In 2016, Supermarket first introduced the Professional Networking Participants (PNP) programme for art professionals with the purpose to create a meeting point for Swedish and international artists, curators and art operators in order to expand their networks beyond the exhibition space. The programme quickly became popular and 2018 presents its third edition. Naturally, we found ourselves curious to know more about what made the programme successful, and we approached a former attendee, artist and curator Signe Vad, to learn more about her experience from participating in 2017. 

1) What made you decide to apply to the Professional Networking Participants programme?

I did not run an exhibition space back then, but I have been very involved in the artist-run scene, so meeting others, and debating common challenges and ideologies has been very important. The world is turning all the time and new insights appear in parallel to new problems. It is great to meet other colleagues and initiators to hear their reasons for doing all that hard work voluntarily.

2) Once attending the programme what was your experience like? Has it impacted your artistic career in any way, or expanded your network of connections and potential collaborations?

It expanded my perspective, insight and network of connections and potential collaborations.

3) Finally, this year’s theme is Legacy, and in regard to that, what do you think a PNP programme should contain to stand the test of time? If there was such a thing as a perfect recipe for a PNP programme what would it consist of?

I like meetings and debates very much. I like to reflect upon the main thoughts, pondering the reasons for what we do. I like seminars and broad discussions on the importance of what we do, and how we can be part of moving the world in a better direction. I like to think that through meeting, talking, arguing, learning and acting we can have a strong impact, can make movements and waves; that create a counter attack to all that capitalistic destructive madness that have possessed us all. I like to believe that a fragment of that is what happens when we meet at Supermarket, and I think Supermarket could increase that impact.

Signe Vad will return for the next edition of Supermarket in 2018, this time exhibiting with recently founded space The KRÆ (CREATURE) Syndicate, located in the old Meatpacking District of Copenhagen. (Not unlike Supermarket’s new meat-district venue in Stockholm’s Slakthusområdet. Two is a trend?)