Through the Speaker Series, CCS Bard brings distinguished artists, scholars, and curators to campus to present on their work. Speaker Series talks are held within Classroom 102 at CCS Bard unless otherwise noted. All talks are free and open to the public.
Venezuela is experiencing the most difficult times due to a political and social economic crisis that has affected all sectors of the country and the field of art has been one of the most hurt by the lack of cultural policies that contribute to the strengthening of cultural institutions. However, as strange as it may seem, there is a movement of sensitive people, non profit organizations and communities with a genuine interest in reinventing and circumventing the difficulties to ensure that artistic practices have a relevant space in Venezuelan society despite the opacity that run theses days in the country.
Ramírez will talk about innovative and creative ways to stand for the arts in dire moments. Also, Ramírez will present the project Tráfico Visual.com and will explain on how traficovisual.com has been changing in order to understand the needs of new audiences.
Ileana Ramírez Romero is director of Tráfico Visual a digital platform which she created in 2009 and directs independently. Tráfico Visual is dedicated to the dissemination of content linked to contemporary art and the Venezuelan and Latin American cultural scene. Ramírez is participant of the 45th National Salon of Artists of Colombia with a project specially created for this invitation: “Crossing the line” is a series of seminars, and talks with Venezuelan artists and curators settled in Colombia to discuss the current immigration situation and the tension on the border between Colombia and Venezuela. Additionally, a series of Venezuelan films and video art from diverse genres, formats and generations will be screened at the Cinemateca of Bogotá. Ramírez worked as Director of of programs at Fundación Cisneros in Caracas until June of 2019. Ramirez promoted educational projects and initiatives such as supporting artistic residency program in Caracas and the Art in Context series of talks. In 2017 Ramirez conceptualized and directed the 7th edition of the Fundación Cisneros Seminar.
Ramirez earned a degree in law from Andrés Bello Catholic University (UCAB) but her affinity to visual culture and arts led her to develop an extensive professional career in the art scene. She was coordinator of programming at Centro de Arte Los Galpones and coordinator of exhibitions at Sala Mendoza. At the end of 2017, with the cultural office of the Spanish Embassy in Venezuela, Ramírez organized the Seminario de Crítica de Arte. Ramírez has organized numerous interviews and meetings between individuals in the local and international artistic communities. Currently, Tráfico Visual is a contributor to Publishing Against the Grain, a traveling exhibition organized by Independent Curators International.