European Public Art Centre – EPAC
European Public Art Centre – EPAC is programme which consists of eight multipurpose outdoor exhibition spaces established in eight participating countries (Latvia, Estonia, Finland, Portugal, Spain, Poland, United Kingdom and Iceland), first exhibition in the centre – Public Technologies simultaneously taking place in all countries involved and focussing on collaboration between art and science.
European Public Art Centre – EPAC is programme which consists of eight multipurpose outdoor exhibition spaces established in eight participating countries (Latvia, Estonia, Finland, Portugal, Spain, Poland, United Kingdom and Iceland), first exhibition in the centre – Public Technologies simultaneously taking place in all countries involved and focussing on collaboration between art and science, workshops Art/Science/Technologies, roundtable discussion Art Technologies, seminar Public Technologies and launch of network CAST (Contemporary Art, Science and Technologies).
The primary aim of programme European Public Art Centre – EPAC is to found the first public art centre in Europe that exists and have permanent physical exhibition spaces in most European countries, to foster interdisciplinary contemporary culture and particularly collaboration between art and science, to create experimental visual art projects in public space that seek innovative solutions for breaking down elitism in artistic and cultural space through openness and accessibility, to involve passive segments of society in cultural processes and the integration of Europe’s cultures.
Eight permanent specially designed three-dimensional and 2 meters high stands capable of withstanding pressure of environment (both climate and human) and equipped for exhibiting visual art, interdisciplinary and new media artworks will be installed in public space in all ten participating countries establishing first ever Europe-wide contemporary art venue and contributing adaptation of public urban space for regular art exhibitions. There will be one permanent stand installed in urban public space in each participating country.
In August 2011 European Public Art Centre – EPAC will open the first Europe wide simultaneous contemporary art exhibition in public space -Public Technologies in eight countries across Europe, focusing on collaboration between art, science and technologies and promoting innovative processes in contemporary culture. The high – speed development of science & technologies already has huge impact on contemporary culture and can contribute significantly to discover innovative visual art tendencies in future. The exhibition Public Technologies will consist of 8 artworks that will be exhibited in 8outdoor exhibition stands.
Important part of programme European Public Art Centre – EPAC is diminishing elitism in contemporary culture, fostering idea of active civic society and active participation of diverse social groups in cultural processes. Flashmobs in all participating countries involving many volunteers will serve as starting point for dialogue with society outside regular visual art venues in particular cities and promote the idea of Europe – wide cultural centre in public space.
Flashmob actions will be organised in train stations – the venue for activities of European Public Art Centre – EPAC in Latvia and future location of contemporary art centre CAST (Contemporary Art, Science and Technologies). Railway stations in use are chosen as ideal place for public and promotion activities for the project focusing on collaboration between art/science/technologies and easily accessible for wide audience not familiar with contemporary art. The success of such large – scale project as European Public Art Centre – EPAC depends on active participation of volunteers in all the activities thus involvement of non art related people is one of the priorities of the coordinator.
Objectives of the project European Public Art Centre – EPAC
– To explore experimental and innovative forms of cooperation on European level by establishing first ever public art centre in Europe European Public Art Centre – EPAC that exists and have physical exhibition spaces in most European countries.
– To promote creativity, cooperation between contemporary art, science and technologies, the transnational dissemination of culture and mobility of artists and their works with the emphasis on cultural diversity of participating countries representing all regions of Europe.
– To change attitude towards society and individual within it by involving social groups excluded from artistic processes thus combating social exclusion, addressing public and issues of contemporary culture in public space outside existing cultural institutions.
– To foster multicultural dialog and mutual exchange.
– To develop network CAST (Contemporary Art, Science and Technologies) involving artists, scientists, cultural operators and young professionals based on activities of programme European Public Art Centre – EPAC.
– To foster involvement and active participation of volunteers – people interested in contemporary culture in public space in activities of programme European Public Art Centre – EPAC.
– To reach a wide audience by initiating flashmobs in all participating countries thus developing a platform of dialogue between artists, scientists and diverse social groups regarding contemporary European culture and the new European cultural space.
