The bilateral group exhibition “Innumerable Petals”, which was presented last year in Tirana and is now on show at FORUM STADTPARK, offers us an opportunity to talk about international cultural funding, its structures, power relations, pitfalls and opportunities.

Rich countries of the global North, like Austria, with a long imperialist history, organize cultural programs all over the world, promote exchange programs and exhibitions. We want to address the funding relations between Austria, the EU and Albania, also in regard to similarities in other countries.

• How does Austria and/or the EU profit?

• And how can we deal with the power imbalances that arise within such funding structures?

• Who is dependent on whom?

These questions, among others, will be discussed with Diana Malaj, Elsa Martini and Bilgin Ayata.

Diana Malaj is a cultural activist and urban researcher in Kamza, Albania. How does she experience the financing structures in Albania in her practice? What does independent cultural work mean?

Elsa Martini is a visual artist from Albania who has been living in Austria for 15 years. How does she perceive the accessibility of the Austrian funding system and how does she see Austrian interventions in Albania?

Bilgin Ayata is university professor at the Center for Southeast European Studies at the Karl-Franzens University of Graz with a focus on postcolonial studies among others. She has been invited to reflect on these experiences in the context of neo-colonialism and imperialism.

The event is intended as a joint discussion and will be held in English. Please share your thoughts, experiences and ideas.

Organized and moderated by Rivka Saltiel, Miriam Schmid and Markus Waitschacher

The event is financially supported by the Centre for Southeast European Studies, University of Graz.