Performance in the grand salon of the Schwartzsche Villa

The studio spaces are empty. Many artists are being forced to earn a living elsewhere, working harder than ever. But what happens when funding disappears from jobs where artists have long found employment: cultural education, community social work, inclusion, diversity and equality initiatives? The cycle grinds to a halt, and art and culture are not the only victims in the wake of widespread cuts.

In an experimental reading accompanying his research project ‘Archive of Extractivism’, the artist looks at colonial collections policies. How were indigenous people and their artefacts represented in anthropological research, and what traces were recorded in archives and museums? Illustrated with photographs and archive material, the reading reveals the ways these representations continue to shape our understanding of indigenous people.

Artist Alex Lebus becomes the gallery attendant and welcomes visitors.

A guided session with storytelling, collective daydreaming, deep listening, and dozing. Based on personal stories and fictional encounters, this experience invites participants to immerse themselves in Sondi’s video game Mbombo: Dream Echoes and reflect on the transformative power of dreams to shape infinite futures.