Rachel Mader

Rachel Mader is a Professor and Head of the Competence Center for Art and Design in Public Space at the Lucerne School of Design, Film and Art (HSLU DFK). She holds a PhD in Art History and has led significant research projects, including 'Collecting the Ephemeral' and 'Biennalisierung der Landschaft'. Her work explores artistic self-organization, cultural policy, performance preservation, and decolonization in art education. Mader has authored/co-edited over 30 books and peer-reviewed articles, focusing on contemporary art's role in society. Awards include the Deubner-Preis (2006) and the Ambizione Fellowship (2009–2014).

Education: Studied Art History, Philosophy, and History at Universities of Basel, Bern, and Geneva. Notable academic roles: Co-President of the Swiss Artistic Research Network (SARN), member of the Swiss National Science Foundation's Evaluation Commission for 'Practice to Science', and board member of the Gegenwart Foundation (Bern).

Research interests include ephemeral art preservation, art and ambivalence, urban art development, and institutional critique. She mentors students and advises on projects like 'Owning Online Art' and 'Holy Spaces - Real Places'.