The Curatorial Program for Research (CPR) is pleased to announce the curators who will participate in the first research program in Northern and Eastern Europe. Director Carmen Ferreyra, with Aura Seikkula, Head of Programs and Development and CPR Host in Helsinki (Finland), Karin Laansoo, and Kadri Laas, CPR Hosts in Tallinn (Estonia), selected 10 international curators among 92 applications received. In collaboration with sponsors and local and international partners, the Estonian Contemporary Art Development Center (ECADC), Helsinki International Artist Programme (HIAP) and Checkpoint Helsinki, CPR will provide tuition, airfare and accommodation for the selected participants.

The following curators will attend the CPR 2015: Eastern & Northern Europe: Chang Qu (China), Dorota Michalska (Poland), Emily Butler (UK), Iliana Fokianaki (Greece), Jonathan Lahey Dronsfield (UK), Kevser Conkaya Guler (Turkey), Lia Zaaloff (United States), Nico Anklam (Germany), Niekolaas Johannes Lekkerkerk (Netherlands), and Tainá Azeredo (Brazil). Independent curators with a unique professional background, in a different stage of their professional careers, and working both inside and outside of the Academia, all of them share a special interest in researching this region. (For more information on the selected curators, please click here).

The current state of Estonian contemporary art includes the quality and presence of diverse exhibitions at home, the success of Estonian artists and curators at international exhibitions, and the flourishing of the Estonian Art Academy as an incubator of thought and community. Most of the artistic community is made up of individuals working outside mainstream institutions, individual initiatives and private institutions. There is no central state organizations dedicated to art.

Finland has for long time worked towards a fundamental, public discourse on the most relevant questions of artistic practices. During the recent years, there have been tendencies towards a change, activating collective practices that create a critical, versatile and engaging art scene. In order to address the relevance of these trends, CPR participants will immerse in discussions and visits to understand new approaches in producing and valuing local art.

Both of the grounds found in Estonia and Finland are ripe for the creative efforts of CPR. Over the course of two weeks (October 12-26, 2015), curators will follow a program designed by Karin Laansoo, Kadri Laas, Aura Seikkula, and academic advisor Cecilia Thornton-Alson. In each city, participating curators will discuss readings on the local contemporary art scene, and will conduct 15 or more studio visits, galleries and institutions.

Following the program, all participants are asked to submit proposals for a curatorial project in his or her home city. One curator will be awarded funds to produce this exhibition.