More information
Description
OBJECTIVE:
Bringing Icelandic culture closer to Poland by organizing a festival.
OPERATIONAL GOALS:
- develop intercultural dialogue through collaboration, exchange of ideas and strengthening ties between cultural institutions and organizations from Poland and Iceland;
- invite both professional and established artists as well as beginners to collaborate;
- create a diverse and valuable program offer, and ultimately build a sustainable platform for collaboration based on cooperation of many entities dealing with culture in Poland and Iceland;
- build competences of the cultural and creative sectors to effectively operate at transnational level.
EVENTS:
- workshops with an actor group from Poland;
- organization of the "Icelandic Week";
- organization of theatrical shows performed by Icelandic artists in Poland;
- an itinerant performance "PROXIMITY" - the show will be a bridge linking the idea of building relations in the artistic and interpersonal fields, which forms the project basis.
LOCATIONS: 2
Poland: Gdansk
Iceland: Reykjavik
NUMBER OF RECIPIENTS OF CULTURAL EVENTS: 2 000 people
NUMBER OF PEOPLE INVOLVED IN THE PROJECT: 56 people
Summary of project results
The project''s formula assumed a show of stylistically different theater productions from Iceland. It was designed so that performances and concerts at the Gdańsk Shakespeare Theater would also be accompanied by socially important events. “Icelandic Week” was a kind of theatrical and artistic postcard of the most interesting theater proposals, and their common denominator was the search for a diagnosis of the contemporary state of the world in which we live. Socially engaged theater was an extremely important element of this festival. Cultural and ethnic minorities are underrepresented in the cultural sector, and foreign-born artists are marginalized or even ignored, especially in the performing arts. There is a deep need to start a discussion and promote the topic of social integration of national and ethnic minorities, increasing their representation in art and participation in cultural projects, and this will be the topic of one of the meetings accompanying the project. It is thanks to the cooperation between Icelandic and Polish emigrant artists that we have heard an extremely important voice in the performance "Polishing Iceland", showing the contrast and pace of changes taking place in Iceland.
The project began with intensive rehearsals of the Polish-Icelandic cast leading to the premiere of the play "Proximity".This almost week-long time together was an opportunity to get to know each other and to visit institutions and organizations in Gdańsk. Composer Birgir Hilmarsson, together with a group of managers, visited the post-shipyard areas and the Museum of the Second World War in search of inspiration for preparing music for the upcoming theater co-production "Proximity".In accordance with the schedule adopted in the application, a study visit to Iceland took place on June 22-29. 11 people took part in it (6 actors, 2 management students and 3 coordinators).During this time, the team of coordinators focused on work related to the preparation of the Icelandic Week - a review of the most interesting performances and concerts from this country, which is planned for October 2022.October 2022 - "Destination: Iceland", a program of meetings with the culture and art of Iceland, was designed to reach a very diverse group of recipients. Thanks to extensive consultations with the artistic curator, the following events were presented: The Marble Crowd, Abendshow - Club Romantica, -Adolf Smári Unnarsson - Nothing is more tragic than a human being, Rósa Ómarsdóttir Inga Huld Hákonardóttir - Dolina, "POLISHING ISLAND" - theater performance , directed by Pálína Jónsdóttir, Hatari. The award-winning artistic and dystopian collective, Baby Rave - Crazy dances and tricks for children over 2 years old and parents, and Destination: Iceland - Icelandic noir cinema.The culmination of the project was the premiere of the play "Proximity" - it took place on March 3 and its next presentation the next day, March 4, 2023. The creators of the show "Proximity" assumed that the deepest human need is a sense of belonging, a sense of community and closeness to others. The audience was part of an experimental journey, an inclusive performance that aims to understand the essence of human existence. The director of "Proximity" is Gudmundur Thorvaldsson, an Icelandic actor, director and musician, member of the "Vinnslan" collective.
As part of the project, a total of 47 artistic events were organized as a result of cooperation with a partner institution. 76 artists and specialists were involved. A total of 2,140 people attended cultural and artistic events.
Summary of bilateral results
The project partner was present at all the most important activities throughout the duration of the project. As part of regular online meetings, starting from January this year, we made joint arrangements regarding the next steps in the project. The first conceptual meetings and rehearsals with the Vinnslan team took place in Iceland since February. Since February, online meetings with the Polish cast have been held. The partner''s representatives took part in a study visit, intensive acting training and technical meetings. Two of them represented the team at the press conference.In the period May-August, the project partner was involved in the following activities:Co-organization of a study visit to Iceland - including: conducting stage rehearsals for the co-production "Proximity", work on the text for the play, work on the musical setting and organization of a partnership meeting in Iceland on June 23 and 28 in Reykyavik.In the period September-December, the project partner was involved in the following activities: a review of Icelandic theaters called “Direction:Islandia”, curated by the project partner, preparation of play texts for translation, technical support in the production of performances, participation in the opening gala of the festival, organizational support in Gdańs and participation in a partnership meeting in Gdańsk and a meeting of the Program "Culture" beneficiaries in Warsaw.Work related to the preparation of the co-production "Proximity":- preparation of costume designs and set design concepts- further work on the text for the play- work on the musical setting- preparation of the script- selection of the lighting director and visualization creator- preparation of the rehearsal schedule and premiere at the Gdańsk Shakespeare Theater (February/March 2023)