Frequently Asked Questions
What is "artist-run"?
When most people think of the art world they think of museums and commercial galleries. But this is only part of the picture. Many artists and curators develop their own exhibition spaces and organizations in order to take control of how art is produced, exhibited, and shared.
What do we mean by "artist-run initiatives"?
“Artist-run initiatives" are projects that are developed and administered by independent curators and visual artists outside of their own artistic practice.
Examples of artist-run initiatives include: Artist-run exhibition spaces, artist collectives, independent art publications, online platforms, studio collectives, artist-led activist or educational initiatives, etc.
We are open to any artist-led organizations or collaborative projects. Artworks or projects created by individual artists are not suited for our open call.
Juxtapose Art Fair 2021, M100 are the happy winners of BKF’s prize for artist-run spaces. Photo: Mariana Gil
Why is it called an "art fair"?
The term "art fair " is typically used to describe events where commercial galleries rent a booth to sell artworks. However, the term “art fair” is sometimes also used to describe events that showcase non-commercial exhibition spaces. A good example of this is SUPERMARKET Art Fair in Stockholm, Sweden, which has been operating since 2007.
Juxtapose Art Fair is a biennial of artist-run initiatives. Our program includes exhibitions, discussion groups, and other meetings for people from the artist-run sector. "Art fair " just seems to be the best term available for this kind of event. We could have chosen Juxtapose Independent Artist-Run Gathering, but that seemed like a mouthful.
What does “Juxtapose” mean?
To place different things side-by-side to compare them or contrast them or to create an interesting effect.
We named ourselves Juxtapose Art Fair because our focus is on exhibiting many different kinds of artist-run initiatives. Our hope is that by putting artist-run galleries alongside artist collectives, studio spaces, performance initiatives, etc., we will be able to demonstrate how varied the artist-run sector is, and celebrate the impact of such diverse activities across the broader art world.
What’s up with these custom-made “exhibition modules”?
Because our focus is on highlighting the diversity of the artist-run sector, it is important for us that we do not box our exhibitors into identical booths. So in 2021, two students from the Aarhus School of Architecture designed an exhibition module that exhibitors could use to build their own space within the fair. The modules are wooden boards cut with slits, which can be combined to make walls, shelves, tables - whatever the exhibitors need.
To learn more about the modules, please click here.
How is Juxtapose Art Fair funded?
In 2021 our funding came from private, local, regional, national, Nordic and European funds, as well as private sponsors. We are currently fundraising for the 2023 fair.
In 2023 we will also charge an entrance fee, which grants 3-day access to the fair, and includes a catalogue.