Participants

Discussion

Following the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine (2022) and the introduction of the anti-LGBTQI legislation (2023), a lot of artists and cultural practitioners, who had previously been based in the Russian Federation, have left the country. Some of them continue working with institutions in the RF, whilst others have relocated their institutions abroad, severing links with the RF. This round table discussion examines Russian and Russophone art / culture institutions in exile, paying attention to private and independent institutions. The speakers will discuss how these institutions have been transformed; how they have re-evaluated their position; what networks of support exist for them; and how they deal with gatekeeping in the context of ‘cancel Russia’ practices. The discussion will engage a wide range of institutions, including collaborative practices, networks and projects, whilst giving voice to individual artists in exile, too. The discussion will also address the question of what institutions are and what they do, thus, engaging researchers working on all kinds of institutions, organisations, networks and so on. The discussion will be informed by theories stemming from art history, cultural studies, media studies, theatre and performance studies, museum and curatorial studies.