Report on the Summit of the Independents

OFF 2027 opening day and what follows afterwards

On November 8, at aqb, we publicly launched the preparations for OFF-Biennále Budapest 2027 with nearly 100 participants.

The full-day professional and community event brought together representatives of independent cultural organizations, members of the contemporary art scene, and interested participants for a shared discussion aimed at mapping the current operational frameworks and challenges of Hungary’s independent, self-organized contemporary art ecosystem, while also presenting our plans for the next OFF-Biennale.

Collective Thinking Begins

Tímea Török, who lead the mediation program of OFF2025, helped participants get acquainted and “warm up” for the day-long discussion through an interactive situational game.

This was followed by presentations from members of the OFF strategic board — Nikolett Erőss, Katalin Székely, and Hajnalka Somogyi  — who outlined:

– the framework of the 2027 Biennale,
– the key details of the open call launching in January 2026,
– and the possible forms of collaboration.

About the Open Call in Brief
The OFF-Biennale will launch an open call in January 2026 for participants based in Hungary. The selected projects will take part in regular professional meetings and community platforms throughout 2026–2027, where we will primarily provide coordination and curatorial consultation. The aim of the program is to strengthen conceptual cohesion, support collective thinking, and foster sustainable structures of collaboration, while preserving the autonomy of the individual projects. We are looking for proactive participants who are ready to take responsibility and share knowledge and resources.

“The Opportunity Lies in Collaboration and Networking”

We closed the morning session with a panel discussion featuring Katalin Erdődi (Trafo), Nikolett Erőss (Budapest Gallery, OFF-Biennale Budapest), Péter Forgács (FreeSZFE), Attila Menesi (Kontextus Program) és Luca Petrányi (Useless Galeri) Together, we explored how institutions and independent actors can genuinely collaborate as equal partners within today’s cultural ecosystem.

The participants reflected on the meaning of independence, the possibilities and limitations of institutional frameworks, and the role of collaboration and networking, emphasizing the importance of professional autonomy, sustainability, mutual support, and interdependence as an opportunity rather than a constraint.

The discussion highlighted that collective thinking and the development of new operational models are essential prerequisites for creating an open and supportive cultural environment grounded in solidarity.

Self-Organization and Community Building in Practice

During the afternoon, The School of Public Life (Közélet Iskolája) led a practical workshop titled Self-Organization, Collaboration, and Community Building, examining how effective cooperation and self-organization can function within the cultural scene, and what role collective work plays in culture and in driving social change.

Participants reflected together on the significance, challenges, and benefits of collaboration, and then, through group work, developed the vision and mission of fictional organizations.

The workshop was based on the recently published Group Organizing Handbook, which condenses more than a decade of experience in the practice of self-organization.

Independence in the Film Sector

The day concluded with a conversation featuring Kristóf Horváth and Tamás Szalai, two founders of BIFF (Budapest International Film Festival). The discussion explored the festival’s history, the meaning of independence, different funding models, and the possibilities for collaboration between the visual arts and film scenes.

What Comes Next?

We will soon share detailed information about the open call (available only in Hungarian).

In the meantime, follow us on our social media platforms, and if you haven’t already, subscribe to the OFF-Biennále Budapest newsletter here.