""Art Catcher"". Development of Art Residences Network in Country of Lakes Region

Project facts

Project promoter:
Public organization Euroregion „Country of Lakes“ Office in Lithuania(LT)
Project Number:
LT-CULTURE-0004
Status:
Completed
Initial project cost:
€156,818
Final project cost:
€155,071
Donor Project Partners:
Simbahollin ehf.(IS)
Other Project Partners
Ignalina Region Museum(LT)
Local Lore Museum of Utena(LT)
Public institution "Kuri veikia"(LT)
Visaginas Cultural Center(LT)
Programme:

Description

The main aim of the project is to create and present to public 32 art products in 5 creative art residences developed in the Country of Lakes region (CL) in cooperation with partners from Iceland, using gained knowledge, experiences during the project activities, also, increase accessibility of professional cultural products, create cooperation network between CL and ISL art residencies. During the project will be:

    • created work-groups in 5 municipalities of CL, including at least 1 representative of youth.

    • Experience exchange visit to ISL partner organization (subjects: development of residencies in the remote areas, cooperation with local authorities, business, community, development of the residence service package, marketing).

    • Work-group meetings – to plan spaces, needed equipment for the residencies'' activities, develop residencies'' activity concepts, prepare the service packages of the residencies'', adapt residencies to the needs of disabled people.

    • Adapt spaces with needed equipment for the project activities of art residencies – establish creative residencies in CL.

    • Professional artists in residencies will create sculptures, professional paintings, original ceramics works, prepare performance of the contemporary circus, artwork presentation events, workshops, educational events will be held.

    • open-doors events for students.

    • create international interinstitutional, intersectoral cooperation network between culture organizations, local authorities, business, innovations promoting organizations and representatives from both countries of the project.

Summary of project results

The project was directly focused on responding to the Program''s goal of improving the availability of quality cultural production, art, cultural activities, and services in the remote regions of Lithuania. The project was aimed at improving the availability of quality cultural and art products, cultural activities and services in five municipalities of Lithuanian Lake District region: Ignalina, Zarasai, Utena and Švenčionys districts and Visaginas. The project promoters set ambitious goals: to test and start actively developing creative residences in the Lake District region - places where artists from different fields could create, live, meet local communities, merge with the environment and discover what is most valuable and beautiful in it. Local communities would get the chance to meet interesting people and see how professional art is born.

Residencies became very relevant today. When people experienced isolation from most everyday life things we found new possibilities here. For creators, artists this is a way to get a break, take it easy, set their minds, find inspiration, increase productivity. In the meantime for the region‘s organizations, private persons, business – its potential new fields of development.

The goals of the project were to establish 5 international artist residencies in the Lake District, in cooperation with Icelandic partners to create professional art/creative products (sculptures, paintings, ceramics, circus performances) and present them to the public. Gain and share best practices, too.

5 international artist residencies were established in small municipalities of the Lake District region (Ignalina, Zarasai, Utena, Švenčioniai districts and Visaginas), during which 33 cultural/art works were created: 5 permanent sculptures in Ignalina, 20 paintings in Dusetos, 6 ceramic works in Leliūnai, 1 circus performance in Visaginas, 1 art work in Švenčionėliai.

Working group activities, experience exchange visits, dissemination events, conferences, exhibitions and other residencies activities, logo creation process and publicity campaign were implemented by all project partners together.

Target groups of the project: Lithuanian and Icelandic cultural organizations, professional creators of various fields of art, members of the local community, participants and spectators of cultural and educational activities, representatives of municipal institutions, tourists.The created works of art increased the enduring cultural value of the project. New events for the public created a need to organize such activities in the future. The purchased equipment will allow the continuation of project activities, will ensure better conditions for the development of residences, and the dissemination of cultural products and services.The jointly created logo of the "Art catcher" project and a unified publicity campaign gave greater visibility, which all partners continue to use. The results of the project are available for use by both regional institutions and residents for various cultural activities, as well as visiting creatives and cooperating institutions. The vast majority of the project''s partners are budgetary institutions that serve the needs of society, which is why continuous access to the created products and services is even more ensured. The availability of products, creating a network of cooperation between the creative residencies of the Lake District and Iceland, has opened up perspectives for various international activities of cultural residencies in the future.

Summary of bilateral results

For all partners, the project opened up the opportunity to work and learn together, which was an incentive to get involved in the activities of the residences. The directions, possibilities and perspectives of residence activities were refined.The partnership network helped to reach the target audience more effectively, to improve the accessibility of culture on a wider scale. By sharing experiences, resources, solving challenges, the partnership in the development of residences and other cultural activities has been strengthened. By including in the activities all interested regional and foreign cultural institutions, residencies, the partnership network was expanded, assumptions and plans for further joint activities were made.New contacts made through experience exchange activities in Iceland allowed new connections to be established and developed. The Lithuanian partners were introduced to practical examples of residence activities in Iceland, learned good experience and applied it in practice in the project activities.During the conference in Lithuania, partner Simbahollin ehf. (IS) found new partners in Lithuania for his creative activities - this is also the benefit of the partnership for future prospects, cooperation.​​​​​​​The availability of products, creating a network of cooperation between the creative residencies of the Lake District and Iceland, has opened up perspectives for various international activities of cultural residencies in the future.

Information on the projects funded by the EEA and Norway Grants is provided by the Programme and Fund Operators in the Beneficiary States, who are responsible for the completeness and accuracy of this information.