Photo Romania 2015

Project facts

Project promoter:
Photo Romania Association
Project Number:
RO13-0027
Target groups
Young adults,
Entrepreneurs
Status:
Completed
Initial project cost:
€189,460
Final project cost:
€188,590
From EEA Grants:
€ 143,075
The project is carried out in:
Nord-Vest

Description

Photo Romania 2015 aims to increase artists and their photographic works’ mobility by organizing 57 photographic exhibitions in Romania and Norway as part of two international photography festivals. The project also aims to develop bilateral relationships between cultural operators from Romania and Norway, to develop cultural education programs for the general public and for photography amateurs, to promote a better understanding of cultural diversity and to encourage intercultural dialogue through a series of photo-journalism exhibitions. The project is addressed to artists, creators, organizations and art amateurs from the EEA Grants countries, neighborhood countries and Romania more specifically. Is expected a participation of: 50 artists (68 displaying their work) from at least 10 countries as part of 55 exhibitions in Romania and 2 exhibitions in Norway; 3 cultural organizations from Romania and 6 from the project countries (including the partners), 100.000 participants (at least 15% internationals), and 600 participants at educational activities. One of the exhibitions produced within the project will have the cultural identity of the rroma community as a central theme and will try to make a positive representation of these communities. The documentary-exhibition, which will be created by Romanian photographers and videographers, will show their perspective on the cultural identities of Romanian minorities. Nordic Lights Events AS (Norway) is the partner in this project. The main purpose of the partnership is to foster the development of bilateral relations between the two countries, to support the exchange of good case practices and knowledge and to create a future platform for cooperation in the field of photography. The dpp is involved in selection and preparation of contests and exhibitions, promotion of the events, regular and final evaluation of the project.

Summary of project results

Photography is one of the most popular hobbies in Romania and the East European countries and at the same time one of the least promoted forms of art and widely unappreciated. One of the reasons for this situation is the fact that the public lacked the possibility to witness exhibitions and cultural events in the field of photography, mainly in the communist era. Therefore, many Romanian photographers, despite their talent, are not appreciated at their true value in their own country and abroad. The present project has been developed as a collaboration between two large festivals in Europe, Nordic Light festival and Photo Romania festival, with the desire to develop viable mechanisms for promoting photography at a national and international level. The PP managed to achieve the planned objectives and, in most situations, exceed them. They gathered 20 photography festivals and created the first network of this kind, PHEN (Photo Europe Network). The project team (who are also photographers) visited many of the festivals in the network (Nordic Light in Kristiansund Norway, Landskrona festival in Sweden, Photon festival in Valencia Spain) and learned from each other and started joint projects (Photo Europe Days – PHED). The most important achievement was the PHEN network of European photography festivals. PP convinced 20 photography festivals managers to come to Cluj Napoca, Romania, to work on the network idea. Although in the initial planning there was a deliverable of 5 festivals, they managed to involve 20 of them and the numbers keep on rising. PP exceeded the number of photography exhibitions: 55 were planned as deliverable and we presented over 100. PP achieved this with a very good collaboration with the national and international photographic community and also with business partners in the field, which offered their support in terms of printing, exhibition venues, volunteers, etc. PP organized two editions of the Photo Romania festival, although only one was initially planned. The main benefit was the construction of the first network of European photography festivals (PHEN), including over 20 festivals from all over Europe. PP also offered 10 scholarships to young photographers in the first edition of the festival and over 20 such scholarships in the second edition of the festival. Similarly, the other festivals in the PHEN network invited photographers from other countries and festivals into their own events (to exhibit, lecture, review, etc.).

Summary of bilateral results

The project was designed together with the Norwegian partner. From a technical point of view, with the help of the Nordic Light partner, PP managed to contact and invite an internationally renowned photographer, Marie Sjovold, who exhibited both at the Nordic Light festival and at the Photo Romania festival. Also, the partner has facilitated us access to their festival and gave to the Project promoter the opportunity to invite a Romanian photographer to exhibit, Mihai Moiceanu, thus increasing the mobility of photographers abroad. Both of them, the Project promoter and the Norwegian partner exchanged know-how at the level of effective organization of the festival (technical knowledge), network of photographers (networking), problems and solutions identified as well as joint projects initiated. Cooperation with donor project partner has led to greater visibility of the project, in the sense of a wider media coverage. Following the opening of the "Wood Music" exhibition (photographer Mihai Moiceanu), the project was promoted by the Norwegian press, benefiting from an international media coverage that would not otherwise have benefited from it. Due to this partnership, the project contributed greatly to the mobility of photographers from other countries and from Romania as well, offering them the possibility to meet festival managers and be invited to other international events.