“SO in the Academy’s name, is not an acronym. It references how we begin a conversation, introduce an idea or make a proposal. SO, as the ushering in of new discoveries, as reflection, as signalling the start of an enquiry, captures the spirit and the approach of the Academy.” – Athena Mazarakis, Momenteur for SO | The Aacdemy for the Less Good Idea

Launched in early 2020, SO | The Academy for the Less Good Idea is the space where learning emerges through secondary thinking, and where thinking – and learning – happen through doing.

Led by Momenteur, Athena Mazarakis, the SO Academy gives momentum to the learning possibilities located within and around The Centre’s programming, leveraging opportunities for artists at all stages of their careers to start new enquiries within their practice, and to reflect on and grow their practice in new ways. These learning possibilities are then curated into mentorships, workshops, public conversations, and performative lectures.

Key SO Academy programmes include HOW | Showing the Making, the Thinking In workshop series, and In Conversation. In 2024, two new open programmes aimed at professional artists were launched: PRACTICE & TÊTE-À-TÊTE.

SO Academy curates and implements programmes that share thinking about and through the arts with audiences, giving them insight into the strategies and approaches employed by artists in the making of their work, and encouraging and enabling public engagement, reflection and discourse around arts practice.

The SO Academy is not only committed to the development of the artistic community in the present but also takes an active role in documenting the practice and process of artists, who oftentimes fall through the cracks of the traditional academy.