The 56th CIMAM's Annual Conference to Address Sustainable Futures: How? When? For Whom?
- CIMAM, the International Committee for Museums and Collections of Modern Art, will hold its 56th Annual Conference in Los Angeles from December 6 to 8, 2024, returning to the city for the first time since 1990.
- The CIMAM Annual Conference will address Sustainable Futures: How? When? For Whom? and will feature keynotes by artist Mark Bradford, Zita Cobb, Founder and CEO of Shorefast, and Candice Hopkins, Executive Director and Chief Curator of Forge Projects.
- The Conference will be held at the three co-hosting venues: The Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA), the Hammer Museum at UCLA, and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), with personalized visits to the PST ART: Art & Science Collide exhibitions, an initiative of the Getty, CIMAM’s Annual Conference lead sponsor.
Tuesday, July 9, 2024 – Barcelona - The CIMAM 2024 Annual Conference in Los Angeles will address the subject of sustainability from an integrated and holistic perspective. “Beginning with our desire to respond to climate change by reassessing our policies around collection care and conservation; rethinking the buildings we occupy and the cities we are part of; while also exploring innovative models for economic sustainability and community building, this year’s conference will bring together colleagues who are transforming the field by redefining the intersection of art, ecology and society.”, declares Clara Kim, CIMAM Board Member, Chair of CIMAM Annual Conference Contents Committee and Chief Curator and Director of Curatorial Affairs of The Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles.
Co-hosted by The Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA), the Hammer Museum at UCLA, and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), with lead support from the Getty Foundation and additional support from Perenchio Foundation, the Helen Frankenthaler Foundation, and East West Bank, the conference will address key questions that amplify the notion of sustainability: How do museums navigate the tensions of the ongoing cycles of crisis and change? What does it mean in the context of art institutions? How are museums putting it into practice? And how do we acknowledge different contexts, cultures, and economies?
Through keynote speeches, panel presentations, and discussions, the conference will bring together museum directors, curators, artists, architects, and other visionaries from around the world.
The conference will depart from the realization of the social role museums play, as part of the urban fabric and natural landscape of a city/place.
Together we will also explore the economical and financial sustainability of cultural infrastructures and analyze today's challenges in the two predominant models: the US non-profit system and the publicly funded European institutions, as well as new models being forged by artists, foundations and philanthropists, centering direct community engagement and social change.
Individual panels will highlight the importance of Indigenous worldviews in debates about the intersection of art, ecology, and practice and provide spaces to reflect on community-based sustainability, stewardship versus ownership, and the intellectual and philosophical frameworks of what a museum can be.
CIMAM 2024 Speakers. Top row, from left: Mai Abu ElDahab, Mark Bradford, Edgar Calel, Zita Cobb, and Andrea Fraser. Second row, from left: Taloi Havini, Candice Hopkins, Andrea Lissoni, Ibrahim Mahama, Michael Maltzan. Third row, from left: John Kenneth Paranada, Walid Raad, J. Fiona Ragheb, Pablo José Ramírez, Manuel Segade. Bottom row, from left: Kelsey Shell, Yesomi Umolu, Daniel Vega, Cecilia Winter and Sara Zewde.
Conference Program:
Day 1: The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA
Introduction by Clara Kim, CIMAM Board Member and Chair of the Contents Committee.
Keynote: Mark Bradford, Artist, Los Angeles.
Session: What is our Agency? The Contemporary Art Museum and Climate Crisis.
We are living through a time of climate crisis. What does sustainability, in the most expansive sense, look like within institutions today? How are we as a group of professionals enacting lasting structural changes in our institutions? What are the opportunities for the sustainable museum? How do we think about collection environments in ways that speak to the entanglements of addressing carbon emission reduction? How can a commitment to equality, social change, and cultural transformation be part of a sustainable vision for museums for the future?
With presentations by
- John Kenneth Paranada, Curator of Art and Climate Change, Sainsbury Centre, University of East Anglia, London.
- J Fiona Ragheb, Deputy Director for Curatorial and Exhibitions, Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), Los Angeles, in conversation with Kelsey Shell, Environmental & Sustainability Strategist, MOCA, Los Angeles.
- Daniel Vega, Deputy Director for Exhibitions and Conservation, Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, Bilbao.
- Cecilia Winter, Project Specialist, Getty Conservation Institute, Los Angeles, USA.
Moderated by Suzanne Cotter, CIMAM Board Member and Member of the Contents Committee.
Session: Sustainable Ecosystems: Rethinking Museum Collections and Buildings within the Urban and Social Realm.
As museums take a turn towards the social, how do we develop more sustainable ecosystems that re-imagine our role and responsibility within the larger urban fabric of a city? How do we rethink our collections and buildings as porous boundaries between the public and private, between the past and present, between the museum and community, between the physical and the environmental? How do we redefine our relationship to place beyond museum walls?
