A*DESK began in 2002 as a venture initiated by Montse Badia, David G. Torres and Martí Manen, three art critics and independent curators. Working in Barcelona, we wanted to reach other places and felt the need to work, through art criticism, to open up new possibilities and to participate in the creation of critical awareness. A*DESK is totally independent in that it is the initiative of a group of art critics and is not dependent on any other art or public institutions. It is dedicated to criticism and contemporary art, although not exclusively to art criticism, more to the development of critical thought via contemporary art.
Since 2002 we have published our online magazine, held workshops in critical studies and writing in Catalonia, Spain and Latin America, established our program of independent studies, investigated the possibilities of online education, worked as consultants for various institutions and opened a space in Barcelona.
A*Magazine, the A*DESK magazine, has become well established, with an ever-expanding group of collaborators, opening up to become a forum for new critical voices. It also has a section A*Highlights dedicated to debate and news related to contemporary art, and A*tv, which includes videos produced by A*DESK: interviews, criticism of exhibitions, opinions, reports, including live events at A*Live…
A*MAGAZINE has now already published 90 editions. The A*DESK website, where all the contents are accessible, has an average of 8,000 visitors every month and over 1,500 subscribers. It has also extended its visibility through the use of 2.0 networks, becoming a valued platform within the professional sector, open to information and differing opinions and points of view regarding contemporary issues. The online publication, over the last seven years has enabled A*DESK to become a point of reference in the critical arena across Spain and Latin America.
Now we have decided to take the plunge and publish everything on our web, including the magazine A*Magazine, in three languages: Catalan, Spanish and English. We want to break down barriers, so that we can establish a more direct dialogue with other people active in the art world. There are still many barriers and the linguistic ones are irrefutable. Our aim is to generate links, to facilitate the exchange of information and to compare and contrast different viewpoints.
About A*MAGAZINE
Online art magazine published forthnightly
Co-founded and co-directed by: Montse Badia, David G. Torres and Martí Manen
www.a-desk.org
