Contemporary Art Forum Kitchener and Area

The Contemporary Art Forum Kitchener and Area (CAFKA) is a non-profit organization that holds a biennial international arts festival in the Waterloo Region, located in Southwestern Ontario, Canada. It brings cutting-edge works out of art galleries, studios and artist-run centers and places them in public spaces. Art installations have traditionally been located in and around Kitchener City Hall. Starting with the 2007 forum, CAFKA will be the centre-piece of a region-wide arts festival, with expanded programming at all major galleries in the region.

CAFKA provides programs that enhance the public’s understanding and appreciation of contemporary art. By installing contemporary art in a civic space, CAFKA invites and encourages the public of all ages and cultural backgrounds (especially those who normally do not visit art galleries) to encounter, react to and connect with contemporary art and the artists who create it.

CAFKA is a thematically programmed exhibition. Past themes have included:

CAFKA.01: “…. and then we take Berlin” commented on the 1916 changing of the name of Berlin to Kitchener, and reflected the momentum inherent in starting an ambitious cultural enterprise by a group of artists.

CAFKA.02: “Power to the People” stemmed from the inception of Ontario Hydro in Kitchener, one of the largest publicly owned utilities in the world, and further explored the nature of democracy, civil rights and social empowerment.

CAFKA.03: “Probing into the Distance”, explored notions of local identity, land ownership, transfer and conservation, and new ways of looking at geography, to celebrate the founding of Waterloo Region 150 years ago.

CAFKA.04: “Peace of Mind” considers the desire for safe and risk free lifestyles, global-political issues, individual and spiritual peace, world peace and conflict resolution.

CAFKA.05: “X Industria” explored the industrial past, present and future of the region by deriving its theme from “Made in Berlin,” 1905 trade fair; the motto of the City of Kitchener “ex industria prosperitas,” and the promotion of the region as the high-tech triangle centre for scientific research and innovation.

The theme for CAFKA.07 is Haptic. Haptic, derived from the Greek, haptesthai means of or relating to the sense of touch. From the distinctive craftsmanship of the Waterloo Region’s founders to the region’s current role in shaping the technological future we see a consistent understanding of the importance of haptic relationships. This theme provides a great opportunity to explore the interplay of science, technology and artistic vision.

External links

* [http://www.cafka.org Official Site]
* [http://www.cafka.tv CAFKA.TV - a CAFKA initiative]
* [http://www.napday.com Nap Day - a CAFKA initiative]
* [http://www.scream-day.com Scream Day - a CAFKA initiative]