ruangrupa...

In 2018, ruangrupa, together with Serrum and Grafis Huru Hara, initiated GUDSKUL: Collective Study and Contemporary Art Ecosystem—a public learning space (commonly referred to simply as "Gudskul," pronounced like "good school"). Gudskul was conceived as a learning platform that simulates collective working models, emphasizing the importance of critical and experimental dialogue through experiential, practice-based knowledge sharing.

ruangrupa itself evolved as an ecosystem of contemporary art rooted in a non-profit working model. The operational support for each collective is primarily sourced from donor institutions, sponsors, and self-generated income through various business units, alongside voluntary contributions from collective members. When deciding to collaborate as an ecosystem, ruangrupa, Serrum, and Grafis Huru Hara established a shared lumbung system—a communal resource model where all resources are pooled and distributed proportionally based on the needs of each collective.

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ruangrupa (always written in lowercase and without spaces) is a contemporary art organization founded in 2000 by a group of artists in Jakarta. As a nonprofit entity, ruangrupa actively fosters the development of artistic discourse within urban context and the broader cultural landscape. This is organized through exhibitions, festivals, art laboratories, workshops, research, and the publication of books, magazines, and online journals.

Over nearly two decades, ruangrupa has undergone multiple programmatic shifts and organizational restructurings. From its inception, the organization was designed to allow individuals the creative freedom to pursue their artistic endeavours while maintaining a collective spirit. ruangrupa thrives on collaboration, engaging a diverse array of individuals from different backgrounds. Each person contributes unique insights, much like a key unlocking the treasures of historical and cultural narratives.

This ethos was reflected in the living house that served as ruangrupa's initial base of operations. Located on the southern outskirts of the city, the space functioned as a gathering place—always open, always inhabited. It housed astudio, a library, a research laboratory, and even a party space, all within the same location, embodying the collective’s dynamic and fluid approach to artistic and intellectual exchange.

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During this period, ruangrupa developed the Gudang Sarinah Ekosistem (GSE) cultural platform in collaboration with several artist collectives in Jakarta. The platform takes its name from Gudang Sarinah, a warehouse located in Pancoran, South Jakarta.

GSE serves as a multidisciplinary space designed to sustain, cultivate, and establish an integrated support system for creative talents, diverse communities, and various institutions. It functions as a hub for networking, collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and idea exchange, while also fostering critical thinking, creativity, and innovation.

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