Concept

Two separate galleries, each with its unique mission, can be found on the grounds of MeetFactory: MeetFactory Gallery and Kostka Gallery. 

The galleries co-exist and co-operate with the residency program as well as theater and music events, all of which are hosted by the venue. The visitor can therefore not only enjoy quality art exhibitions, but can also encounter contemporary art forms across different genres in interdisciplinary projects.

MeetFactory’s exhibition program reflects contemporary trends in art. It stresses the connection between the local art scene and renowned international artists, and promotes confrontation across generations. In our exhibitions, we try to go beyond the framework of individual art forms and media in an attempt to tap into the current issues which touch upon various philosophical and socio-political questions. Hand in hand with our philosophy of high-quality presentation runs the ongoing effort to create an open user-friendly space where the public may encounter living art.

The foundations of our program are:
 
a) We are a civic cultural initiative aimed at living art MeetFactory was not founded by any state agency, but by a group of citizens. It specifically supports emerging, unique artworks that are neither commissioned nor motivated by the art market demand. They reflect the needs of free citizens, artists and audiences. The art gallery’s operations do not depend either on art collections or on art history research. This makes our position unique in that we can support new innovative art which comes into being entirely independent from power structures. The gallery’s goal is to support the youngest “live” art and its theoretical reflection.

b) Mobility and international co-operation The result of our residency program for foreign artists joining in with the local artists’ projects is the unique coming together of the emerging European and international art generation. Thanks to MeetFactory’s partnership with organizations such as the Czech-German Future Fund, the International Visegrad Fund and the Czech-Polish Forum and the USA Embassy it has had direct impact on the gradual improvement of our relationship with neighboring European countries and transatlantic relationship.

c) Networking of local and foreign institutions What the gallery and the residency studio program have in common is cultivating contact with partner institutions, art centers and both non-profit and quality commercial galleries. MeetFactory galleries co-operate with galleries and art centers from its vicinity in Prague 5 (Contemporary Art Centre Futura, Svit, Jelení Gallery), but also with other venues in Prague and the Czech Republic (Tranzit Display, Hunt-Kastner Artworks, Drdova Gallery, TIC Gallery, The House of Art Brno and others). Internationally, its partners are for instance Künstlerhaus Bethanien and KW Institute for Contemporary Art in Berlin, Rote Fabrik in Zurich, National Sculpture Factory Cork in Ireland, Fabryka Sztuki in Lodz, Bunkier Sztuki in Krakow, Kunsthalle Budapest, Space Gallery in Bratislava, Elisabeth Foundation for the Arts in New York and others.

d) Supporting contemporary art MeetFactory galleries are closely linked to the contemporary local and international art scene and they directly contribute to the creation of new artworks. MeetFactory’s staff and technical equipment provide the artists with all conceivable support while planning, realizing and promoting their projects. Because of the industrial location of MeetFactory, we welcome new provocative art forms. With the removal of commercial demands, we are able to offer both the youngest and established generations of artists a space where they can take risks and experiment.
  

Ján Gajdušek, curator/ jan.gajdusek@meetfactory.cz
Petra Widžová, production / petra.widzova@meetfactory.cz
Zuzana Belasová, financial coordinator / zuzana.belasova@meetfactory.cz