“COLLABORATION WITH CENTRAL EASTERN INSTITUTIONS OFTEN hinge on pre-existing relationships - THE NEWEAST ART NETWORK WANTS TO BROADEN THE COOPERATION POTENTIAL”

BÉTON BLEU MAGAZINE x NEWEAST

NEWEAST is an art network that aims to connect and expand the visibility of cultural institutions from post-socialist countries in Central and Eastern Europe. On its digital platform www.neweast.art it features exhibition houses, project spaces and cultural institutions. Béton Bleu Magazine spoke with MARIJA PETROVIC, part of the curatorial team of NEWEAST as well as of KVOST (Kunstverein Ost e.V.) in Berlin about the emerging initiative and the art sector in Central Eastern Europe.

Béton Bleu Magazine: Marija, you are one of initiators of the „NEWEAST Art Network“. Can you tell us more?

Marija Petrovic: The initial idea for the network came from Stephan Koal, the director of KVOST and I joined the project about a year ago. NEWEAST is a network that aims to connect and expand the visibility of cultural spaces located in Central and Eastern Europe. On its digital platform, NEWEAST features exhibition houses, project spaces and cultural institutions. They are presented on an interactive map that is linked to a newsfeed in which the members of the network can independently advertise current exhibitions, events and grants. The website also features a blog in which NEWEAST publishes interviews with artists and cultural actors about their work.

BB: Who is the target group of NEWEAST?

MP: On the one hand, it is aimed at people who want to visit a specific city or country and try to get an idea of art and project spaces, as well as institutions that are located there, and the exhibitions they could visit during their travels. On the other hand, the network is aimed at professionals working in art and culture and want to build connections to other spaces, foster exchange or even collaborations. A big focus are also open calls for proposals, grants and residencies that can offer artists some orientation. Sometime in the future, we would also like to establish a residency program through NEWEAST.

BB: How did you identify a need for the concept of NEW EAST? Can you give a concrete example?

MP: It came through the work of KVOST, which is an art association in Berlin that is focused on promoting artists from Central- and Eastern Europe. Since its founding in 2018, KVOST has been very interested in collaborative projects and exchange with other institutions in Central- and Eastern Europe. It became apparent that the interest is very much mutual, but in practice, it often hinges on self-initiative and/or pre-existing relationships. This is how the idea to establish a structure for a network started.

BB: Do you think the East European art scene is less connected with each other than their Western European peers and needs therefore more networks?

MP: Since I am not based in Eastern Europe, I find it difficult to answer this question from my own perspective. I think, it depends and of course, „Eastern Europe“ is a huge and diverse region and I think that the comparisons of „East“ vs. „West“ are not really productive. However, through our conversations with the members of the NEWEAST network we have found that there is a big interest in the project.

BB: What impact would be considered a success for NEWEAST?

MP: The goal is for NEWEAST to become separate from KVOST. It would also be great if the structure provided aids to building partnerships so that a solidary connection emerges. This can also include the realization of collective projects such as touring exhibitions and a joint application for project funds. However, it is important to note that every space or institution that is a member is welcome to use the network-structure in any way that is beneficial for them, which might differ greatly depending on their needs.

BB: Thank you so much for your time.

About: Marija Petrovic (*1992 in Dnipro, Ukraine) is an artist, researcher, and curator based in Berlin. She studied Fine Arts and Theory & History at HFBK Hamburg and Philosophy in Thessaloniki. Since 2023, she has been working on her Ph.D. project "Vulnerability" at the HFBK. Her doctoral thesis is supported by the Ernst-Ludwig Ehrlich Foundation. In her artistic practice, Marija Petrovic is interested in the fragility of contact and interaction, as well as the multi-layered complexities of memory and representation. In her interdisciplinary research, philosophy/phenomenology, postcolonial theories and the study of memory play a major role. From November 2022, she is part of the curatorial team at KVOST (Kunstverein Ost e. V.) in Berlin, which is focused on promoting contemporary art from Eastern Europe. Furthermore, her first publication "Silver", which she co-authored with Ofri Lapid, was published in March 2023 by Materialverlag.

Website: www.neweast.art

Interview: ANA-MARIJA CVITIC

05/01/2024

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