKICK opens up questions and fields of work emerging from the specific socio-political structures and situations of the various countries of origin and makes the principles and results of artistic training more transparent for the public.
CROSSKICK seeks a direct and lively exchange, in which young artists can have their say and make their presence felt through their contributions and their ideas regarding artistic training and art education.

CROSSKICK – exhibitions
From May 2006 to autumn 2007, thirteen arts societies will be presenting exhibitions, workshops and projects by young artists from over thirty European art academies.

CROSSKICK – lectures
The situation of the coming generation of young artists in Europe will be addressed in discussions, lectures and symposia accompanying the exhibitions. The central focus will be on their expectations, their visions for the future, as well as on their opportunities. As a result, the project will also be looking at the educational situation. Which perspectives do the various academies' different educational models offer? How are young artists being prepared for their entry onto art's international playing field?

CROSSKICK – connection
At the end of the project, the ADKV will be inviting representatives from each of the host academies to a week-long workshop in Berlin (provisional dates: 12 – 18 November 2007). These 30 or so students will come together under the direction of Annette Maechtel and Stefan Schneider to discuss their ideas about which forms of education are appropriate today, as well as artistic and theoretical strategies, working models and forms of cultural practice. A public exhibition of the results will be held after the week spent together. The participants of the workshop will then take their experiences and contacts back to their universities and academies in their various countries. In this way, CROSSKICK provides support for the professionalization and increased mobility of young artists as well as for networking throughout Europe. Participation in the workshop will be by invitation.

CROSSKICK – publication
A publication summing up the individual CROSSKICK events as well as the project as a whole is due to appear in spring 2008.