Project promoter: Romanian Association of Contemporary Art (ARAC)
Project partner: ARTAK, Iceland
Period of time: 2020-2022
Locations: Bucharest (Romania) and Snaefellsnes Islands (Iceland)
For two years Anca Poterasu Gallery together with ARAC carried out, in partnership with the ARTAK350 residence in Iceland, a large-scale project that aims to expand the local contemporary art scene, through a series of cultural events and artistic residencies. The main topics of discussion set for the project: climate change, economic and war migration, new technologies, the gallery and ARAC aims to develop a dialogue about social developments and their perception at the global level.
ARAC ART & RESIDENCY is dedicated to connecting international artists and curators with the Romanian cultural scene. Launched in 2020 as a two-year program, it featured artistic residencies, exhibitions, and events centered on video, performance, and dialogue.
The exhibitions will be followed by a series of discussions and meetings with personalities from the art world and evenings of video and performance screenings called: Insomnia Nights.
The project will end with exhibition of the public, a pilot project for the first time in Romania that directly involves the contribution of the Bucharest public in the selection of works of art from the portfolio of Anca Poterașu Gallery
more details on this project: https://www.aracartandresidency.com/about-arac-art-residency/
Main activities:
- Residencies: Anetta Mona Chisa (nov 2021, Bucharest), curator Linda Peitz (dec 2021 – jan 2022, Bucharest); curator Mirela Baciak (2022, Bucharest), Chrystèle Nicot & Antoine Alesandrini (2020, Bucharest), Adelina Ivan (november 2021, Iceland), Larisa Crunteanu (december 2021, Iceland);
- Insomnia Nights: Insomnia Nights & Days consists of an intensive program of exhibitions, guided tours, meetings with artists and curators promoted through a series of night events, video presentations and art performances;
- Exhibitions: solo show Zoltan Bela (may 2022), solo show Aurora Kiraly (may – july 2021)
- Public choice exhibition: Open Doors (28 february – 13 march 2022).
It’s important for us to build an artistic community and to exchange through dialogue a cultural and social experience.
Highlights from ARAC Art&Residency Activities:
A line that weaves and winds
This project is financed with the support of EEA Grants 2014 – 2021 within the RO-CULTURE Program.
The EEA Grants represent the contribution of Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway towards a green, competitive and inclusive Europe. There are two overall objectives: reduction of economic and social disparities in Europe, and to strengthen bilateral relations between the donor countries and 15 EU countries in Central and Southern Europe and the Baltics.
The three donor countries cooperate closely with the EU through the Agreement on the European Economic Area (EEA). The donors have provided €3.3 billion through consecutive grant schemes between 1994 and 2014. For the period 2014-2021, the EEA Grants amount to €1.55 billion. More info on: www.eeagrants.org and www.eeagrants.ro
RO-CULTURE is implemented in Romania by the Ministry of Culture through the Project Management Unit. The Programme aims at strengthening social and economic development through cultural cooperation, cultural entrepreneurship and cultural heritage management. The total budget amounts to 34 million EUR. More details are available on www.ro-cultura.ro
