DESCHOOLING CLASSROOM(o^o)
[Self-education in the arts and culture]


Project partners: Kontrapunkt, Skopje and TkH (Walking theory), Belgrade
Project website: http://www.deschoolingclassroom.tkh-generator.net/
Timeframe of the project: (2009 – 2012)
Picture
Graphic design: Katarina Pavic

Deschooling Classroom is a project that addresses the contemporary independent cultural scenes in the region, researching and offering an alternative to the hierarchical models of education in the art and culture. Methodologically, the project moves away from the concepts of individual authorship and expertise, and advocates open collective educational structures where self-organised communities facilitate horizontal production, exchange and distribution of knowledge.


Its specific objectives are:
  • raising awareness of the potentials of self-education, and to develop methodologies for alternative education in contemporary art and culture;
  • studying new and hybrid fields of contemporary culture and art and to help sharing the critical knowledge among art and cultural practitioners;
  • stimulating collaboration among those who aim to intervene in the existing cultural system;
  • challenging the conceptual and infrastructural set-up of cultural institutions; and
  • creating new supporting infrastructures for the Independent cultural scenes.

The project builds upon international trends of alternative educational culture that appeared in late 20th century in the context of post-Fordist capitalist societies. The wide ranging initiatives try to critically reflect the mainstream education and to find various alternatives, more appropriate to the new social conditions and increased importance of the service industry. Our project is concentrated on independent cultural scenes in the age of transition in the Balkans, where self-organisation and self-education are necessary for the actors to act critically and to be socially relevant and engaged. Its theoretical background is contemporary critical theory, and some of the main references are: Jacques Rancier’s reflections from Ignorant Schoolmaster, Jean-Luc Nancy’s theses on collaboration and belonging, and Ivan Illich’s radical thoughts from Deschooling Society

Lecturers in the frame of the project: Marina Grzinic, Dmitry Vilenski, Goran Stefanovski, Gerald Raunig, Matteo Pasquinelli, Boris Buden, Emina Vishnic, Teodor Celakoski, Milena Dragicevic Sesic, Tomislav Medak, Zarko Trajanoski, Elizabeta Sheleva, Janez Jansha, Everybodies.

The project is supported by The Swiss cultural program in the western balkans.