BRIDGE

Women artists in exile, with diasporic and migratory backgrounds have co-shaped European cultural history in ways that institutional practices and archives have been slow to reflect. According to Mathilde Provansal and her work Artistes mais femmes: une enquête sociologique dans l'art contemporain (Lyon: ENS Éditions, 2023), in the works on display in European museums, only 30% are signed by women artists. This proportion falls even further when gender is considered alongside migration background or ethnicity.

This gap will be addressed by the BRIDGE project, a two-year collaboration between City of Women (Ljubljana), Kunsthaus Graz, and AWARE: Archives of Women Artists, Research and Exhibitions, a unit of Centre Pompidou (Paris). Through research, artistic production, exhibition and publications, the project aims to diversify the voices in the cultural and creative sectors, to better reflect the contributions of women and gender-nonconforming artists in exile, as well as those with a migrant or diaspora background, to Europe’s artistic life.

With a strong focus on diversity, gender equality, and social inclusion, the project seeks to create a dynamic space where collaboration and knowledge exchange thrive. Rooted in feminist values that have shaped the three organizations for decades, BRIDGE reimagines curatorial and archival practices to ensure they reflect a broader range of experiences.

Over 26 months (2026–2028), the project will embark on a transformative journey through research and artistic residencies, online publications, an international exhibition in Ljubljana, and a symposium connecting Graz and Ljubljana.

The project will feature 14 new biographies on the AWARE: Archives of Women Artists, Research and Exhibitions website, as well as seven in-depth interviews that give a voice to women artists in exile with migratory or diasporic backgrounds. Drawing on critical revisions of participating organisations' archives, artists' feedback, and a collection of inspiring practices from across Europe, the project will also develop guidelines for more inclusive curating, archiving, and fostering inclusion for women artists in exile or from migrant and diaspora backgrounds. 

The three partners bring complementary expertise to the project, combining archival expertise, curatorial reach, and community connection. City of Women has been producing feminist curatorial practice and community-based cultural work in Ljubljana since 1995. Kunsthaus Graz combines a major contemporary exhibition programme with deep engagement with questions of migration, otherness, and institutional responsibility. AWARE: Archives of Women Artists, Research and Exhibitions — Centre Pompidou maintains one of the most significant open-access archives of women and non-binary artists globally, with over 1,500 biographical texts and up to 100,000 unique visitors per month. 

Drawing on these experiences and through dialogue with a wide range of stakeholders, the BRIDGE project aims to contribute to a practice of documenting, disseminating and exhibiting artistic practices that acknowledge the diversity of Europe’s cultures. 

3 partners | 26 months (2026-2028) | 4 research residencies | 4 artistic residencies | international exhibition in Ljubljana | international conference connecting Graz and Ljubljana | 14 new biographies added to the AWARE Centre Pompidou archive | 7 in-depth interviews featuring overlooked women artists with diasporic backgrounds | guidelines for increased inclusion and diversity in curating and archiving | decreased carbon footprint of project partners | increased social and economic inclusion of women artists with migratory experience or diasporic background | participation of Ukrainian culture and creative sector | critical evaluation of AI impact on archival practices

City of Women, Ljubljana (SI) | Kunsthaus Graz (AT) | AWARE: Archives of Women Artists, Research and Exhibitions — Centre Pompidou, Paris (FR)

Co-funded by the Creative Europe Programme. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.