More information
Description
Focus on Photography (FoP) is an international cooperation between the Museum of Warsaw (MW) and the National Museum of Iceland (NMI). Its objectives revolve around the development of competence within these two institutions enabling them to approach their audience in alternative ways suiting new social and increasingly multicultural circumstances of the 21st century. This will be realised by the means of a great number of events, ranging from learning programs for the museum employees, guest surveys and research programmes, an international seminar on the conservation, management and digitalization of photograph collections, various educational programmes for the public, to shared exhibition events and temporary exhibitions in both countries, ultimately inducing the opening of the Centre for Photography (CP), a new branch of MW. The competence development of the two institutions involves a joint study visit of its photograph conservators to the Preus Museum in Norway which is internationally renowned for its photograph conservation. Thus, the high competence of the photograph conservators of MW and NMI will be raised to a top international level with the aim of reforming the conservation, management, digitalization, and online presence of the photograph collections in Warsaw in Reykjavík. The audience development (AD) includes active audience surveys and research at both institutions that will follow throughout the project. Within the framework of the project, NMI will emphasise immigrant minorities and people of foreign ancestry with a focus on the Polish-Icelandic community, the largest immigrant population in Iceland. MW will put emphasis on neglected social groups such as the hearing impaired and people with limited access to cultural offerings due to location and the young.
Summary of project results
Project answered certain observations regarding the audience of both Beneficiary and partner from Iceland as well as external reports and statistics on the visual art sector in PL and IS. The Polish photography scene, especially in Warsaw, is dominated by NGO galleries without permanent funding and only occasional presentations of photography in national or municipal institutions. Attendance reports from the last 3 years showed, however, that there was a general interest in this kind of exhibitions, with the potential of a growing number of visitors, especially among young people. The project established a new permanent venue for the Warsaw photo scene, thus answering the needs and expectations of the artists (photographers) and the public. The study "Visual invisible. Visual arts in Poland: state, role and meaning", conducted in 2017, was the starting point for a closer look at the photographic community. The emphasis placed on online activities and young audiences results from the general observation of how deeply photography was involved in everyday social life. Thus, the project responded to the challenges of looking at photography beyond the historical or artistic perspective. Following up on the social media behaviour of the younger generation brings to light a new approach to photography that is not only a form of art or documentation but also a form of expression and communication – a language of the new generation. Project represented a new and challenging way of approaching photography.
Project "Focus on Photography " was an international cooperation between the Museum of Warsaw (MW) and the National Museum of Iceland (NMI). Its objectives revolved around the development of competence within these two institutions enabling them to approach their audience in alternative ways suiting new social and increasingly multicultural circumstances of the 21st century. This was realised by the means of a great number of events, ranging from learning programs for the museum employees, guest surveys and research programmes, an international seminar on the conservation, management and digitalization of photograph collections, various educational programmes for the public, to shared exhibition events and temporary exhibitions in both countries, ultimately inducing the opening of the Centre for Photography (CP), a new branch of Museum of Warsaw.
Within the project:
- 81 artistic events were carried out as a result of cooperation with partner institution under the project ( 4 fine arts and visual arts events, 4 events dedicated to cultural heritage, 10 events aimed at the inclusion of ethnic and national minorities, 62 events improving the cultural competences of audiences);
- 23030 - Number of processed and digitized photos
- 47089 people attended the cultural and artistic events organized by the project
- 84 professional staff were trained
- 2500 promotional materials were prepared
The place of the implementation location: PL Warsaw, IS Reykjavik, NO Hortnen.
Summary of bilateral results
Project aimed at creating new bonds between the two partner institutions, thus, strengthening their international network beyond the duration of the project. Nonetheless, its products were largely manifest on the local level. The cooperation helped in transforming the museum narratives towards new realities of the 21st century that embrace both social variability and ethnic variation. FoP is a project that will make a mark on the two museums far beyond its duration.The participation and role of the partner in the project was very significant. Bilateral cooperation with the partner from Iceland was carried out in accordance with the project''s objectives and schedule: i.e. in addition to regular online meetings, the following activities took place, among others:1. study visits of employees of the Warsaw Museum in Iceland during which, where a tour of the museum warehouses was organized, presentation of the effects of the project. 2. co-organization of the international conference "Photo Album. Practice, Metaphor, Situation", where two representatives of the partner (Ágústa Kristófersdóttir and Kristin Halla Baldvinsdóttir), and the director of the partner institution Harpa Þórsdóttir had speeches. An additional meeting was held between the directors of the two institutions to discuss future opportunities for cooperation beyond the implementation of the current grant. 3. Involvement of the project partner in ambassadorial activities: meeting with the incumbent and future Ambassador of Iceland to Poland (Hannes Heimisson) and the Ambassador of Poland to Iceland (Gerard Pokruszyński); 4. The opening of the exhibition "Polish Roots and Everyday Life in Iceland" was graced by the presence of Iceland''s Minister of Culture and Trade Lilja Alfređsdóttir, which contributed to the event''s greater media coverage.