Testimonials Visiting Curators Vienna 2024
Taking place over ten days, Verein K Visiting Curators Vienna 2024 program offered a curated experience, providing us, as participating curators, with unparalleled access to Vienna’s vibrant cultural landscape. I particularly appreciated the program’s emphasis on diversity during studio visits. We had the opportunity to engage with a wide spectrum of artists across various disciplines and practices, fostering a comprehensive understanding of Vienna’s contemporary art scene. This diversity enriched our perspectives and highlighted the city’s artistic dynamism.
What set the program apart was its adaptability to our specific interests. The thoughtfully designed itinerary blended group activities with personalized engagements, aligning with our individual areas of focus. This approach reflected the organizers’ commitment to ensuring that the residency was both meaningful and impactful for each curator involved. The program also excelled in fostering connections. From artists and gallery directors to fellow curators, the range of professionals we encountered was remarkable. The organizers demonstrated exceptional foresight and professionalism in proactively identifying and nurturing these interactions, creating opportunities for collaboration and dialogue. Beyond networking, the program’s forward-thinking approach emphasized the potential synergies between participants and Vienna’s local art ecosystem. By cultivating these connections, the residency laid the groundwork for sustainable collaborations.
Visiting Curators Vienna 2024 serves as an exemplary model of how residencies can catalyze meaningful cultural exchange and foster long-lasting professional relationships, leaving an indelible mark on all who participate.
–Giulia Colletti, Italy
Participating in the Visiting Curators Vienna program 2024 was an exceptional experience that provided invaluable insights into Vienna’s contemporary art scene. The program was carefully designed, featuring a rich agenda that included studio visits with artists, tours of galleries and museums, and individual meetings that allowed for deeper discussions on specific interests.
The organizers’ professionalism and hospitality created an inspiring atmosphere, fostering connections with local artists, institutions, and international peers. A particular highlight was the diverse and talented cohort of 2024 participating curators, whose unique perspectives and strong camaraderie made the program feel like a close- knit community.
These interactions resulted in new ideas and opportunities for future collaborations, which I am confident will continue to develop. I am especially grateful to the dedicated Verein K team for crafting such an unforgettable and transformative experience. I warmly recommend this program to anyone looking to engage with Vienna’s dynamic art scene and expand their professional network.
– Mira Gakjina Ivanovska, North Macedonia
I miss everything in Vienna! What a pleasure and an honour it was for me to take part in your cohort of selected international curators who have had the privilege to join you for an intensive, intriguing, though-provoking, mind-blowing 10-day program of modern and contemporary art exposure! My gratitude towards Dejan, Jelena and Klaus for welcoming us to a rich, friendly environment of the greatest artistic level is beyond words. Definitely a highlight of my 2024!
I went on the residency with a wide, open heart, and encountered great creative minds, who sometimes thought alike and sometimes did not, but were always eager to share and comment on each other’s points of view in a critically respectful way. The program was very well balanced among studio visits, exhibitions tours, and institutional meet-ups – I particularly enjoyed Verein K’s eyes for grouping the curators for some specific visits, while splitting them up or gathering us in smaller groups and duos according to our curatorial interests. It was phenomenal to meet some of the important names in the Viennese scene – artists, curators, researchers, critics – especially with regards to a diasporic presence that is at the core of my research interests. My individual highlights were meeting Ramiro Wong (who I did not know), Mira Negoro, Laura Amann, and seeing Medardo Rosso’s show at mumok and Kazuko Miyamoto’s at Belvedere 21.
Being able to understand the East-European context and the manner in which post-colonial, D&I discourses reverberate and rematerialize in that specific region was very enriching for my professional trajectory. Coming from a Canadian-Brazilian background and not being extensively exposed to European practices, unveiling the geopolitical apparatus in which I was immersed was essential for my exploration. I am grateful to Verein K and their selected art professionals for the relentless and fruittful artistic exchange.
Moreover, it’s always a nice surprise to find such generous, open-hearted people in a career that can be so egocentric. As I think through and in collectivity, being now part of the Viennese international community has significantly expanded the horizons of my practice. I can’t wait for future projects together.
With lots of love and gratitude,
– Renata Azevedo Moreiro, Brazil
The Verein-K Visiting Curators Vienna program provided an exceptional platform to deepen my understanding of Vienna’s contemporary art landscape through a thoughtfully designed residency. As my curatorial practice evolves, opportunities to conduct on-site research and connect with other curators working within specific cultural and political contexts have become increasingly vital.
This residency was meticulously tailored to support my research objectives for an upcoming exhibition, offering invaluable access to Vienna’s dynamic art scene and facilitating meaningful professional exchanges. The residency encompassed a wide range of activities, including discussions with museum curators, public programs, and tours of commercial galleries, off-spaces, and artist-run initiatives. Its structure allowed ample room for critical dialogue and intellectual exploration, leaving a lasting impact on my curatorial thinking and approach. For independent curators like myself, the opportunity to immerse oneself in an international cultural ecosystem is both rare and essential.
This program fostered connections with artists whose practices align with my interests while also providing valuable insights into Vienna’s complex, layered historical and contemporary contexts. The depth and breadth of this experience have significantly expanded the scope of my research and profoundly informed my curatorial perspective. A particular highlight was the collaborative spirit of the curatorial cohort, whose humor, diverse perspectives, and shared commitment to thoughtful exhibition-making created an atmosphere of openness and meaningful exchange.
I would like to extend my gratitude to the brilliant organizers of Verein-K, with special thanks to our generous and welcoming hosts, Dejan Kaludjerović, Jelena Kaludjerović, and Klaus Speidel. For curators seeking to critically engage with Vienna’s art scene and broaden their professional networks, the Verein-K Visiting Curators Vienna program offers a uniquely transformative and intellectually rewarding experience.
– Trisha Lagaso Goldberg, USA
Verein K is an independent arts and cultural organization from Vienna, founded in January 2018. Verein K focuses on projects in the field of contemporary art and culture connecting diverse cultural and social interests: critical approaches to contemporary art, creating curatorial platforms as well as enabling innovative cultural practices including diverse social groups.