Art Talk – Art and Academia: Fostering Reflection and Experimentation

Location: Art Talk Area, Luxembourg Art Week

Language: English

Guest Speakers:

Finola Finn, University of Luxembourg

Begga Sigurdardottir, Fondation PwC Luxembourg, under the aegis of the Fondation de Luxembourg

Clio Van Aerde, Artist

Anouk Wies, University of Luxembourg

Moderated by: Charles Rouleau, Casino Display

For the past three years, Casino Display and the University of Luxembourg have jointly organised an artist residency within the university environment, with the support of the Fondation PwC Luxembourg, under the aegis of the Fondation de Luxembourg. This collaboration has opened up a space for reflection and experimentation around the place of art in higher education and, more broadly, the role of artists within the university environment in Luxembourg.

This panel will look back at the origins and first three years of the project, including the Foundation’s perspective on its involvement in this initiative. Clio Van Aerde, artist-in-residence for the 2026 edition, will present her work and share her experience of the residency.

The discussion will conclude by looking towards the future of the project: what role can art play within Luxembourg’s university environment, and what new programmes or collaborations might emerge from this initial experience.

Biographies

Finola Finn is a postdoctoral researcher at the Centre for Contemporary and Digital History at the University of Luxembourg, where she explores the use of computational and creative practices in historical research. Her current pedagogical project, ECHOES, developed in collaboration with Casino Display and funded by the university’s Education Innovation Fund, brings contemporary artistic and curatorial practice into MA-level public history teaching.

Charles Rouleau is curator of programmes and research at Casino Display, the research and residency satellite of Casino Luxembourg, where he accompanies artists during their residencies and research projects. He developed a European Post-Master’s programme in collaboration with HEAR (Strasbourg), La Cambre (Brussels), KABK (The Hague) and ENSAD Nancy, conceived as a laboratory for artistic and curatorial experimentation and research. Alongside his professional activities, he is pursuing a doctoral thesis in artistic research at the University of Amsterdam.

Begga Sigurdardottir is a partner with PwC Luxembourg, where she advises clients on international taxation matters. In addition to her role as tax partner, she is responsible for the technical committee for culture of the PwC Foundation Luxembourg, under the aegis of the Fondation de Luxembourg, where, together with a team, she leads the selection and ongoing oversight of philanthropic projects in the cultural sector, across different artistic disciplines. She is also a member of the board of Casino Luxembourg - Forum d’art contemporain and an art collector.

Clio Van Aerde is a transdisciplinary performance artist and scenographer based in Esch-sur-Alzette (Luxembourg). She studied scenography at the Akademie der Bildenden Künste in Vienna (AT) and performance practices at ArtEZ hogeschool voor de kunsten in Arnhem (NL). Her practice includes performance art, choreography, site-specific and durational art as well as visual arts. Her process-based work explores the relation between bodies, spaces and temporalities, as well as the social constructs that shape them.

Anouk Wies is Strategic Advisor for Culture at the University of Luxembourg, as well as an experienced facilitator and curator. She develops a diverse artistic programme, initiates and supports the University’s cultural and innovative projects, and works to expand a network of national and international institutions and partners. At the intersection of scientific research, the digital revolution and societal issues, she seeks to promote interdisciplinary projects through collaborative activities and experimentation within the University and beyond, emphasising the arts and sciences as a common good.