Study Trip Lugano & Milan (27–30 March 2025)

Study trip to Lugano & Milan (March 27–30, 2025):
Contemporary Practices of Inclusion and Outreach in the Arts.

Offered by the Centre for Continuing Education, ZHdK.

Application deadline: 15 February 2025
Organization: Dr Ronald Kolb in collaboration with Sophie Brunner (Atelier Rohling)
Further information: ronald.kolb@zhdk.ch. Application form here.

The intensive course is awarded with 4 ECTS points.
Fees: Reduced: 800 CHF, Regular: 1050 CHF

Further information: zhdk.ch/study-trip-lugano 

This study trip will take an in-depth look at the evolving discourse and practices of inclusion and outreach programs of art institutions and non-institutional practices. The course will take you to Lugano in Ticino, Switzerland and to the city of Milan, Italy. In both cities, we will look at the specific contexts of collaborative art practices and exhibition-making. Together they offer contrasting but complementary views of inclusion and community building practices. The emphasis on inclusion and outreach in the exhibitionary field means both the diversification of topics and audiences and the aim of integrating previously marginalized positions into the art sector.

These artistic and curatorial practices wish to actively engage with the public. To do so, exhibitionary activities must be rethought and possibly new relationalship created. Questions to be asked: What role do art institutions, artists & curators, and other cultural actors play? How can art practices or existing infrastructures be used to include voices that are rarely heard in society? Who speaks and who is heard?

This study trip promises to provide a unique and inspiring perspective on inclusive and community-focused artistic endeavors. In Lugano, we will delve into the local art scene with Riccardo Lisi, curator and President of the art association Visarte Ticino, and visit artist Lisa Lurati. We will gain insights into the exhibition program and collaborative art project Crea Spazio (Creating Space), presented by the Swiss–Italian Art Museum (MASI) at Lugano Arte e Cultura (LAC) in collaboration with Sophie Brunner. In Milan, participants will learn about the outreach of prominent art institutions and discover artist-led initiatives with a focus on local, participatory practices in public spaces with artist Francesca Marconi and Atelier Wurmkos.

We seek non-ideological approaches in situated knowledges, critical and self-critical reflection, and consideration of local conditions within the framework of a translocal contemporaneity. The study trip is open to professionals of all fields and promises to be both educational and enjoyable. Accommodation, travel and other expenses are not covered by the program and must be organized individually.

Please note: the program is subject to change.

Dr Ronald Kolb, Continuing Education ZHdK, published his dissertation “Curating as Governmental Practices. Post-Exhibitionary Practices under Translocal Conditions in Governmental Constellations on contemporary exhibitionary practices from a governmental perspective and explores their dynamics between representational power and participatory operations. A characteristic feature of his practice is the orchestration of exhibiting and teaching as an exercise in participation in contexts of situated knowledges. He co-organized events, such as Situated Knowledges (2021), the Summer School “Commoning Curatorial and Artistic Education” at documenta fifteen (2022), Commoning Collective Care in collaboration with TBA21 (2023) and the study trip “Post-/Exhibitionary Practices” in Córdoba, Spain (2024).
He is the Artistic Director 2025/26 at M.1 of the Arthur Boskamp-Stiftung.

Sophie Brunner
Atelier Rohling was founded in Bern in 2012 by Sophie Brunner with Diego Roveroni. The association supports artists with disabilities and creates a place for artistic coexistence. Brunner is an independent curator and has been a delegate for Visarte since 2022. Selected projects include 2020–2022 Access: Project for marginalized Swiss artists, 2018–2019 Art residencies in the Catholic Church region of Bern. Selected curated exhibitions: 2022 Café Bümpliz, Sereina Steinemann, Salomé Bäumlin, Marinka Limat, STALL5, Bümpliz; 2021 Heim/Werro– Pia Heim and Roland Werro, Zentrum Paul Klee, Bern; since 2018 co-curation with Eva Rekade of the off-space Outside Rohling.

Photo credit: Francesca Marconi, “Internazionale Corazon”, Posters in Via Padova, 2022