The first years after finishing art school are very important for the further career as an artist. During the Apprentice/Master project, graduating artists are introduced intensively to their creative practice completely unencumbered by the constraints of university for the first time, and in doing so they have to rely on the established contact with their fellow graduates and those networks they have made throughout their life. At this point Kunstpodium T examines the opportunities of the initial network of the young artists that have arisen from the Apprentice/Master programme, to strengthen and expand to a lively, informative and supporting network for national and international artists who are at the beginning of their careers. The exact form for this initiative is now being investigated, by ways of an evaluation survey among alumni of the Apprentice/Master project. We think now to strengthening and the continuation of the initial Apprentice/Master network, by further enhancing the bond between the contacts of networks of the young artists who participated. For this we use informal forms of communication, such as social media (A/M Alumni), but also more structured forms, such as an online platform, initiating projects, cross-border collaboration and knowledge exchange on funding of projects etc. On the other hand, it is important, in our view, to strengthen the position of the young artist in the current cultural world. The existing network of Apprentice/Master alumni is a strong starting point for young artists to determine their relationship and to initiate projects with other parties in the cultural sector, such as the galleries, potential customers, funds, and European cultural bodies. Kunstpodium T can play an active role by firstly expanding it’s existing events as 'Day of the Young Artist' with initiatives for alumni and to strengthen the existing network. In addition, we are examining possibilities for wider international presentation possibilities for 'New Masters' in the form of exhibitions, performances, direct contacts with galleries, museums and collectors. |