On September 6, renowned UK-based curator Fatos Üstek visited Kosovo for the first time to present her latest book titled The Art Institution of Tomorrow: Reinventing the Model, at Reporting House in Prishtina. In a talk moderated by curator Gazmend Ejupi, Üstek addressed the urgent need for transformation within art institutions, which she described as facing an “ontological crisis” amid global upheavals in politics, climate, health, and society. “Art institutions are stagnating,” she said, emphasizing the need to rethink their purpose, decision-making, and relevance in today’s world.
Üstek praised the model of Reporting House, likening it to socially aware biennales like Gwangju, which respond to historical and political realities through art. She highlighted the importance of building new institutional structures from the ground up — especially in places like Kosovo — where there is still an opportunity to create autonomous, forward-thinking art spaces. “You have an immense chance to build your own structure — and that is a real privilege,” she stated.
Reflecting on her own curatorial journey, Üstek spoke about her commitment to pushing boundaries, referencing her 2015 project of delivering 50 exhibitions in 50 weeks with artists she hadn’t previously worked with. As a former mathematics student, she champions a multidisciplinary approach and believes that institutional autonomy — financial, social, and political — is key to fostering meaningful artistic development.