WHAT IS IASPIS ?

Iaspis is a Swedish exchange program whose main purpose is to facilitate creative dialogues between visual artists in Sweden and the international contemporary art scene. Iaspis encompasses an international studio program in Sweden, a support structure for exhibitions and residencies abroad for Swedish based artists, as well as program of seminars, exhibitions and publications. Iaspis is the international program of the Visual Arts Fund, a branch of the Arts Grants Committee.

Iaspis, in operation since 1996, has played a role in the internationalisation of Swedish art, both as an institution that financially support artists and as a small and flexible agent that creates new connections between artists, writers and curators. The prime task has never been to export Swedish art, but rather to create a dialogue between Swedish artists and institutions and the rest of the world. This means that it’s not only a question of helping artists from Sweden to work and exhibit in other countries, but also inviting artists from other parts of the world to work in Sweden. In collaboration with other institutions, Iaspis has invited international artists, curators, critics and art theorists to talk about their individual experiences.

On a few occasions Iaspis has initiated and organised exhibitions abroad. For example, we have since a few years back organised a parallel Iaspis exhibition to the Venice Biennale. Part of Iaspis task is also to inform about Swedish art. As part of this task and as a reflection of the lectures and seminars that takes place in the building, we have initiated a series of publications in cooperation with the publishing house Propexus that will publish thematic anthologies, exhibition catalogues and monographs on Swedish artists.

Iaspis could be described as a force field, a place that generates art and thoughts about art through studio residencies, exhibitions, seminars, discussions, and publications. We who work at Iaspis wish that the operation would contribute to an exchange both in a local and in a wider context. An exchange that all kinds off directions and that constantly finds new road-turns and contact surfaces that will open up for change, influences and new knowledge.