VARES, an international interdisciplinary residency for spatial practice, calls for established professionals, amateurs, students, architects, artists, writers and thinkers to apply for the summer school on spatial activism in August 2024 in Valga, Estonia.
The inaugural VARES Summer School will delve into the multifaceted topic of spatial activism. It will explore theoretical perspectives on the definition of spatial activism and the various forms it can take. Additionally, they will engage in practical discussions and share knowledge on what can be achieved through spatial activism, including how communities can be empowered to shape their own environments and how bureaucratic systems can either support or hinder such efforts in both urban and rural settings.
Moreover, the summer school will look into activism on behalf of other species, addressing the challenges faced by non-human entities that cannot advocate for themselves within legal systems. This will involve exploring concepts of more-than-human agency and multispecies assemblages. The programme will feature hands-on activities, including space-making initiatives and participatory performative acts of spatial activism.
During the week, there will be two workshops aimed at registered participants, as well as a public programme with lectures and seminars open to everyone.
The summer school is organised by VARES in collaboration with the Finnish artists’ and architects’ communities Art for All and You Tell Me Collective, the Latvian artistic research network gel and the Estonian art collective Kunstiryhmitus.
The summer school is free of charge for 10 selected participants. VARES provides shared accommodation, meals and travel support.
