Focusing on contemporary art, Mint is embracing experimental practices and cross-generational encounters. Mint is an art space, a mobile exhibition project and a curatorial duo, initiated by Emily Fahlén and Asrin Haidari. In the spring of 2019, an art space in the ABF-house is brought back to life. For thirty-one years the bottom floor housed the legendary Sveagalleriet, which opened on February
25 1961, in the then brand new ABF building on Sveavägen. According to the statutes agreed upon on October 10 1960, the aim was, among other things, “to promote the ambition for further education in art, handicraft and industrial art.” Sveagalleriet closed down in 1992. Now the space is resurrected under a new name: Mint. Initiated by Emily Fahlén and Asrin Haidari, in collaboration with ABF Stockholm and the Swedish Labour Movement’s Archives and Library. Exhibitions, study groups and happenings are taking place. As the practice of a museum relates to – and is in dialogue with – its collection, Mint allows its program to be inspired and directed by the history of the building and its events, struggles, organisations and cultural expressions. The initiative is in many aspects collective and happens in dialogue with a newly-formed study group focusing on workers’ art as a concept both historical and contemporary (Margareta Ståhl, Masha Taavoniku, Christina Zetterlund, Rikard Heberling and Ingela Johansson), curator Jenny Richards’ research project Outsourcing the Body at Konstfack, researcher Christina Zetterlund’s project on collective design histories among other individuals and organizations. The vision is for Mint to become a collecting meeting place for art, education and struggle for a new time, and for art to reclaim its space in the activities of the ABF building. Mint is supported by the City of Stockholm, The Swedish Arts Council, The worker's movements cultural fund and the Region of Stockholm
