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Description
Starting from the main problems faced by the contemporary art market: the lack of strategies on growing the visibility of contemporary art, Romanian contemporary artists being rarely discovered by their own public, the lack of coherent strategies on attracting non-specialized public, the underfinancing of the sector, as well as the lack of art related education programs, the current project aims, as a general objective, to “consolidate the visual arts scene in Romania through audience development, creating opportunities for artists and improving the entrepreneurial capacity of professionals in the field”. Additionally, the project’s specific objectives (audience development and improving access to culture for 1200 visitors, increasing mobility and opportunities for creating for 36 artists and 9 curators, and increasing entrepreneurial competences for 10 professionals in the field) engage the public’s needs through improving the quality and quantity of the artistic offer, address the artists’ and curators’ needs of working together with partners with international experience, and, at the same time, focus on the training and competence development needs of professionals in the field. The most important component of the project is the development of the exhibition series "About Master and Media, the paradigm of bipolarity in contemporary art", which consists of 4 thematic series comprised of a total of 9 exhibitions, accompanied by 4 live discussion sessions. The Norwegian partner will be actively involved in selecting curators, artists and guests for the exhibition series and the live discussions, ensuring participation of 2 curators and 3 artists from Norway and will also hold an important role in developing the workshops and job-shadowing program, allocating experts as needed.
Summary of project results
The project aimed to strengthen the visual arts scene in Romania by fostering audience development, creating opportunities for artists, and enhancing the entrepreneurial capacity of professionals in the field. To address the needs of the public, the project focused on improving both the quality and availability of artistic offerings. It also responded to the needs of artists and curators by facilitating collaboration with internationally experienced partners. Additionally, the project placed significant emphasis on training and competence development for professionals in the sector.
The project''s key component was the development of the exhibition series "About Master and Media: The Paradigm of Bipolarity in Contemporary Art." This series consisted of four thematic segments, encompassing a total of nine exhibitions, complemented by four live discussion sessions. Through its distinctive approach, curated content, and the participation of notable curators and artists, the series enriched the existing cultural landscape while generating valuable educational materials. These efforts contributed to diversifying the cultural offer, enhancing its appeal, and making it more accessible to the public.
Additionally, the project leveraged digital technologies by developing the "Website Gallery" platform, which provided easy access to information and played a crucial role in expanding the audience reach.
The project had a significant impact on artists, curators, and cultural professionals from Romania and across Europe by fostering international collaboration and knowledge exchange. It contributed to a greater presence of both Romanian and international artists in Bucharest, facilitating the exchange of artistic methods and cultural practices.
Through the exhibitions and live talk events, nine curators from Romania, Norway, Italy, and Slovenia participated, along with an impressive number of 57 artists from different countries, including Norway, Romania, Germany, Estonia, the Netherlands, Slovenia, Austria, and Italy. Some of them traveled to Bucharest, while others participated online in the realization of exhibitions and related events. The live talk sessions allowed invited speakers to engage with both in-person and online audiences, offering in-depth insights into their artistic practices. All participating artists received feedback from curators, discussed the next steps, and explored opportunities for further professional development.
In addition to artists and curators, the project also contributed to the professional development of the project team and six other cultural professionals, who benefited from training in entrepreneurial and cultural management skills through workshops and job shadowing activities.
Summary of bilateral results
During the project, the collaboration with the Norwegian partner VISP focused on organizing a workshop and planning three exhibitions that featured both Romanian and Norwegian artists, as well as a Norwegian curator selected in consultation with VISP.The online workshop, titled "Artist Survival," was led by art historian and curator Maria Veie, a professor at the Academy of Art in Trondheim. With extensive experience in gallery management and working on public and private projects in major Norwegian cities, Maria Veie provided valuable insights to participants. VISP facilitated the organization of the workshop and secured the lecturer, while Arte Venture was responsible for recruiting participants. Through these joint efforts, the project strengthened international cooperation and fostered meaningful exchanges between the Romanian and Norwegian contemporary art scenes.