A new network unites important European art festivals
VIENNA ART WEEK is a founding member of THE SPIDER, a platform that brings together numerous art weeks.
VIENNA ART WEEK was the first art week of its kind in 2005, over the past two decades numerous similar and exciting projects have emerged throughout Europe.
Now some of these festivals have joined forces to bundle this concentrated creative energy into a new network – “The Spider”.
The aim is to promote a lively and innovative community of art festivals in Europe, to network artists and cultural practitioners and to facilitate exchange and partnerships between the respective cities.
At the same time, access to information and programs is to be improved and the online publication “The Spider Journal” is to publicize the diverse artistic initiatives in all partner cities.
This is what the members of “The Spider” say:
29.5. – 2.6. 2024
“Empowering Amsterdam’s artistic ecosystem, offering diverse experiences for local and international art lovers. This transformational event turns the city into a vibrant hub for artists, professionals, collectors, and art enthusiasts, fostering collaboration and accessibility to contemporary art.”
— Martina Halsema, Director
11. – 15.9. 2024
“Showcasing Berlin’s contemporary art scene and connecting diverse art stakeholders. This festival bridges various institutions, artists, collectors, curators, and the public, deepening appreciation for art and culture. The cooperation between different Art Weeks aims to create a more interconnected platform for the arts, enhancing cultural exchange, diversity, and visibility on a global scale.”
— Mona Stehle, Head of Programm
5. – 8.9. 2024
“An open platform connecting Prague’s art institutions and promoting Czech art on a global scale. Their vision is to elevate Prague on the international art map and contribute to the global art scene through shared projects and marketing efforts.”
— Lenka Bakes, Director
14. – 19.5. 2024
“Uniting and showcasing Stockholm’s vibrant art scene and positioning Sweden as a noteworthy art destination. A central pillar of this week is the Market Art Fair, attracting both local art enthusiasts and international visitors. Collaborating with European art scenes enhances our knowledge and showcases Stockholm as a global art destination.”
— Joanna Sundström, Founder and Director
8. – 15. 11. 2024
“We shine a spotlight on Vienna’s vibrant art scene every November, attracting 30,000 visitors with inspiring art from Baroque to the present. Having been founded in 2005 as the first „art week” of its kind, our festival is based on a unique collaboration of Viennese art institutions, art universities, galleries, independent art spaces, and artists. We love to connect with like-minded festivals for mutual inspiration and to use the Spider platform to create more visibility for our joint cause, the visual arts.”
— Theresia Nickl, Head of Operations
https://www.barcelonagalleryweekend.com/
19. – 22.9. 2024
“We aim to reinforce Barcelona’s artistic scene by promoting art collecting. We believe that joining forces between similar initiatives in European cities enriches everyone, fostering collaborations, exchanges, and expanding networks.”
— Mariña Álvarez Pino and Andrea Rodríguez Novoa, Co-directors
http://londongallerweekend.art
31.5. – 2.6. 2024
“London Gallery Weekend is a gateway to the breadth and diversity of London’s thriving contemporary art gallery landscape for the public and collectors alike. Unique among global gallery weekend events in the breadth and diversity of its participating galleries, all events and exhibitions are free to attend. It provides an opportunity to discover and explore London’s world-class gallery scene, celebrating the city’s diverse cultural and creative communities. Forging partnerships with our European counterparts allows for wider collaboration and creates opportunities for cultural exchanges between our cities, providing visibility across the network as one platform for the visual arts.“
— Jeremy Epstein, Founder and Co-Director
and then