CritLab is targeted towards self-driven practice— whether participants work independently or with institutions.
Topics treated at the program range from the pragmatics of professional development; creating infrastructure in conditions of hopelessness; constructive approaches to building relationships with other professionals and institutions, locally and internationally; understanding the theoretical underpinnings of art history as inherited from imperialist structures; the necessity of emancipating professional practice, and incorporating more ways of creative thinking beyond human-centred approaches to making and thinking about art.
The programme rigorously absorbs participants in a schedule of site visits, seminars, screenings, thematic roundtable discussions, presentations and open studios that lean into critical studio practice, while addressing the processes involved in developing concepts, exhibition proposals, publishing, critical writing, documentation of work, accessing global resources, and professional profiles related to portfolio development, graduate study, social networking, among others.
CritLab orients the participant to come to terms with the commitments and responsibilities associated with making art, curating, and art criticism in a globalised art world. The fifteen-day programme is designed to compel participants to be conscious of the universality of art as well as the responsibilities and challenges that come with contemporary art practice.
The initiative aims to establish a network of professionals from Ghana, Africa, and other regions of the world concerned with growing and sustaining criticality in art practice.
