ESC: Contemporary art centre | connecting art and society

< rotor > is a centre for contemporary art based in Graz, Austria, and was founded in 1999. Most of the centre's activities take place in Graz, but it participates in, organises or co-organises projects in Styria, Austria, and many other European countries. There is also a particularly strong linkage to the Southeast European area. Contemporary visual art is always the starting point for our programmes, with an emphasis on art production that explicitly deals with social, political, economical and ecological issues of our time. The public space is a highly significant site for < rotor >, as a space where we can make art happen in seeking to leave behind the confines of the art space and actively engage people with art and extend our audience. Moreover, a strong focus on cooperation has always been an essential element of the < rotor > philosophy, as well as acting in networks. The main fields of activity of < rotor > are: - conceiving and organising art exhibitions (in our own space and in others) - artistic interventions in public space, often involving participatory practices - artist-in-residence programmes - publishing books - organising conferences, lectures, workshops, etc. - organising a monthly artist meetings to support the networks of the local scene - keeping and expanding an archive about artists and art institutions from Austria & South-eastern Europe Regular visitors of the < rotor >-programmes could be defined as people interested in contemporary art with a critical view on changes within contemporary social, political, economical, and cultural developments in Europe. But < rotor > tries to reach as many people as possible from diverse backgrounds – especially within the activities carried out in our immediate neighbourhood surroundings, where all kind of people with different social and economic backgrounds are addressed and participate in.