Lecture by Konstantinos Pittas entitled "Towards the Democratization of Cultural Institutions: Methodological Approaches" on April 29th at 20:30 at the Dept. ARCH amphitheater.

In a time characterised by the increasing erosion of democratic institutions, this lecture presents different modes of engagement with cultural institutions in the attempt to democratise them. Konstantinos Pittas (architect & researcher), drawing on his ethnographic research, will present various case studies that attempt to envisage an open, dynamic, and self-reflective model of institutionality. These include, firstly, attempts of decentering hegemonic mega-institutions, such as documenta 14 in Athens, which foregrounded decolonial narratives and dissident histories from the periphery. Secondly, endeavours of inventing new flexible organisational arrangements, such as alter-institutions that introduce novel parliamentary formats, spatial settings, and decision-making processes. Finally, modes of critical engagement with museums that set out to seize and reform them, such as artistic activist initiatives in the U.S. that center-stage questions of museum governance and arts sponsorship. Some conclusions will be drawn at the end on the possibilities and limitations of the methodologies that take place within, at the threshold of, or outside cultural institutions in the attempt to democratise them.