Featuring: Kevin Space, Pech, Kunstraum am Schauplatz, New Jörg, The Office, Prosopopoeia, Laurenz, WAF, Mz*Baltazar’s Laboratory, 1zwei3
“To index is to carry out a monotonous task of systematic organisation: compiling contents, presenting facts and figures. An essential operation in the history of information, indexing lies at the core of Big Data—reflecting the very nature of present-day data processing—repetitive, automated and impersonal.
The INDEPENDENT SPACE INDEX’S efforts redefine the procedure of making an index, engendering significant gatherings within the city’s art scene. This initiative holds an online directory of independent spaces, a yearly festival, and monthly encounters—establishing a supportive community network in order to face the challenges of being located in an otherwise conservative climate. Vienna’s cultural landscape, overrun by carriages of romanticised imperial legacy pulled by fatigued horses, manages to accommodate an abundant off-space scene. Currently, it hosts a staggering 90 active independent spaces. This large scene is at odds with the abundance of “BITTE PSSST!” signs outside local businesses and the overly regulated public space. It likely survives due to a concoction of still affordable rents, a decent structure of public funding, and the means of cooperation and solidarity fostered amongst its participants. After all, Vienna has ranked first place in the Economist’s “Global Liveability Index”. Such conditions are in constant threat due to a brewing turn to far-right politics, rising rents, the instability of public funding, and the undervaluing of artistic labour. Despite the increasing difficulties of under-paid cultural work, the list of non-commercial spaces steadily grows and gains unsolicited legitimization, occasionally casting appearances in institutions in a curatorial capacity. In its 7th reprise, the festival staged multiple events distributed around the city, mapping routes to escape the temperamental weather of late May.”
Read the full report on PW-Magazine: https://pw-magazine.com/2024/here-now-and-there-independent-space-index-festival