About /

FLOTILLA was the first transnational gathering focusing on nomadic and temporary elements of contemporary artist-run culture in Atlantic Canada. From September 21st to 24th 2017, participants from around the world worked alongside regional artists and practitioners to re-imagine artist-run culture in a series of public exhibitions, events and discussions in and around Charlottetown, PE. Taking inspiration from a nautical metaphor of boats banded together in open water, FLOTILLA speaks to the shifting tides within cultural practice: ideas of nomadism, isolation, transition, exchange, and innovation.

Program /

FLOTILLA’s program considers the flexible, responsive and provisional forms of organization that are increasingly necessary for the sustained evolution of contemporary artist-run culture. Innovative platforms for artistic collaboration are a key focus.

FLOTILLA’s discourse happens outside traditional spaces of power, on beaches, over the lunch table, at night, and in the public square, focusing on artistic production through current social and political themes.

Aims /

FLOTILLA aims to strengthen artist-run networks, exploring the emancipatory idea that artist-run space-making encourages owning the means of production; through cultural negotiations and conversations around food, collaboration, floating architecture, and the travelling archive as platforms to reach new audiences. We explore pertinent ideas including: cultural negotiation, documentation, imaginary futures, identify and challenge past and current colonial gestures, and emphasizing how our relationship with available creative “spaces” affects artistic productivity.