Who if not we…? 7 episodes on (ex)changing Europe is the multi-faceted visual art program realized within the framework of Thinking Forward, the cultural program on the occasion of the Dutch presidency of the European Union and its enlargement by ten countries: the Czech Republic, Cyprus, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia. Thinking Forward has been initiated by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science, and commissioned by the Fund for Amateur Art and Performing Arts and the Mondriaan Foundation.

The project is developed by: Han Bakker, intendant of Thinking Forward; Henk Scholten, director of the Stadsschouwburg Utrecht as the coordinator of the performing art projects; and Maria Hlavajova, creative director BAK, who developed the program in the field of visual art, which involves the exchange of knowledge on artistic developments in the ten new member states of the EU and The Netherlands. Hlavajova extended an invitation to a number of curators to develop a series of exhibitions and projects that take place in multiple venues throughout Europe at the same time and discuss urgent issues on the European agenda.

The project is realized with financial contributions by: Thinking Forward, 2004; Treaty of Utrecht 2013; VSBFonds; NCDO, Amsterdam; The Czech Centre, The Hague; Embassy of the Republic of Poland, The Hague.

Program of BAK

exhibition
31.10.–31.12.2004
Cordially Invited, episode 3

Program of all the venues

Surfacing, episode 1
17.09.–24.10.2004 Ludwig Museum, Budapest – Museum of Contemporary Art | Curator: Livia Paldi

Time and Again, episode 2
23.10.2004–30.01.2005 Stedelijk Museum CS, Amsterdam | Curators: Leontine Coelewij and Geurt Imanse

Cordially Invited, episode 3
31.10.–31.12.2004 BAK, basis voor actuele kunst, Utrecht, Centraal Museum, Utrecht (additional venue) | Curators: Maria Hlavajova and Gerardo Mosquera

Out of the Shadows, episode 4
07.11.2004–09.01.2005 Witte de With, Center for Contemporary Art, Rotterdam | Curator: Catherine David, in collaboration with Peter Friedl

Safety and peace! Order and freedom!, episode 5
08.11.–05.12.2004 Moderna Galerija, Ljubljana | Curator: Igor Zabel

Olandu biuras – Vilnius, episode 6
19.11.2004–09.01.2005 Contemporary Art Centre (CAC), Vilnius | Curator: Kestutis Kuizinas

Edward Krasin’ski’s Studio, episode 7
December 2004 Foksal Gallery Foundation, Warsaw | Curators: Joanna Mytkowska and Andrzej Przywara, in collaboration with BAR Architecture Studio, Rotterdam and Marcin Kwietowicz, Warsaw