Data (David) Chigholashvili’s work in social anthropology and contemporary art explores connections between the two fields through theoretical research and socially engaged art projects. He is mainly interested in topics of visual and urban anthropology, ethnography, socially engaged art practices, public space, migration, foodways, and memory, which are often interconnected in his collaborative work.

In 2012, Data joined GeoAIR. Since 2018, he has been working as a curator of international programs at the State Silk Museum in Tbilisi, Georgia. Data’s works are strongly related to the specificity of their contexts. Through direct commentary or through subtle forms, he aims to present and question issues of the surroundings, while simultaneously exploring connections between various disciplines and means of expression in order to challenge conventional definitions and forms.

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Born in Chisinau, Maria Ivanov’s studies at the Architectural School of Manchester University made her passionate about returning to Moldova to share new experiences. She collaborates with several local organizations, participates in projects that explore the relationship between art, urban space, and society. Maria is a Junior Architect at the Center of Urbanism in Chisinau. She is interested in cultural and social entrepreneurship and is currently exploring this topic in the UK as an intern at Baby People UK through the Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs program.

Oberliht Young Artists Association connects various artistic scenes, builds an artistic community using public spaces, and provides support and opportunities for professional development to young artists. It develops and maintains interdisciplinary platforms and projects which connect local and international contemporary art and culture initiatives and advocates for a strong and independent cultural sector in Moldova and the region. Its activities include: the support of artistic projects; research on the transformation of public space; advocacy; informal education; community building and organizing; publications.

Eva Khachatryan is an independent curator, Vice-President of AICA Armenia (International Association of Art Critics), and a member of CIMAM (International Committee of ICOM for Museums and Collections of Modern and Contemporary Art). She runs the Suburb art platform.

Eva was a curator at the Armenian Center for Contemporary Experimental Art (ACCEA) and a co-director of its Department of Fine Arts. Her curatorial work focuses on women’s issues and new media in contemporary art.

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Artist and curator Lera Lerner practices socially engaged art. She focuses on interdisciplinary and hybrid projects connecting scientists, artists, museum workers, and people from the public places in the participatory art practices. She also researches the processes and ethics of spontaneous communication in an urban environment through performance and installation.

Lera graduated from the Pro Arte Program for contemporary artists and completed the MA program in Curatorial Studies at the Faculty of Liberal Arts and Sciences of St. Petersburg State University. She participated in the Manifesta 10 International Biennial, IV and V Moscow International Biennial of Young Art, 4th and 5th Art Prospect Festival, V International Baltic Biennial of Contemporary Art, VI Ural Industrial Biennial, the 14th Contemporary Art in the Traditional Museum Festival, and the XIII Krasnoyarsk Museum Biennale. Lera was nominated for the Innovation X prize and for the X and XI Sergey Kuryokhin Prize for contemporary art.

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Lilia Voronkova works at the intersection of social science, art and urbanism. She is interested in urban research and development, urban/public/street art, urban activism, non-academic education, socially engaged art and intercultural exchange. Lilia initiates and curates collaborative projects between social scientists and artists, curator of non-academic educational programs and study tours. She is a consultant on urban development projects for government and business. She has served on the curatorial team of the international public art festival Art Prospect since 2014. As a fellow of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, she conducted a research project on interdisciplinary projects and public sociology at the Humboldt University in Berlin in 2009-2010.

Centre for Independent Social Research (CISR, St.Petersburg) is an Autonomous Non-Commercial Organization that develops academic social research. The Centre’s research reflects a broad spectrum of sociological interests. CISR provides networking and professional trainings for young scientists and supports public sociology. In 2015, the Russian Federal Ministry of Justice included the organization in the registry of nonprofit organizations performing functions of a foreign agent.

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