The development of contemporary art has seen the emergence of ever new creative strategies, formats and organizational practices, a challenging and redefining of existing boundaries on many levels, as well as shifts in the relationship between art and the artist with the spectator and society at large.

Technology has played a fundamental role in the development of art. The internet and new media have not only served as a unique resource for creating, distributing and archiving art, but have also provided new opportunities for exhibiting and experiencing it. In the spring of 2020, with the spread of Covid-19 turning into a global pandemic, these virtual and online formats took on an unprecedented relevance. In order not to lose touch with the audience and abandon previous plans completely, "relocation" to the internet environment was an effective strategy for many exhibitions and other arts and cultural projects. At the same time, such attempts to "relocate" various experiences to a digital format have led to discussions about the strategies and opportunities of contemporary art.

Undoubtedly, the field of arts and culture is currently undergoing changes, asking the important question of whether we are ready to adapt or whether we will stick to traditional forms of experience. Each exhibition or cultural event is not just the end result of an artistic idea, but an experience for the potential viewer. When designing events, it is important to assess how and whether they will reach the audience, and who this audience will ultimately be. 2020 has brought about changes in how contemporary art and cultural experiences are organized. Projects that are originally created for a digital environment differ from face-to-face events transferred to a virtual space in parallel with an existing event. They offer different experiences and utilise different strategies, in both cases being aware of who is the end user.

The aim of the Re-visions symposium is to identify and analyse projects and initiatives, strategies and personal experiences of artists, organizations and institutions as examples of interesting practices, focusing on the digital environment and digitization processes both as unique projects and as solutions in a crisis. The programme of this digital format symposium is divided into three sub-themes to be covered in three days, thus offering an in-depth focus on a variety of experiences.

The first day will be dedicated to NGOs as well as marginal organizations within the arts and culture field: the strategies, goals and motivations of the curator/organizers in establishing such a space, creating content and involving new participants. The experience of the pandemic and crisis, survival strategies and the continuation of previously planned projects is also an important aspect.

The second day is dedicated to the experience of artists and curators working with technology, digital content, data and algorithms: how digital technologies affect artists, the art environment and the viewer. By examining projects that have already taken place, artists and curators will reflect on the current situation and future potential.

The third day is dedicated to the experience of institutions in working with digital exhibitions: project implementation, the necessary resources, motivation, as well as audience feedback and evaluation. Does digitizing an exhibition really make it accessible to people who can't see the exhibition in person? At the same time, this issue will also be looked at from a theoretically critical perspective: how the digitization of technology and art can change our experience, and what happens when art and culture become data carriers and algorithms.

The themes, speakers and experiences of the symposium provide an opportunity to explore innovative and creative concepts and evaluate traditional forms of creation, collaboration, organization and experience. The aim is not only to inspire new creative experiments, but also to evaluate and strengthen the organizational practices of art projects and their independence.

Participants: Vika Eksta (LV), Luna6, Jonas Lund (SE), Paola Paleari (IT/DK), Mike Pepi (US), Siim Preiman (EE), Airi Triisberg (EE)
Moderator: Agnese Pundiņa (LV)
Curator: Agnese Pundiņa (LV)
Symposium concept: Elīna Ķempele (LV), Agnese Pundiņa (LV)
Organizer: Riga Photography Biennial in cooperation with Nordic Council of Ministers’ Office in Latvia
Image: Collage: Agnese Pundiņa (Photo by J.R. Eyerman/The LIFE Picture Collection © Meredith Corporation)