The “Cargo” Project
The aim and focus of the international “Cargo” project is to present contemporary Czech art in unconventional settings of foreign cities.
Artists create and present their works on the spot, in the city. They react to the very specific urban milieu, the structure of the city and its cultural and social differences.
New stimuli provided by the unknown environment can inspire artists and visitors, who are shown a familiar space in new context, alike.
We are interested in the process of the inception and creation of a work of art; we want to present it to the public as a natural component of art itself.
Our point is the creation and presentation of specific works in an open setting, preferably not in a gallery. This way, we would like to introduce these works in unusual context to as broad a public as possible.
Our aim is also to offer these venues to local artists and to link the various artistic procedures using the shared space. We are open to all forms of public presentation (such as painting, preformance or videoart).
We cooperate with local organizations, schools and individual artists. Our project is also backed by the Czech Centers in the individual countries. These are also a guarantee for our foreign partners and participate in the organization of the project within their resources.
The “Cargo” project is an open platform for artists of all orientations, with the goal of quality presentations of contemporary Czech art abroad.
Project aims and goals
- Presenting works of art outside the gallery and museum space
- Finding unforseen relationships between a city structure and art
- Presenting contemporary works of art in public space
- Accompanying events for the general public – workshop, performance
- Spreading the concept of the project exhibition in other cities (Budapest, Bucurest, Sofia)
Project benefits
- Temporary change of meaning of chosen spaces, especially for their inhabitants
- Change of attitudes of participating public towards contemporary art, its use for creative thinking and personal development
- Multicultural exchange
- Contacts and active cooperation and collaboration of artists from different countries
- International cooperation between cultural institutions and organizations
Budget
Approximately about 60 000 kč per one event. We are currently dealing with other subjects and sponsors.
Partners requirements
- Ideas for venues, alternative spaces such as factories, untraditional galleries, subways, parks etc.
- Accommodation for the artists, or other cheaper alternative (not all artists will be taking part in their artwork installation)
- Artwork transport
- Public relations and contacts
Cooperating partners
MeetFactory, www.meetfactory.cz
Komunikační prostor Školská 28, http://www.skolska28.cz/
Akademie výtvarných umění vPraze, http://www.avu.cz/
Jedefrau, www.jedefrau.org
Organizational team
cargo{.}cargocz.org
Ondřej Horák, artist (http://horak.ooz.hu/),
Benzinka project,
Freelance curator of education at the National Gallery in Praha at Veletržní palác ( 19th, 20th and 21st art collections) (fuczik{.}seznam.cz)
Jan Horák,
theatre advisor at the Meet Factory (theatre{.}meetfactory.cz)
Pavel Sterec,
AVU student and curator of Pavilon gallery (http://pavelsterec.org/)
Markéta Stará,
manager of Futura gallery (marketastara{.}hotmail.com)¨
Monika Sybolová,
Curator fo education at the 19th century art collection at the National Gallery in Prague,
Curator of Benzinka project (sybolova{.}ngprague.cz)
Maria Cavina - jedefrau (www.jedefrau.org)
producer manager for Bucharest and Sofia project (mariacavina{.}gmail.com)
Kálmán Rák (hu),
web designer (rak{.}patronet.net)
Nora Kurzová,
translations
Feedback from the previous Cargo
Evžen Gál, director of the Czech Centre in Budapest
„Collaboration with organizers of project Art in Box has been mutually enriching. I had to appreciate especially their concept of closing the gap between the lived city reality and art. The art came out of the galleries in the direction of its viewers and the ugly subways of Boráros tér have become very much discussed exhibition spaces in which people not so much rushed but slowed down, communicated and took pictures. The reaction of Hungarian media has been positive and I can recommend this project.“
Blanka Lhotáková, FAVU Brno student
„ I am interested in the orientation in the landscape and city spaces and our movement in it. I am looking for ways in which to record relationships between certain places in time and space. Very important is also looking for a personal link to the place. I understand a place not only as a physical spaces but a cross section of human relationships and experiences. I integrate my own present experiences into the installations representing the space.
In this respect my participating on the Art in box project has been a quite crucial. I was able to realize a concept of discovering an unknown city based on an itinerary of a woman I had met in another for me a key place. I was able to work (walk through Budapest and record the discoveries in the shop at Boráros tér) in a specific environment and at the same time meet with other participants in the project.
Crucial for me was the possibility of spending a week in a strange city and perceive this stay as a part of a creative act. I can honestly say that Art in Box project for me represented an ideal timespace for creative work and self-reflection.
