Description
Synapse is a project of mutual exchange between Norwegian and Czech artistic communities initiated by Insomnia festival in Tromsø, Norway, on the one hand and MeetFactory, Prague, Center for Live Culture on the other. This project aims to enhance cultural dialogue and strengthen European by creating a platform for presentation of contemporary electronic and alternative music with objective to bring the best of contemporary Norwegian music to the Czech Republic and present the best of Czech contemporary music scene at the festival Insomnia in Tromso. The Czech Republic has not yet had an opportunity to let be exposed to any more comprehensive presentation of contemporary Norwegian art scene. Similarly, the „exports“ of Czech culture to other countries is limited and Norwegian’s awareness of the Czech art scene can only rely on his/her own exploits and initiative. Thanks to this project a Joint Norwegian & Czech artistic residency & commissioned artwork of two audio-visual artists will be supported and the result will be presented in Prague and Tromso. Furthermore, 4 Norwegian music artists will perform in Prague and 3 Czech emerging music artists will perform in festival in Tromso. The partners will also jointly curate a selection of European music artists to complement Norwegian and Czech ones at the festival in Tromso and in Meetfactory in Prague. To complete the comprehensive approach, the musical programme will be accompanied by a series of education events such as workshops and panels at festival in Tromso and in Meetfactory in Prague. The performances and the accompanying programme will be open to local artistic communities and broader public.
Summary of project results
SYNAPSE was a project of mutual cultural exchange between Norwegian and Czech artistic communities - initiated by Insomnia festival in Tromsø in Norway on the one hand and MeetFactory in Prague - Center for Live Culture on the other. Synapse Project was more than “just” a bilateral exchange of artists. The artists were put in context with the environment where they presented their art, established contacts with the local scene and exchanged their experience and know-how. First the festival Insomnia in Tromsø took place in October 2015 where 3 Czech emerging music artists (Fiordmoss, Martin Tvrdý a Cave Art/Bastl Dudes) performed. Then a vernissage and an exhibition of the modular perfume installation DungeonTT took place by Norwegian musician Lars Holdhus (releasing under TCF moniker) and Czech artist Martin Kohout (Jindřich Chalupecký award nominee), created out of ceramics, tea and 4-channel sound. The Czech part of the project started with a concert of Norwegian band - Kings of Convenience, followed by the Prague DungeonTT exhibition opening, two British Evenings (Sherwood & Pinch, Paranoid London, Demdike Stare), Norwegian bands (Lindstrom, André Bratten, Bjorn Torske) and Czech artists (Disco Moretti, Popper-C,Yukimura, Lišaj). All events took place during December 2015. The musical programme of both festivals was accompanied by a series of education events such as workshops and panels at festival in Tromso and in Meetfactory in Prague. The project was beneficial not only to both project partners but also to Norwegian and Czech artists and the broader Norwegian and Czech audiences for whom the project outputs were intended. Thanks to free educational activities, both professional and general public had the possibility of additional education in musical production and in conducting music careers.
Summary of bilateral results
The project had one partner from donor countries - Stiftelsen Insomnia from Norway. The partners have been working together thanks to the informal network of ICAS (International Cities of Advanced Sound) since 2010. The project activities were planned and consulted jointly by both partners. The Stiftelsen Insomnia participated on the curatorial guidance of joint audio-visual residency, organization of performances of Czech artists in Norway, joint curation of selected European music artists and educational activities in the Czech Republic and Norway. An exchange between the partners of well-proven procedures, know-how, good practice and expansion and enrichment of their dramaturgies took place. Both partners have gained valuable production experience in planning and implementing a project involving more than 20 artists in 2 countries. Thanks to the project implementation they tried a close bilateral cooperation, joint curating of music shows and exhibitions and work for non-domestic audience. Cooperation with a Norwegian partner will continue on the SHAPE platform project.