Crisis & Resilience: Cultural survival, independence, and adaptation in times of disruption.
In every era of upheaval, art has not merely persisted—it has prophesied, resisted, and reimagined the very fabric of our world. It is the heartbeat of cultural survival, the defiant voice in the face of oppression, and the innovative spark in times of collapse. In an age defined by systemic crises, a pivotal question emerges: What is the role of art now, and how can it forge new paths forward?
Welcome to the 8th edition of the Arts & Cultural Management Conference (ACMC), where we confront this question head-on. Join us in the historic city of Vienna this autumn to explore our urgent and timely theme: Crisis & Resilience: Cultural survival, independence, and adaptation in times of disruption.
Today, the global cultural sector stands at such a juncture, navigating a perfect storm of economic instability, political repression, climate emergencies, and the lingering effects of a pandemic. These forces are compounded by growing censorship, shrinking funding, and the commercial pressures of the art market, which often devalue artistic labor and challenge creative independence. In this complex landscape, digital platforms offer both a lifeline and a new frontier of challenges, from algorithmic control to the struggle for genuine visibility. This critical moment demands we ask: What is—and what could and should be—the role of the cultural sector in shaping holistic, humanistic responses to these converging crises?
True resilience is embedded with adaptability—the power to overcome crises and reinvent artistic phenomena for new conditions. It allows traditions to evolve while retaining their essence, ensuring their sustainability for future generations. This ability to resist, adapt, and re-imagine is the core of resilience, transforming art into a transcendent force for societal change.
Four panel sessions will structure the conference:
Culture for Change | 30.10
Can Culture Survive When Democracy Falters? | 31.10
Spaces for Culture | 31.10
Funding Futures: Autonomy Beyond Public Money | 1.11
Art Exhibition – Sanctscapes: Spaces of the Sublime
Call for paper: 15 September 2025