Part 1: Introduction by Alessandro Vincentelli curator at the Baltic.

This study day, in collaboration with the Open University, explores art, music and chance, looking at the vital legacy of John Cage’s experimentation in music, composition and art. Speakers include: Cornelia Parker, artist, Laura Kuhn, John Cage Trust, Atau Tanaka, artist / director of Newcastle University Culture Lab, Jeremy Millar, artist and curator, Helen Baker, Gallery Director at Gallery North and Principal Lecturer in Fine Art, Roger Malbert, Senior Curator Hayward Touring Exhibitions and Alessandro Vincentelli, BALTIC Curator.

There are eight parts to this study day.

Sophie Howarth, Sarah Wilson, Niru Ratnam, Andrew Brighton, Discussion 1

Sarah Wilson, Matisse, Picasso and Exhibition Making  In the light of two very different exhibitions - the Royal Academy's Paris: Capital of the Arts 1900-1968 (26 January -19 April 2002) and Tate Modern's Matisse Picasso (11 May - 18 August 2002), Sarah Wilson, curator of the former, discusses the relationship between exhibition history and the fictional recreation of artists' personae and influence.Further ReadingConstantin Brancusi: The Essence of Things, Tate 2004, especially Alexandra Parigoris, 'The Road to Damascus'Alex Potts, The Sculptural Imagination: Fi

Sophie Howarth, Phyllida Barlow, Paul Wood, Mark Godfrey, Jonathan Jones, Jason Gaiger and Jane Burton, Discussion 2  From Russian Suprematism through Abstract Expressionism, Minimalism and beyond, abstraction has been variously interpreted as nihilistic, political, sublime, decorative and ironic. While much writing about abstract art has been opaque, the talks here aim to clearly open up a variety of theoretical models for discussion.

Jane Burton, Experience and Interpretation  Speaker: Jane Burton, Curator of Interpretation, Tate Modern.Taking the Barnett Newman exhibition as its focus, Jane Burton seeks to unravel some of the possible interpretative approaches to Newman's art adopted by museums, both in his lifetime and today.

Steve Edwards, Mohini Chandra, Marcus Verhagen and Dominic Willsdon, Discussion 2  This video recording from the Contemporary Art and Globalisation Study Day features a panel discussion between speakers.

Marcus Verhagen and Dominic Willsdon, The Rise and Rise of the Biennial  Over the last 20 years a number of new biennials have been established and the older biennials have, by all accounts, played an increasingly important role in sanctioning tendencies, entrenching reputations and directing debate in the art world. This trend has not always been well received.

Steve Edwards, Nigel Warburton, Marko Daniel, Kathe Kollwitz, Frida Kahlo and Frances Morris, Plenary Discussion  At this study day leading curators and art historians discuss the relationship between exhibitions, museum collections and art history

Marko Daniel and Frances Morris, Tate Modern - A Case Study  This paper reviews the controversial opening display of the permanent collection at Tate Modern which embraced a thematic, as opposed to chronological structure, as well as the principle of rotating displays. It discusses the recent rehang of the collection which departs from the opening display in significant ways while it also continues to address the same challenges and builds on and develops a number of its principles.