Underskog

Readings for Artworkers, Special Edition, Oslo Art Academy: Art and Work, or Why are Artists
Poor?

Reading session and collective research environment initiated by Kuba Szreder from Free/ Slow
University of Warsaw

Readings for Artworkers is a cycle of text-based seminars organized on a regular basis by the Free /
Slow University of Warsaw, an independent, collective ‘mock institution’ devoted to critical research
and self-education. F/SUW focuses its inquiries on the structural transformations of contemporary
cultural production and its relation to a wider social and economic change. F/SUW in its operations
utilizes various forms of generating and exchanging knowledge, like conferences, summits, barcamps,
summer camps, seminars, reading sessions, publications, manifestos, etc.

For the special edition of Readings for Artworkers I propose to focus on the contemporary relations
between Art and Work. I would like to provoke the discussion by setting a couple of controversial
questions. To start with by asking why are artists poor? Are they poor because of the art market?
Institutions? Maybe the very artists? Or the evil capitalists? Can artists be called immaterial workers?
Or maybe artists are just perfect, entrepreneurial and creative role models for cultural capitalism? Do
artists choose to be precarious, are they competitive and why do they do it? What are the modes of
exploitation in arts and how do they differ from creative industries or regular factories?

For the basis of a discussion I propose the recent manifesto of Berlin-based collective ‘Haben und
brauchen’ (To Have and to Need) and the manifesto of the Committee for Radical Changes in Culture,
issued by the network of cultural producers related to F/SUW in 2009.

www.habenundbrauchen.de/wp-…
www.wuw-warszawa.pl/index.p…

I imagine that discussing the manifestos will be an impulse for the collective research process, during
which we will exchange our experiences and ideas.

TEOAEAWKI is a series of reflections on art education in the 21st century, initiated by the Art Academy in Oslo. The ambition is to analyse and understand recent developments and structural changes within the educational sector, gather important examples of relevant initiatives and orientations to better define our own goals and ambitions as a state educational art institution.
KHiO / Kunstakademiet / Steenstrups gate Gallery of the Art Academy
Fossveien 24, Grünerløkka Oslo