The aim of European Public Art Centre – EPAC is to develop cooperation between partner institutions that goes beyond local, regional and national interests and to create real Europe-wide cultural venue physically existing in most European countries.
European Public Art Centre – EPAC focuses on the promotion of the principles of open and tolerant civic society through transnational European events, new ways of addressing global problems, cultural integration through fostering activities of multinational and multicultural nature all across Europe.
The project fosters cooperation of the scientists and artists of various countries of Europe at the same time preserving their own cultural uniqueness and encouraging activities of multinational and multicultural nature, promoting the dialogue between and among cultures.
Institutions, individual artists and art professionals involved are internationally recognized experts in contemporary art and science and are highly recognized as professionals thus ensuring the high level of excellence of the proposed activities within programme European Public Art Centre – EPAC.
The partnership for European Public Art Centre – EPAC has been created to realize the proposed in the best possible quality, involving professionals in the field, future potential of partner institutions and selecting countries with diverse cultural history all across Europe.
European Public Art Centre – EPAC planned activities in 2010-2012 are:
- Launch of NETWORK CAST (Contemporary Art, Science and Technologies) May 2010. Communication between partners via internet and using other technologies will facilitate to prepare first board meeting of European Public Art Centre – EPAC in Prague, Czech Republic, discuss the development of the concept of program and exchange ideas on implementation and management issues of the project. During implementation of the program European Public Art Centre – EPAC May 2010 – February 2012 network CAST will serve as main communication channel between coordinator, co-organizers, associated partners, individual artists, scientists and other cultural institutions involved.
- Establishment of BOARD of European Public Art Centre – EPAC, BOARD MEETING of European Public Art Centre – EPAC and ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION Art Technologies, September 2010. International board of European Public Art Centre – EPAC consists of European level recognized art professionals, organizers of art events representing all partner institutions of European Public Art Centre – EPAC. The board meeting is linked with the roundtable discussion Art Technologies.
- EXHIBITION Public Technologies simultaneously in all participating countries (opening the same day) and focusing on cooperation between visual art, science and technologies is the first exhibition hold at European Public Art Centre – EPAC. The artworks will be exhibited in specially designed stands capable of withstanding pressure of environment (both climate and human). The curator of the exhibition will be directly responsible for the quality of participating artists and exhibited artworks. Exhibition will take place in 8 countries across Europe for 6 months (June – December 2011). The stands allow adaptation of urban public space for contemporary art exhibitions. Participating artists and scientists will be recommended by partner institutions all across Europe, selected by curator of the exhibition and approved by the board of European Public Art Centre – EPAC. The name of curator will be announced at the founding meeting of the board of European Public Art Centre – EPAC in Prague, Czech Republic in September 2010.
- An action for exhibition visitors – to create this project more attractive and to rouse an interest in visitors that they want to see as much art works as possible, the Organizers of the exhibition has intended to realize peculiar action. By every object (in cooperation with other involved countries) will be possible to get a special stamp, when a visitor will collect all the stamps from every object (or the vast majority – in a pessimistic prognosis), he or she will get a prize – a tour to his/hers chosen contemporary art activity or museum in Europe.
- FLASHMOBS involving many volunteers will serve as starting point for dialogue with society outside regular visual art venues in particular cities and promote of the idea of Europe – wide cultural centre in public space – European Public Art Centre – EPAC. Flashmob actions organized in train stations in all participating countries and involving people ready to participate in decision making concerning urban public space and fostering idea of active civic society will take place in June – July 2011.
- Four artists/scientists recommended by partner institutions will lead WORKSHOPS Art/Science/Technologies at Dubulti train station in Latvia (future location of contemporary art centre CAST (Contemporary Art, Science and Technologies). He/she will propose an activity for participants involving students of Art Academy of Latvia, Estonian Art Academy, Vilnius Academy of Arts, Lithuania and Technical Universities of Baltic countries, scientists and artists to develop a theme concentrating on the final result that will be presented to public.
- BOARD MEETING of European Public Art Centre – EPAC and international SEMINAR Public Technologies introducing diverse experience of partner institutions focusing on collaboration between art, science and technologies will take place in London, United Kingdom.