This is part III of an unfolding mini-series trying to provide some starting points to reimagine futures, provide solace and at least start somewhere during COVID-19.

This is part III of an unfolding mini-series trying to provide some starting points to reimagine futures, provide solace and at least start somewhere during COVID-19.

This is part II of an unfolding mini-series trying to provide some starting points to reimagine futures, provide solace and at least start somewhere during COVID-19.

This is part I of an unfolding mini-series tries to provide some starting points to reimagine futures, provide solace and at least start somewhere during COVID-19.

For many institutions the relationship to their sponsors is benevolent and productive, for others however, the pleasing of sponsors becomes a delicate management of compromises. You don’t bite the hand that feeds you, right? But what does this dependent position do to the autonomy of cultural institutions, education or journalism?

Every day we have to get our balance right between the Doing and the Non-Doing. Who are you without the doing?

In the tradition to review the past year, close chapters and start new ones here a few of the main learnings of 2018

In our productivity-obsessed culture claiming your own space, rituals, time and intentionally slowing down feels like an act of resistance.

Before I ever wrote a piece, I was a vivid reader for many years. Books were the castles of my imagination.

I guess, we all agree that it's not just about celebrating one day or month but to actually make every day of the year count. Nevertheless, I really like the thought of giving a month a topic and am joining the celebration of women's history month with a few thoughts here.

The art world is not an abstract place, it is shaped through human experiences and connections. Neutrality does not exist in our experiences and is a concept we can just find in textbooks, life is much more complex and fascinating.

Digital Life Design (DLD) is a global conference network, organized by the Munich based DLD Media, a company of the German publishing house Burda Digital. DLD acts as a platform for an exchange of future visions and experiences, driven by the mission to create a network of innovation, digital prospects, science and culture.

New year, fresh start...

Putting pen to paper to reflect on the past year. An incomplete inventory of things that mattered to me in 2017.

A love letter to discipline or the quest to keep working despite the ideal circumstances.

While it is scary to put this personal thoughts out there one of the biggest lessons I've learned this year is that vulnerability leads to meaningful connections. To honor this lesson I published my personal reflections.

People often ask what I mean if I say that the private is political. It means for me that we develop beliefs and thought patterns based on our private experiences, it means that we will engage more passionately with experiences that we share and it also means that we need more radical empathy in a time that can feel like we are so different. So here I am taking a bold step and walking the talk...

The online dictionary Merriam-Webster defines neutrality as "the quality or state of not supporting either side in an argument, fight, war, etc. : the quality or state of being neutral". The question is whether institutions who deal with primary sources, historical and contemporary narratives and a culture that decides which discourses get public attention should engage in neutrality? My opinion is that Museums are not neutral.

Summer is finally here and if you need some recommendations for your reading list, here are some of my highlights:

A few months ago I started with the interview series on what success looks like to arts professionals and people working in the creative industry. It is an attempt to redefine what success is and find personal attempts to define a sustainable definition of creative work. 

Since I started with the interview series I got an overwhelming feedback of people asking me if there are things left out in the editing process or if there are other behind the scenes or learnings I could share.

We are defined through our values and principles. As Michelle Obama said so perfectly "If they go low, we go high".

Some thoughts on algorithms and sharing creative work on the internet. 

In all our effort to put the puzzle pieces of this world together, analyze data or predict behavior we forget that one little factor that is not consistent in their actions: HUMANS. Predicting actions has done more harm than good. Most data collecting has to do with short-term thinking, so I'm really wondering what it can predict. If a piece goes viral are we darned to follow a recipe that predicts the next success? How does a more reasonable long-term data collecting look like and what are the parameters for success and eventually long-term impact? What are the right time scales to perceive growth and value?

Self-care is a topic we usually avoid when talking about careers. We think that the mere admitting that we need to take care of ourselves might give the impression that we are weak. I didn't want to write about the topic in the first place because I feel that there are so many people out there giving advice and not walking their talk. I felt that the term became some sort of marketing strategy to sell you the latest beauty lotion. Anyways, the topic appeared in many conversations I've had with colleagues and friends over the last months on the topic of Art as Labor and I thought it might be time to finally share some thoughts I find valuable.

I had the great pleasure to spend last week at the DLD17 in Munich. As usual on conferences of this kind I wish I could have a sneak peek into the notebook of the participants around me. Everyone will find different insights valuable and notable. Here a little glance into my key takeaways on the future of work, education, fake news and more...

I spent three months on the St. James trail, the Camino de Santiago, through Switzerland, France and Spain. It has been a fantastic journey with incredible people I met and the beauty of the landscape. In this article I reflect on the connection between the Camino and its cultural legacy and share some of my highlights along the way. Prepare for lots of images :-) Art Historian meets adventure...

I am announcing a mini sabbatical from August until the end of October 2016 to hike over 2000 km on one of the oldest cultural routes of Europe: The Camino de Santiago. In our age that is obsessed with achievements, production and efficiency, once in a while, I feel the need to slow down and check if my values, my imagination and my bodily sense of being are still aligned. We measure our days and plans with our gadgets, we are constantly optimizing our routines to become some sort of super human. Sometimes I think that modern life moves faster than our thoughts are able to follow and we jump to conclusions because we lack time to really think about events or experiences. To take a long-distance hike means to measure everything in a human scale again and to refuse to accelerate on the pace imposed by technology. 

This year I am dedicating myself to the area of art as labor. It is an attempt to open a dialogue around how labor is defined in the arts and what it means to choose a profession in the creative sector. It is not a new research area and a lot of interesting work has already been done. Nevertheless, some problems seem recurring and others are connected to the current Zeitgeist. I know it can be exhausting to constantly fight the same problems, therefore, it is so comforting to see how others handle similar issues and that we all together as a community are able to change circumstances. This is the motivation to build a library of resources with this blog around different topics for professional and aspiring culture and art worker.

Museums have to define their role within society to remain significant in the future. In the past museums were temples where knowledge was preserved and education was the highest value. This might still be a big asset, but with this purpose comes the voice of institutional authority, that does not facilitate a dialogue with the people visiting the museum. Museums are facing a shift in visitors engagement, storytelling, institutional organization, and what in means to be a successful museum.

I am fascinated by people who are able to tell a good story, but also sometimes scared of how a powerful story can be appropriated for marketing reasons. A story is something that is inspiring, empowering and in the same way unique to this person, it contains a broader truth to which others can relate. But, what transforms a good story into a long-lasting one, how can storytelling facilitate empowerment and what are the connections between art and storytelling?