The Spider unites Major European Art Weeks

A new era of unity and collaboration is unfolding across the European art world, as we proudly introduce "The Spider" – a platform that brings together major European Art Weeks and Gallery Weekends. This alliance includes renowned events such as Amsterdam Art Week, Berlin Art Week, Prague Art Week, Vienna Art Week, Stockholm Art Week, London Gallery Weekend and Barcelona Gallery Weekend.

The mission is to foster a thriving community of Europe-based art festivals, connecting with emerging and established art galleries and institutions across the continent. This initiative marks an ambitious chapter in our collective journey, with a focus on promoting Europe as the destination for art, creativity, and education through our network of hubs. The cities will develop a closer relationship, facilitate knowledge exchange, partnerships, and make it more efficient for professionals to travel and get more information about each city's programs.

The Spider Journal: The Spider Collaborative will launch the Spider Journal, an online publication showcasing art spaces, institutions, galleries, and artists from the partner cities. Esteemed art writers and critics from across Europe will provide insights into local art scenes, enhancing the connection between local and international creativity.

The Spider symbolizes strength, intricate connectivity, and the interwoven nature of the arts. It forms a web of artistic innovation and cultural exchange, with Art Weeks, Gallery Weekends, and other art festivals from across Europe coming together to kickstart this exciting venture. Each partner organization will feature The Spider Journal on their websites, sparking a broader cultural conversation by sharing diverse artistic and gallery practices from partner cities.

Spider is shaping the future of European art, creating a dynamic ecosystem that benefits artists, audiences, and the cultural sector as a whole.

THE SPIDER EUROPE CALENDAR 2024

PRAGUE ART WEEK SEPTEMBER 5 - 8: “An open platform connecting Prague's art institutions and promoting Czech art on a global scale. Their vision is to elevate Prague on the international art map and contribute to the global art scene through shared projects and marketing efforts.”

— Lenka Bakes, Director

STOCKHOLM ART WEEK MAY 14 - 19: “Uniting and showcasing Stockholm's vibrant art scene and positioning Sweden as a noteworthy art destination. A central pillar of this week is the Market Art Fair, attracting both local art enthusiasts and international visitors. Collaborating with European art scenes enhances our knowledge and showcases Stockholm as a global art destination.”

— Joanna Sundström, Founder and Director

LONDON GALLERY WEEKEND MAY 31—JUNE 2: “London Gallery Weekend is a gateway to the breadth and diversity of London's thriving contemporary art gallery landscape for the public and collectors alike. Unique among global gallery weekend events in the breadth and diversity of its participating galleries, all events and exhibitions are free to attend. It provides an opportunity to discover and explore London's world-class gallery scene, celebrating the city's diverse cultural and creative communities. Forging partnerships with our European counterparts allows for wider collaboration and creates opportunities for cultural exchanges between our cities, providing visibility across the network as one platform for the visual arts.“

— Jeremy Epstein, Founder and Co-Director

AMSTERDAM ART WEEK MAY 29—JUNE 24: “Empowering Amsterdam's artistic ecosystem, offering diverse experiences for local and international art lovers. This transformational event turns the city into a vibrant hub for artists, professionals, collectors, and art enthusiasts, fostering collaboration and accessibility to contemporary art.”

— Martina Halsema, Director

BARCELONA GALLERY WEEKEND SEPTEMBER 19 - 22: “We aim to reinforce Barcelona's artistic scene by promoting art collecting. We believe that joining forces between similar initiatives in European cities enriches everyone, fostering collaborations, exchanges, and expanding networks."

— Mariña Álvarez Pino and Andrea Rodríguez Novoa, Co-directors

ART WEEKEND BUDAPEST NOVEMBER 29 - DECEMBER 1: “We held the first Art Weekend Budapest (AWB) contemporary art festival in 2023 and in 2024 we want to continue and strengthen the tradition by celebrating the first weekend of December, from 29 November to 1 December, with art. In addition to the iconic art walks between participating venues, for the first time we are also preparing a thematic series of programmes exploring the layers of meaning of movement in the visual arts context. The series of events is primarily aimed at the development and sustainability of the local contemporary art scene, with a focus on artists, art professionals, gallerists and future collectors, and our mission is to connect AWB with the European art scene, and we are honoured and delighted to be joining THE SPIDER.

— Eszter Őry and Szilvia Nyitrai Co-founders

LISBON ART WEEK NOVEMBER 7 - 10: ““Lisbon Art Weekend aims to provide everyone an opportunity to discover Lisbon's vibrant contemporary art scene. By welcoming diverse audiences, we create an inclusive space where visitors can explore artworks and performances in their natural setting. Collaborating with other initiatives fosters dialogue and interconnectivity among diverse European art scenes, enriching the experience for everyone involved.”

— Marc Kean Paker & Merve Pakyürek Co-founders

BERLIN ART WEEK SEPTEMBER 11 - 15: “Showcasing Berlin's contemporary art scene and connecting diverse art stakeholders. This festival bridges various institutions, artists, collectors, curators, and the public, deepening appreciation for art and culture. The cooperation between different Art Weeks aims to create a more interconnected platform for the arts, enhancing cultural exchange, diversity, and visibility on a global scale.”

— Mona Stehle, Head of Programme

VIENNA ART WEEK NOVEMBER 8 - 15: “We shine a spotlight on Vienna's vibrant art scene every November, attracting 30,000 visitors with inspiring art from Baroque to the present. Having been founded in 2005 as the first „art week" of its kind, our festival is based on a unique collaboration of Viennese art institutions, art universities, galleries, independent art spaces, and artists. We love to connect with like-minded festivals for mutual inspiration and to use the Spider platform to create more visibility for our joint cause, the visual arts.”