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ELIA BIENNIAL - Panel
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Plenary conversation

Wednesday 18 November, 15:00 - 16:00 CET

In these uncertain times, arts institutions face shifting paradigms when dealing with internationalisation (travel restrictions), priorities in health policy, economic and political values and practices, communication and the art world itself. Three internationally renowned thought leaders imagine a future post Covid-19. What might this mean for artists and the higher arts education? 

The conversation will be moderated by Samuel Hoi, president of Maryland Institute College of Art. 

 

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Lidewij Edelkoort

Lidewij Edelkoort is a trend forecaster, publisher, humanitarian, educator and exhibition curator. Her company Trend Union produces tools for designers, weavers and strategists at companies around the world. In 2015, her much talked about Anti_Fashion Manifesto was the first to raise awareness about the shifts and upheavals currently experienced by the fashion industry. From 2015-2020 she was the Dean of Hybrid Design Studies at Parsons in New York where she founded a Textile Masters and the New York Textile Month festival each September. Edelkoort has been named one of the most influential people in fashion by TIME Magazine and Business of Fashion, and is widely considered one of the most influential people in contemporary design. Her thought-provoking writings and podcasts have become increasingly popular at a time when she is regarded as a design icon and sustainability activist. In 2020, she started the World Hope Forum as a platform to inspire the creative community to rebuild a better society.

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Jude Kelly

Jude Kelly is the Founder and Director of The WOW Foundation, which runs WOW - Women of the World Festivals across the globe to celebrate the achievements of women and girls and confront global gender injustice. Starting at London’s Southbank Centre in 2010, where Jude was Artistic Director for 12 years, the festival now takes place in 30 locations across six continents. In 2018 Jude established The WOW Foundation as an independent charity dedicated to building the WOW movement as a force for change. Jude Kelly has directed over 200 theatre and opera productions, including at the Royal Shakespeare Company, English National Opera, National Theatre, and the Châtalet in Paris including Ian McKellen in The Seagull , Patrick Stewart in Johnson over Jordon and Dawn French in When We Are Married . She is the recipient of two Olivier Awards, a BASCA Gold Badge Award for contribution to music and a Southbank Award for opera. She was h eadhunted to join the bidding team for the 2012 London Olympics and create the programme for culture and ceremonies, she subsequently advised both Rio and Tokyo on their successful bids. Jude Kelly has founded a range of arts institutions and has commissioned and supported the work of thousands of artists across all genres.

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Angélique Kidjo

Four-time Grammy Award winner Angélique Kidjo is one of the greatest artists in international music today, a creative force with fourteen albums to her name. Time Magazine has called her "Africa's premier diva”; The BBC, Forbes Magazine, and The Guardian have all highlighted her importance to the people of the African continent. She is the recipient of the 2015 Crystal Award given by the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, the 2016 Amnesty International Ambassador of Conscience Award, and the 2018 German Sustainability Award. As a performer, her striking voice, stage presence and fluency in multiple cultures and languages have won respect from her peers and expanded her following across national borders. Kidjo has cross-pollinated the West African traditions of her childhood in Benin with elements of American R&B, funk and jazz, as well as influences from Europe and Latin America. After exploring the roads of Africa's diaspora — through Brazil, Cuba and The United States — and offering an electrifying take on the Talking Heads album Remain In Light (called “one of the year’s most vibrant albums” by the Washington Post), the French-Beninese singer is now reflecting on an icon of the Americas, celebrated salsa singer Celia Cruz. Kidjo’s album Celia divests itself of the glamour to investigate the African roots of the Cuban-born woman who became the "Queen" of salsa. Angelique also advocates on behalf of children as a UNICEF Ambassador. She created her own charitable foundation, Batonga, dedicated to support the education of young girls in Africa.