LIBUSE MÜLLER
Born in Czechoslovakia. Lives and works in Copenhagen, Denmark
 
A Czech immigrant, Libuse Müller is deeply engaged in promoting artists of different ethnic background in Denmark. In 1991, she founded Gallery Shambala in Copenhagen, a non-profit exhibition space for international contemporary art. Shambala was born out of the conviction that Copenhagen needs a permanent exhibition space, whose explicit goal is to host a continuous presentation of professional art produced by artists of foreign background in Denmark. The intention was not to isolate these artists from established mainstream exhibition spaces, but to make their resources visible in Danish society. Shambala provides refugees, immigrants, and other people of non-Danish origin with a permanent and visible space at a central location where they can exhibit their work. The aim of the gallery is to promote understanding between people of different cultural backgrounds through exhibitions, events, presentations, mediations, and education programs as well as through international co-operation and exchange programs. Among other things, Müller has initiated a project where Danish-based refugee artists teach art to Danish school children. Müller also sits on the board of a number of committees and foundations.
 
Contribution: Participates in the debate “The Danish Art Institution and the Challenge from the 'Politics of Difference',” on Sunday, October 24, 2004, from 3 – 7 pm in Station 1: The Equestrian Hall, Aarhus.