An early discussion at an Independent Space Index Stammtisch led to a proposal that Vienna’s independent scene could be considered a large and diverse intergenerational institution, presenting hundreds of exhibitions and projects per year, creating a responsive web of international networks.

Questions about the role of these small collaborative cultural initiatives run parallel to those of valuation of individual artistic effort. This gives us a clue to what the ‘mission’ of such a decentralized institution might be. What should strategies of re-presentation be, whether it be through festivals, joint exhibitions, institutional invitations, or historical analysis?