The financial sector often appears daunting and impenetrable
to outsiders. We look on the huge skyscrapers and imagine bankers using
obscure language and complex mathematical models to move money around
the globe, influencing politicians and pulling strings behind closed
doors. The sector, however, is far more permeable than it may seem, and
since the financial crisis we have seen a rise in artists, activists and
anthropologists intent on exploring the sector, looking for cracks and
opportunities for interventions and creative alternatives. Can you build
a hedge fund as a way to infiltrate into the inner workings of the
sector, or can you design an algorithm that jams the traditional logic
of markets? What about going undercover, or using the sector as the
setting for installations or interactive theatre?
The workshop welcomes all people with a curiosity in exploring
finance and is aiming for a diversity of participants, e.g. adventurous
artists, hackers, activists, performers, filmmakers, researchers,
designers, students, and so on. Taking a deep dive into the world of
finance and the city of Brussels, the financial heart of Europe, this
event is a follow up from the workshop during Economia Festival
organised by Baltan Laboratories in Eindhoven.
This event is co-organized by Baltan Laboratories and Unbewich
Finance Lab with the support of Fund For Creative Industries NL, Finance
Watch, Kaaitheater, Fairfin, La Bellone, Tragewegen and Corporate
Europe Observatory.
How to join?
Tickets for the workshop can be purchased here.
We will be able to host a maximum of 20 participants for the workshop.
We ask a modest fee of 50 euros per person for 4 days to cover the
minimal expenses. Please be aware that lunch and dinner are not
included, and that lodging in Brussels should be arranged by
participants individually. The price of this workshop should not be a
drag on your participation. If this is the case, do not hesitate to contact Luce.
About the workshop leaders
Paolo Cirio is
a conceptual artist who works with legal, economic and semiotic systems
of the information society. He investigates social fields impacted by
the internet, such as privacy, copyright, democracy and finance. He
shows his research and intervention-based works through artifacts,
photos, installations, videos, and public art. Paolo Cirio has exhibited
his work in museums and institutions around the globe and won numerous
prestigious art awards.
Brett Scott
is a journalist, campaigner and the author of 'The Heretic's Guide to
Global Finance: Hacking the Future of Money' (2013). He works on
financial reform, alternative finance and economic activism with a wide
variety of NGOs, artists, students and start-ups, and writes for
publications such as The Guardian, New Scientist, Wired Magazine and
CNN.com. He is a Senior Fellow of the Finance Innovation Lab, an
Associate at the Institute of Social Banking and an advisory group
member of the Brixton Pound. He tweets as @suitpossum.
Luce Goutelle
is a theater director, curator and independent researcher. She works on
the transformation of the social and economic structures of our
society. Bordering on art, journalism and social science, her projects
take the form of mysterious events, shows, stories, investigations and
underground experiments in contexts as varied as the heights of a
business tower, the reception of a hotel, the boards of a theater, a
fountain of a park, a cafe, hair salon or a luxury yacht. She co-founded
the company Loop-s in 2015 and the creative lab Unbewitch Finance in
2017.
Partners:
Finance Watch
Corporate Europe Observatory
Fairfin
Unbewitch Finance Lab
Kaaitheater
BOOK LAUNCH & DEBATE & TALKS
Economia: Methods for Reclaiming Economy
- 4 - 5pm-7pm : La Bellone, Brussels.
Economia is an exercise in stretching our thoughts about economy and
society. The publication Methods for Reclaiming Economy focuses on a
selection of ideas explored during Economia festival organised by Baltan
Laboratories, containing contributions by international theorists,
artists, biologists and hackers. With an open-ended and kaleidoscopic
approach, the pulication features contributions by Josef Bares, Daniel
de Bruin, Dan E. Burr, Paolo Cirio, Meredith Degyansky, Michael Goodwin,
Monique Grimord, Ilan Katin, Thomas Kern, Nicholas McGuigan, Jennifer
Lyn Morone, Mark van der Net, Brett Scott, Timothy Smith, UBERMORGEN,
Pablo Velasco, Lenara Verle and Geerat Vermeij that show how we can
shape new economic realities. The book consists of three different
chapters, each with a distinctive focus from the artistic; the social
and the biological domain to approach our economy. This event is kindly
hosted by La Bellone.
WORKSHOP SCHEDULE
BRUSSELS, BE
WE. 18.04
Location: Kaaistudio's. 81 rue Notre Dame du Sommeil 1000 Bruxelles
10am-4pm: Masterclass day 1 - introduction by Brett Scott, Paolo Cirio & Luce Goutelle
5pm-6.30pm: Kaai Talks by Paolo Cirio & Brett Scott.
(Extra option: 8.30pm: Performance The trial of Money by Christophe Meierhans)
TH. 19.04
Location: European District
11am: Finance Lobby tour with Lora Verheecke (Corporate Europe
Observatory) & Aline Fares (activist/ex-Finance Watch/ex-Dexia)
2pm-7pm: Wild Walk in the European District of Brussels.
FR. 20.04
Location: World Trade Center, Brussels
10am-4pm: Masterclass day 2 - by Brett Scott, Paolo Cirio & Luce Goutelle
5pm-7pm : Methods for Reclaiming Economy | Debate & Economia book launch I La Bellone
Event that aims to have a lively debate on how art can be tool for
reshaping economy accompanied with the Economia Book Launch by Baltan
Laboratories by Olga Mink and Wiepko Oosterhuis.
SA. 21.04
Location: World Trade Center, Brussels
10am-4pm: Masterclass day 4 by Brett Scott, Paolo Cirio & Luce Goutelle.
4pm: Immersive experience in the WTC (guided by Luce).
5pm : Closing drinks
EINDHOVEN, NL
SU. 22.04
Abundance Dinner & Economia Book Launch event
Location: Wall Street Eindhoven, Stadhuisplein 6
The Abundance Dinner is a project in collaboration with Mediamatic (NL)
and Arne Hendriks. During this event the book launch "Methods for
Reclaiming Economy" will take place, accompanied with presentations by
Paolo Cirio & Brett Scott.
Tickets for this event need to be purchased separately, more info to be announced.
