The Sommerakademie is an international platform for contemporary art
with theme-specific seminars, which takes place every August. It
promotes artistic production and reflection, as well as increased
interaction between artists and curators, inviting them for a ten-day
programme to Berne to work and network with renowed personalities form
the art world.

This year's academy is presented by Tirdad Zolghadr, curator for the
United Arab Emirates pavilion at the Venice Biennale in 2009. The
specific context of the Summer Academy is also defined by its local
connections. For this reason the School of Arts Berne and University of
Berne, together with the Loge in the courtyard of PROGR, are important
collaborators. Twelve international fellows, together with Tirdad
Zolghadr and the speakers, will analyse the internal necessities of
contemporary art.

This year's theme explores the long-term consequences and impacts of
fund raising, artists' academies, and museum architecture on the
production and distribution of art. Our goal is to think beyond
conventional exhibition practice, and facilitate feedback and dialogue
between artists and curators.

Ethan Breckenrigde has designed the space for the workshops in the Forum
of the Zentrum Paul Klee. His construction aims to challenge the
promises and possibilities that an experimental academy offers. A
satellite installation at the Loge in the courtyard of PROGR encourages
further involvement.

Members of the public can participate in the artistic processes in a
series of events held at the Zentrum Paul Klee and the Loge at PROGR.

Further information can be found at: www.sommerakademie.zpk.org,
www.progr.ch and www.stadtgalerie.ch

Concept/Curator
Tirdad Zolghadr, art critic, curator of the United Arab Emirates
pavilion at this year's 53rd Venice Biennale. Lecturer at the Center for
Curatorial Studies, Bard College, New York, and curatorial expert for
the Guggenheim Museum Abu Dhabi.

Fellows
Gürsoy Dogtas (Germany)
Claire Feeley (Ireland)
Linda Franke (Germany)
Agnieszka Kurant (Poland)
Bettina Malcomess (Republic of South Africa)
Mariangela Mendez Prencke (Colombia)
Uriel Orlow (Switzerland, lives in London)
Judith Raum (Germany)
Shirana Shahbazi (Iran, Germany, lives in Zurich)
Oraib Toukan (Jordan, lives in New York)
Ricardo Valentim (Portugal, lives in New York)
Erik Wenzel (USA).

Speakers
Fabienne Eggelhöfer, Curator, Zentrum Paul Klee
Dr. Bruce Hainley, art critic and Faculty Member at the Art Center
College of Design, Pasadena (USA)
Marianne Keller, scientific staff, Zentrum Paul Klee
Vasif Kortun, Director, Platform Garantie, Istanbul
Suhail Malik, Lecturer, Goldsmiths College, London
Dr. Andrea Phillips, Director, "Curating Architecture", Goldsmiths
College, London
Hans Rudolf Reust, Director, "Contemporary Arts", University of the
Arts, Berne
Prof. Dr. Peter J. Schneemann, Professor of Contemporary Art, Institute
of Art History, University of Berne
Carey Young, artist

Programme

3rd August 2009
16.00 hrs: press conference in the Forum of the Zentrum Paul Klee

4 August 2009, 18.30 hrs
Welcome and apéro
Dr. Jacqueline Burckhardt, Director, Sommerakademie, Tirdad Zolghadr,
Curator, Sommerakademie and Dr. Juri Steiner, Director, Zentrum Paul
Klee
Auditorium, Zentrum Paul Klee

5 August 2009, 18.30 hrs
Lecture "Serious Ladies" by Dr. Bruce Hainley
Loge, PROGR

8/9 August 2009, 10.00-17.00 hrs
Installation by Ethan Breckenridge open to the public
Forum, Zentrum Paul Klee

10 August 2009, 18.30 hrs
Lecture "Learning to Look Unlearned" by Prof. Dr. Peter J. Schneemann
Loge, PROGR

11 August 2009, 13.00-17.00 hrs
Installation by Ethan Breckenridge open to the public
Forum, Zentrum Paul Klee

11 August 2009, 18.30 hrs
Lecture "Interne Notwendigkeit" by Tirdad Zolghadr
Forum, Zentrum Paul Klee

12 August 2009, 10.00-17.00 hrs
Installation by Ethan Breckenridge open to the public
Forum, Zentrum Paul Klee

12 August 2009, 15.00 hrs
Podium discussion between curator and fellows of the Sommerakademie 2009
Forum, Zentrum Paul Klee

12 August 2009, 17.00 hrs
Closing remarks
Dr. Jacqueline Burckhardt, Director, Sommerakademie, Tirdad Zolghadr,
Curator, Sommerakademie and Dr. Juri Steiner, Director, Zentrum Paul
Klee
Auditorium, Zentrum Paul Klee

12 August 2009, 18.30 hrs
Address by Beate Engel, Director, PROGR, followed by apéro
Loge, PROGR