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Description
The project necessity is a consequence of: 1. Share of cultural employment in Romania (1.6%) is far below the EU average (3.8%); 2. Local arts universities focus on having students master their craft. Their curriculum lacks courses about the professional environment of visual arts - an ecosystem that students need to know in order to become active professionals in it. By contrast, most success stories on the international scene reveal the contemporary artist as being more than a creator; he/she is at the heart of an entire network of collaborations with other professionals and of direct engagement with the audience, both aspects requiring additional knowledge; 3. Local audience has a low cultural participation: 62% of Romanians have never been to a museum or a gallery in 2018, according to the Cultural Consumption Barometer. A mentorship and production program for emerging artists, ACCELERATOR addresses the gap in formal art education and the low cultural participation by transferring knowledge from a scene where these skills and information exist (the Icelandic one), by supporting artistic research focused on the idea of community and by enabling artists to create and exhibit new work based on this research, including public art commissions. The project follows the current practice of using online channels to make art more accessible, by creating content specifically for this medium, and is sensitive to a contemporary interpretation of public art as being context-specific rather than site-specific, which implies a notion of the community as the site and the artist as one whose work is responsive to its issues. The partnership with i8 makes possible the transfer of know-how and best practices from the gallery’s staff and other experts from Iceland (including mentors for the artists), on one hand, and the applicant’s team and Romanian artists, on the other.
Summary of project results
The project aimed to address several key issues. According to the Cultural Consumption Barometer, in 2018, the share of cultural employment in Romania was only 1.6%, significantly below the EU average of 3.8%. Additionally, local arts universities primarily focus on helping students master their craft, but their curricula lack courses on the professional environment of visual arts—an essential ecosystem that students need to understand in order to become active professionals. Furthermore, cultural participation among the local audience is low, with 62% of Romanians having never visited a museum or gallery in 2018.
ACCELERATOR addressed the gap in formal art education and the low cultural participation by transferring knowledge from a context where these skills and information are well-developed (the Icelandic scene), supporting artistic research focused on the idea of community, and enabling artists to create and exhibit new work based on this research, including public art commissions.
At a practical level, artists were supported in producing two distinct artistic projects: a group exhibition presented in an art gallery in Bucharest and a commissioned public art project displayed in public spaces across different local cities. Additionally, the project developed a platform to support emerging artists in researching various minority communities, as well as tangible and intangible heritage, and in creating artistic works for public spaces, integrating contemporary art into public life.
The project achieved significant results, benefiting both emerging artists and the wider public. Ten emerging artists were selected to participate, gaining knowledge, creating, and showcasing their works developed during the project, resulting in ten new artistic productions. Over a three-month period, more than 2,000 people interacted with the Back to Where It All Began exhibition. Additionally, five contemporary art pieces were exhibited in public spaces, contributing to increased cultural visibility. A total of 7,395 people attended cultural activities organized through the project. Moreover, five staff professionals received on-the-job training, and 13.81 new jobs were created, further supporting the cultural sector’s development.
Summary of bilateral results
The partnership with i8 enabled the transfer of know-how and best practices between the i8 gallery team and other Icelandic experts, and the applicant’s team and Romanian artists. This collaboration significantly contributed to the professional development of the participants and the overall success of the project. The partner played a key role in organizing an international conference, facilitating the presence of renowned artist Ragnar Kjartansson, and coordinating the screening of Ocean Glory by Icelandic artist Hulda Rós Gudnadóttir and Facade No.3 (2023) by Bjarni Þór Pétursson.