With presentations by
- Djon Mundine, Artist, Curator, Writer, Activist, Sydney.
- Michael Maltzan, Principal, Michael Maltzan Architecture, Inc., Los Angeles.
- Andrea Lissoni, Artistic Director, Haus der Kunst, Munich.
- Sara Zewde, Principal, Studio Zewde, New York
Moderated by Amanda de la Garza, CIMAM Board Member and Member of the Contents Committee.
Followed by workshops, private visits to the Getty Center, PST ART exhibitions.
Day 2: Hammer Museum at UCLA
Introduction by Kitty Scott, CIMAM Board Member and member of the 2024 Contents Committee.
Keynote: Zita Cobb, Founder and CEO, Shorefast, Ottawa / Joe Batt's Arm.
Session: Economies of Sustainability: Ethics, Values and Resilience.
What do sustainable funding structures look like in the art and cultural sector? How is the governance of museums affected by who’s in power and what’s in play? What changing philanthropic models can museums and non-profits learn from, in order to create stronger cultural ecosystems? How do social impact philanthropy and artist-generated projects help sustain long-term goals for self-reliance as well as create new resilient models?
With presentations by
- Ibrahim Mahama, Artist and Founder, Savannah Centre for Contemporary Art (SCCA) and Red Clay Studio, Ghana, in conversations with Yesomi Umolu, Arts Leader and curator, London.
- Manuel Segade, Director, Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia, Madrid.
- Andrea Fraser, Artist and Professor, UCLA, Los Angeles.
- Mai Abu ElDahab, Director, Mophradat, Brussels.
Moderated by Aram Moshayedi, Member of the Contents Committee.
Interlude presentation: Artist Talk by Walid Raad.
Followed by workshops, and private visits to PST ART exhibitions.
Day 3: Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA)
Introduction by Joselina Cruz, CIMAM Board Member and Member of the Contents Committee.
Keynote: Candice Hopkins, Executive Director and Chief Curator, Forge Projects, Taghkanic.
Session: Sustainable Communities: Indigenous Perspectives and Worldviews.
Indigenous artists, curators and thinkers have been making highly visible change in museums, permeating institutions and the practices of exhibition making and collecting. What does sustainability, when seen and understood through indigenous perspectives, mean for our institutions? What should be sustained, changed, and re-imagined? How do indigenous perspectives and worldviews realign the intersection of art, ecology and community?
With presentations by
- Edgar Calel, Artist, San Juan Comalapa, Guatemala.
- Pablo José Ramírez, Curator, Hammer Museum, Los Angeles.
- Taloi Havini, Artist, Brisbane.
Moderated by Rita Gonzalez, Member of the Contents Committee.
Followed by private visits including PST ART exhibitions.
PST ART: Art & Science Collide
The conference's content will align with Southern California’s landmark arts event PST ART, which returns in September 2024 with more than 60 exhibitions from museums and other institutions across the region, all exploring the intersections of art and science, both past and present. Dozens of cultural, scientific, and community organizations will join the latest edition, PST ART: Art & Science Collide, with exhibitions on subjects ranging from ancient cosmologies to Indigenous sci-fi, and from environmental justice to artificial intelligence. PST ART is a Getty initiative. Conference delegates will have specially organized tours and the opportunity to engage with artists and curators participating.
Post-Conference Tour (9-10 December)
The Post-Conference tour to Palm Springs, Joshua Tree, and the High Desert will give conference participants an opportunity to experience the unique desert landscape of Southern California as well as ruminate on our place on earth in relationship to extreme climate conditions and delicate ecosystems.
Post-Tour to Palm Springs, Joshua Tree, and the High Desert
CIMAM 2024 Annual Conference Supporters.
The production of the 2024 Annual Conference is made possible by the lead sponsorship of the Getty Foundation. Additional support for the conference is provided by the Perenchio Foundation and the Helen Frankenthaler Foundation. Hosting sponsorship is provided by East West Bank.
The post-conference tour to the Desert is made possible through the support of the High Desert Test Site.
Notes for editors:
CIMAM's Annual Conference Contents Committee:
Clara Kim (Chair of the Contents Committee), Chief Curator and Director of Curatorial Affairs, The Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles; Suzanne Cotter, Director, Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, Sydney; Joselina Cruz, Director/Curator, Museum of Contemporary Art and Design (MCAD) Manila; Amanda de la Garza, Artistic Deputy Director, Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia (MNCARS), Madrid; Rita Gonzalez, Terri and Michael Smooke Curator and Department Head Contemporary Art, Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), Los Angeles; Aram Moshayedi, Interim Chief Curator, Hammer Museum, Los Angeles and Kitty Scott, Independent Curator, Toronto.
