D.A.E. (Donostiako Arte Ekinbideak) is a flexible structure for the production of art projects in Donostia- San Sebastian. Leire Vergara and Peio Aguirre are the current directors of D.A.E.

Brief description of past projects and exhibitions:

1999. Itziar Okariz, Iñaki Garmendia, COOP & Nina Sidow (Berlin), José Alvaro Perdices (Los Angeles).
2000. Asier Mendizabal. (Exhibition organised by Gorka Eizagirre).
2001. Superkongresua- Meeting de artistas (collaborating in the organisation of this event with Ibon Aranberri and Asier Pérez González and with the participation of thirty artists), Tilo Schulz (Leipzig), Klat (Geneva). (Organised by Peio Aguirre).
2002. Front Line Compilation. An art encounter between Northern Ireland and the Basque Country. Together with the participation of Phil Collins, Asier Pérez González, Ainara García, Susan Philipsz, Eoghan McTigue, Belfast Exposed, Linen Hall Library and some more.

EDITORIAL

"No panic, just adventure"

Donostiako Arte Ekinbideak is an artistic organisation that was launched at the beginning of 1999 as a result of a new channel for collaboration between artistic and cultural institutions in San Sebastián.
In the year 2000 it was set up as a cultural association and changed its approach to become a curatorial team to carry out artistic activities.
Since it began, it has formed a special relationship with the Arteleku Art Centre through new productive cooperation mechanisms and has also kept up an active dialogue with Donostia Kultura.

D.A.E. works by taking the dynamics of art-as-activity as a starting point, to create modes of performance that lead to new ways of understanding interventions in public space. Our work includes both commissioned projects for artists and other kinds of parallel activities such as presentations, publications, video screenings and other miscellaneous events.

D.A.E. is not dependent on a specific exhibition space but operates as a virus in the city, by introducing a concept of space that is both physical, social and mental. It is from this conception of space that we also want to take into account transitory aspects that are characteristic of each proposal, by developing, if necessary, a certain degree of discontinuity in the work process. This includes the possibility of working at different speeds in order to promote an idea of conceiving art-as-activity, negotiating with notions of space and subjectivity.
From this perspective, we feel that it is necessary to reflect on aspects such as production, organisation, leisure, mediation, getting together and action; aspects that, all things considered, make up team work.

We also give specific importance to the socio-political context out of which projects are created, and in which artistic activity is set. Taking the liveliness and dynamism of a curatorial ethic as a starting point, we build up our relationship with guest artists in such a way that the activity at D.A.E. develops like an adventure in 3D that focuses on the local context and personal energies.

Peio Aguirre & Leire Vergara