Past, Present, Future

The History of the Modern Art Museum
A Symposium at Moderna Museet

Stockholm, 17-18 October 2008

When an institution such as Moderna Museet celebrates its 50th anniversary,
there is every reason to look back and analyse history, in order to discuss
the future of the museum. In early October 2008, The History Book. On
Moderna Museet 1958-2008 will be published (co-published with Steidl,
Göttingen), as a result of a major research project. Anna Tellgren is
editor. The book presents twelve new essays covering various fields that
have been central to the activities of the museum. It is also richly
illustrated and contains information about exhibitions and events and an
extensive bibliography. The authors include Moderna Museet curators and
researchers from Swedish universities. The artists Marysia Lewandowska and
Neil Cummings were invited to contribute an artistic intervention in the
book.

To conclude the research project, a symposium will be held on Friday and
Saturday, 17-18 October 2008. For two days, Moderna Museet will be the
subject of a national and international discussion, where voices from within
the museum will encounter foreign researchers. Speakers, dealing with the
history of the museum through personal involvement and experiences, will
begin the first day. During the second day, discussions around contemporary
and future museums will widen the field towards an international discourse
on modern museums of art and their relationship to collecting and the
writing of art history.

Admission to Moderna Museet on 17 and 18 October will also be valid for the
symposium. Admission Fee 80/60 kr
Admission free up to 18 years of age and for members of the Friends of
Moderna Museet.

For more information please contact:
Martin Sundberg, project coordinator
tel +46 8 5195 5284
m.sundbergmodernamuseet.se

www.modernamuseet.se

The symposium and research project has been made possible with generous
support from Gertrude and Ivar Philipson's Foundation.

Programme

Friday, 17 October
Language: Swedish (translator will be present)

10.15-11.15
Lars Nittve: "Welcome"
Anna Tellgren: "The History Book. Presentation of the Project"
Hans Hayden: "The Modern Art Museum as a Place for Research"

11.15-12.00
Monica Nieckels: "Changing Times in Art. A Curator's View"

12.00-13.30 Lunch break

13.30-14.15
Beate Sydhoff: "Criticism and Politics surrounding Moderna Museet 1966-79"

14.15-15.00
Margaretha Rossholm Lagerlöf: "Modes of Then and Now"

15.00-15.30 Coffee break

15.30-16.15
Marysia Lewandowska: "Museum Futures"

16.30-18.00 Refreshments

Saturday, 18 October
Language: English

10.15-11.00
Mary Anne Staniszewski: "Looking for Signs of Life: Exhibitions,
Experiments, War, Women, Activism, New York and Museums"

11.00-11.45
Patrik Andersson: "The Art of Re-Assemblage: Machines, Movement, Irony and
Chance"

11.45-12.30
Maria Hirvi-Ijäs: "The Art Exhibition as a Communicative Medium - About,
Through or With the Work of Art?"

12.30-14.00 Lunch break

14.00-14.45
Mimi Zeiger: "The Exhibitionists: Buildings, Cities, Identity"

14.45-15.30
Kylie Message: "Museums in the 21st Century: Still Looking for Signs of
Difference"

15.30-16.00 Coffee break

16.00-17.00
"Will the Modern Museums be Historic Soon?" Discussion. Moderator: John
Peter Nilsson

Allowing for changes.

----------------
Martin Sundberg
Forskningsassistent
Research assistant
Tel +46 8 5195 5284
m.sundbergmodernamuseet.se
 
Moderna Museet
Box 16382
SE-103 27 Stockholm Sweden
www.modernamuseet.se