Travel Grant Funders 2024:
The Getty Foundation, Saastamoinen Foundation, Mercedes Vilardell, Aimée Labarrere de Servitje, Eloisa Haudenschild, Fernando Zobel de Ayala, OCA – Office for Contemporary Art Norway, SAHA – Supporting Contemporary Art from Turkey, Consulate General of Brazil in Los Angeles, and Byucksan Cultural Foundation
About CIMAM
CIMAM (International Committee for Museums and Collections of Modern Art) is the only worldwide network of directors and curators of modern and contemporary art museums. Founded in The Hague in 1962, CIMAM is an affiliated organization of ICOM (International Council of Museums).
CIMAM's vision is of a world in which the cultural, social, and economic impact of modern and contemporary art museums, collections, and archives on society is widely recognized. To fulfill this vision, CIMAM's mission is to create an international and professional forum to discuss and share knowledge on topics of interest through key initiatives, such as the CIMAM Annual Conference, provide support aligned with the ethical values of the ICOM and CIMAM Code of Ethics, establish guidelines, protocols, and benchmarks of best museum practice, and to contribute to the growth of the sector by facilitating cooperation and professional development. Led by an International Board of Museum Directors and Curators, the organization draws on the collective experience of its members to advance the sector and realize the shared vision.
About The Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA)
Founded in 1979, MOCA is the defining museum of contemporary art. In a relatively short period of time, MOCA has achieved astonishing growth; a world-class collection of nearly 8,000 objects, international in scope with deep holdings in Los Angeles art; hallmark education programs that are widely emulated; award-winning publications that present original scholarship; groundbreaking monographic, touring, and thematic exhibitions of international repute that survey the art of our time; and cutting-edge engagement with modes of new media production. MOCA is a not-for-profit institution that relies on a variety of funding sources for its activities.
About the Hammer Museum at UCLA
The Hammer Museum at UCLA is part of the School of the Arts and Architecture at UCLA, and offers exhibitions and collections that span classic to contemporary art. It holds more than 50,000 works in its collection, including one of the finest collections of works on paper in the nation, the Grunwald Center for the Graphic Arts. Through a wide-ranging, international exhibition program and the Made in L.A. biennial, the Hammer highlights contemporary art since the 1960s, especially the work of emerging and under - recognized artists. The exhibitions, permanent collections, and nearly 300 public programs annually— including film screenings, lectures, symposia, readings, music performances, and workshops for families—are all free to the public.
About the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA)
Located on the Pacific Rim, LACMA is the largest art museum in the western United States, with a collection of more than 152,000 objects that illuminate 6,000 years of artistic expression across the globe. Committed to showcasing a multitude of art histories, LACMA exhibits and interprets works of art from new and unexpected points of view that are informed by the region’s rich cultural heritage and diverse population. LACMA’s spirit of experimentation is reflected in its work with artists, technologists, and thought leaders as well as in its regional, national, and global partnerships to share collections and programs, create pioneering initiatives, and engage new audiences.
About The Getty Foundation
The Getty Foundation fulfills the philanthropic mission of the Getty Trust by supporting individuals and institutions committed to advancing the greater understanding and preservation of the visual arts in Los Angeles and throughout the world. Through strategic grant initiatives, the Foundation strengthens art history as a global discipline, promotes the interdisciplinary practice of conservation, increases access to museum and archival collections, and develops current and future leaders in the visual arts. It carries out its work in collaboration with the other Getty Programs to ensure that they individually and collectively achieve maximum effect. Additional information is available at www.getty.edu/foundation.
About The Perenchio Foundation
The Perenchio Foundation is a private foundation established by the late A. Jerrold “Jerry” Perenchio. The Perenchio Foundation believes that arts play an essential role in building more equitable, culturally vibrant, and inclusive communities, and is guided by a commitment to create a positive, lasting impact in the Los Angeles region through the arts. Learn more at www.perenchiofoundation.org.
About East West Bank
East West Bank is a U.S. commercial bank headquartered in Los Angeles and is the largest state-chartered bank in California, with over $70 billion in assets. Founded in 1973, the Bank provides financial services to help customers reach further and connect to new opportunities. The East West Bank Art Program showcases the work of contemporary artists to raise awareness, spark conversation, and foster understanding of diverse communities. East West Bank operates 120 locations in the United States and Asia. For more information, visit www.eastwestbank.com.
About High Desert Test Sites
High Desert Test Sites is a platform for art and experiences that enable us to step outside everyday life and envision new possibilities. The organization is based at A-Z West—Andrea Zittel’s 80-acre compound and artwork adjacent to Joshua Tree National Park—where it brings together artists, writers, and thinkers to create projects that engage the desert and its communities. Since its founding in 2002, HDTS has hosted more than 500 artists from near and far, 12 expansive site-specific programs, and 25 solo projects. Explore more at hdts.site.