With the Critical Friends initiative, Art Futures would like to:
• organise an annual gathering of kindred minds sharing knowledge and meeting with each other;
• develop a pool of experts and expertise;
• develop projects to support artists/researchers;
Critical Friends is an international platform intending to make a sustainable contribution to society and the cultural/educational sector utilising its expertise and experience. The overall theme of the Art Futures Critical Friends is ‘the role of art and art education in future societies in an international arena’. The profile of Critical Friends is made up of colleagues with a proven contribution to, successful position and seniority in, the cultural and/or higher arts education sector. Participation is by invitation only.
On 14 January 2021 the pre-launch of the Critical Friends was organised online with 31 participants from 17 countries, here you find the report. The inaugural launch of the Critical Friends took place 27, 28 May 2022 in Brussels with 21 participants from 10 countries. You can find the report here.
The Critical Friends are actively involved in the development of the Art Futures Fellowship in Athens and act as mentors for the selected Fellows.
On 16 February 2023 an online zoom meeting of the Critical Friends took place where the Art Futures Fellows presented their project and a conversation with the Critical Friends followed. Critical Friends will mentor the artists during the residency.
On 6, 7 October 2023 the Critical Friends will meet in Athens and interact with the Art Futures Fellows.