Re-Decentering: Writing the History of Artist-Run Culture

In conjunction with its current exhibition One Dimensional Space, Modern Fuel Artist-Run Centre is holding a panel presentation and book launch addressing the history of artist-run culture and its forms of organization, featuring authors Vincent Bonin, Clive Robertson, and Robert Labossière. One Dimensional Space continues at Modern Fuel Artist-Run Centre until June 7th.

Vincent Bonin will present on the early history of artist-run centres through a discussion of his Documentary Protocols exhibitions, which focused principally on the phenomenon of artists as cultural workers and information managers in the period from 1967 to 1975. Though visual documentation about the programming activities of artist-run centers is often investigated by historians and curators, Bonin unearths the neglected labor history of these institutions.

Clive Robertson will extrapolate from his recently published book Policy Matters, an analysis and critique of Canada’s cultural sector and the policies that led to its current infrastructure. Robertson is credited with coining the term "artist-run" and has been an integral agent in the formation of the artist-run culture movement as it is known today.

Robert Labossière will discuss decentre, a new book published by YYZ about artist-run culture that, with an eye towards the future, describes the breadth and quality of artist-initiated programs, projects and events. This text describes the issues faced in this milieu and how effectively they are dealt with, at once celebrating artist-run culture while demonstrating its vital role in a larger cultural scene.