About

Saas-Fee Summer Institute of Art (SFSIA) is a nomadic, intensive summer academy with shifting programs in contemporary critical theory that stresses an interdisciplinary approach to understanding the relationship between art and politics. The program consists of seminar-style lectures, deep readings, and experimental workshops. An evening lecture program is free and open to the public.

We encourage students, practitioners, and scholars from the fields of art (including video, painting, photography, sculpture and installation), design, architecture, critical writing, neuroscience, science and technology studies, critical theory, cultural studies, film and media studies, and beyond, whose practice could use an invigorating jolt of new theory to consider applying for the program.

SFSIA originated in Saas-Fee, Switzerland (after which it is named) in 2015 and then migrated to Berlin, Germany to engage a larger audience for it’s free public programs where it has been hosted by Import Projects (2016) and Spike (2017-2019). Additional programs have been hosted by Otis College of Art and Design in Los Angeles (2018) and Performance Space New York (2019). For the last two years SFSIA has been held online. In 2021, SFSIA is collaborating with sonsbeek20→24 on an online program with in-person public lectures in Arnhem, The Netherlands.

The institute was founded by artist and theorist Warren Neidich and co-directed by art critic and poet Barry Schwabsky. Sarrita Hunn is the assistant director.

For more information read “Saas-Fee Summer Institute of Art: A Berlin Intensive at the Juncture of Theory, Praxis and Art“ written by Jennifer Teets for Art&Education, and “COGNITIVE CAPITALISM: Neidich, Denny, Popescu, Harney, and Ndikung at the SFSIA Berlin” written by Niklas Egberts for 032c.