The Alpine Feral MBA

The Feral MBA is a radically reimagined training course in business for artists and others. Its mission is to delve into the sometimes alien and protected realms of 'business' and 'economy' with a wild curriculum of ideas, practices, resources and experiments. The Feral MBA is convened as a travelling programme by trade artist and feral economist Kate Rich.

We are proud to announce the first Feral MBA in Europe, taking place in the Italian Alps in summer 2027, hosted by La Foresta and Brave New Alps.

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS

The Alpine Feral MBA

STARTS: 3+4+5 JUNE 2027. ENDS: 8+9+10 JULY 2027.

WE WORK TOGETHER + APART IN THE WEEKS BETWEEN

PARTICIPATION FEE €500 (self-funded) / €750 (workplace-funded) / sponsored places available.

The Feral MBA is a radically reimagined training course in business, for artists and others who wish to approach business critically and creatively. The focus of this uncommon business gathering is not on 'making it' in an extractive economy whose core assumptions of competition, productivity and endless growth are up in flames. Instead, the aim is to provision ourselves with experimental skills and vital camaraderie to test out other ways of doing and being in business.

This Alpine Feral MBA centres on administration – business's grey heart. Despite its prickly reputation, admin is the fabric and the substrate of all our projects: it's where the ethos and aims of organisations get translated into actual practices. Administration summons resources, it makes collaboration possible, it acts as the stabilising force behind our collective endeavours. As such it is an overlooked area place where different ways of organising lives and livelihoods can be manifested.

The Feral MBA curriculum will take the form of hands-on workshops, seminars, homework assignments and public events. Drawing on resources from art to feminist economics, activities may include monetary experiments, (feral) business coaching, administrative listening, and 'radmin': rethinking the 'dull' space of administration as also a place for wild imaginaries and meaningful work. Over the 5-week run of the programme, we will further and centrally open up own projects, organisations and livelihood endeavours to think together on the quandaries of survival and livelihood, and how things could be different.

Practicalities:

To attend the Alpine Feral MBA you must be willing and able to be in Arco, Northern Italy, for the opening and closing intensives – 3+4+5 June and 8+9+10 July 2027. Our physical base will be the cooperatively run Cantiere 26. Facing up to the extremities of climate change, our choice of venue is situated minutes from Arco Aquapark and the icy Sarca river.

The interim weeks of the Feral MBA will be conducted remotely. Time commitment is 4 hours per week, organised around your own scheduling needs.

The programme will be presented in English.

Participant call:

We invite applications from: artists, designers, cultural institutes, activists, artist-run and community initiatives, small business owners, regenerative tourism operators, freelancers, farmers, administrators of all stripes, and any others working with or curious about radical and experimental business and administrative methods. Individuals and small delegations are welcome to apply. To attend the course you are expected to 'Bring your own Business, Project, Organisation or Livelihood endeavour '. This can be in any form, from an established entity to an idea or dream.

How to apply:

Please send a maximum of one A4 page, summarising your own business/practice/project and your interest in the Feral MBA, template HERE. Email your application to: A-fMBA@feraltrade.org by February 28 2027 (midnight CET). Successful applicants will be notified by 15 March 2027.

Participants are asked to commit to the full run of activities (the two weekend intensives and 4 hours per week in the interim weeks) in order to secure a place. Any questions about the programme – or the application process – please contact us at the same email address.

What it will cost:

Questions of funding and livelihood are at the heart of the Feral MBA project. The Alpine Feral MBA will operate on a mixed economy of revenue, resources and relationships. The participation fee is €500 for self-funded participants, or €750 for those with access to institutional or workplace funding (such as grants or professional development funds). We will also have some sponsored places available for those who may need to invest less (see the FAQ below). Your fee will include all the group events and programme materials, 1:1 feral business coaching with Kate Rich, and some meals and refreshments at the weekend events. You will need to cover your own travel and accommodation to attend the two weekend intensives. We can help with local accommodation options including low-cost camping.

FAQ

Artist statement:

The Feral MBA is an endeavour by artist, trader and feral economist Kate Rich, operating on an annual basis at FLOAT far east Australia since 2023. Kate is co-founder of the Institute of Experiments with Business (IBEX) and is current Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellow at Brave New Alps.

Host statement:

Brave New Alps

La Foresta