THE NORTHERN BEAUTY: Barents visual arts in 1970-1980 Project presentation
CONTENTS Contents... 2 Summary... 3 Background... 3 Introduction: searching for the northern beauty... 5 Overall objective... 6 Objectives... 6 How does the project support objectives and priorities of the programme... 8 Activities... 8 STEP 1, Basic platform for the project... 8 Overall objective, STEP 1... 8 STEP 2, Setting up of research activities... 9 Overall objective, STEP 2... 9 STEP 3, Implementation of the project activities... 9 Overall objective, STEP 3... 9 STEP 4, Evaluation and future cooperation... 9 Overall objective, STEP 4... 10 Action Plan... 10 Target Group... 12 Project organisation... 12 Roles and responsibilities... 13 Expected results... 15 Outputs... 15 Impacts... 16 Monitoring and evaluation... 16
SUMMARY The project Barents Veterans aims to establish cooperation between arts and cultural institutions in the Barents Euro-Arctic Region in order to draw together art museum professionals and art historians of the Barents region to present, study and promote northern fine art. The project creates and presents a new vision first historical review of the development of northern visual arts through research activities and Barents wide exhibition tour. The execution of the project idea is divided into four steps: 1. Start up phase: creation of a basic network: (Northern Finland, Kemi/Rovaniemi - Russia, Murmansk - Northern Sweden, Luleå- Northern Norway, Karasjok. Plans and preparation work. (2012-2013). Starting to create the network between arts researchers. 2. Art history-based research activities in each area in order to organise exhibitions and joint research symposiums in the Barents Region. Gathering of research material - a basis for a publication/a kind of exhibition catalogue. Preparation for the exhibition tour. (2012-2013). 3. Implementation of the main activities: publication/review (also DVD), exhibitions, symposiums and workshops. (2013-2014). 4. Research reports, evaluation and proposals for future cooperation. (2014). BACKGROUND Northern visual arts and artists before the official Barents region cooperation (before 1993) are weakly known nationally inside regions; therefore they are quite unknown even in the neighbour countries and not mentioned on European and international level. There is a need to present northern perspective in visual arts. It is especially valuable, because any coherent presentation or research about northern visual arts history hasn't been published yet. People in the world even don't know that the concept of northern art does really exist. The project is the prolongation of previous joint projects done in this field by Arts Council of Lapland and University of Lapland. There have been organised several visual arts projects in the Barents region since 1993 on bilateral and multilateral levels: Art Crossing Borders, Polar Art Line, Polar Arc and New Potatoes. It has been noted that networking of artists has begun well via those projects. As a result of the joint projects, were organised few visual art exhibitions: Polar Art Line, New Potatoes. The benefit of the projects was therefore just not only of theoretical knowledge but mostly of social value and as a foundation for future networking.
Some of the projects have concerned contemporary arts. Young artists (255 persons) around the Barents region took part in the project "New Potatoes" in 2001. In this project we will concentrate on artists of more age, which are a kind of "veterans" of the northern fine arts. It was also noted that there is almost complete lack of written and studied common northern history of visual arts. In this project we will strengthen and promote networking and cooperation between researchers and art historians in order to write common publication which will present northern art history. In previous project elibrary and culture without borders University of Lapland has created ArCHIs network between researchers of Barents region at the field of art, culture and history. The long term objective of this project (Barents Veterans) is to develop structures of ArCHIs network and to increase a social interaction among researchers, to contribute to exchange of ideas, knowledge and experiences and to offer institutional frames for deeper cooperation. Through ArCHIs network people and institutions can get the information about researchers in the Barents region at the field of art, culture and history, their sphere of interest, ongoing research programmes, projects and events. The network is available for researchers from all over the Barents region. There is also a need for co-operation and networking for Barents area art museums, visual arts institutions and arts historians. Research based material received from this project will be studied and presented in Barents-wide art exhibition for large audience. This kind of close cooperation between cultural workers and historians would create new forms of communication. There is also a problem with availability of cultural information. Even though, there are a lot of information of cultural events and projects, sometimes it is hard to find right sources, because the information is mostly diffused. In the previous Barents project elibrary and Culture without Borders University of Lapland created Culture Window portal. The portal needs new information to become attractive for potential users. All the information gained in the project will be brought to the portal and barents.org web pages. Thus, it would be available to the general public, researchers, and actors in cultural organizations, educational institutions and experts. The temporal focus of the project is mainly 1970-80s. This period glows by birth of new dimensions, trends and styles in arts, culture and society in general. Visual art was also sensitive for changes. It was a time of experiences with shapes, colors, lines and dimensions. What comes to the northern visual arts - it is interesting to study what kind of life and values do northern artists show in their works; what common features and differences they have in their works? Have international artistic trends caused some reflections in northern visual arts during that period? It is also important to point out that many of the artists that were very influential then, are very active still today. They are resurfacing as being sources of inspiration for younger contemporary artists; and thus in several ways highly visible and active in the present. Barents region has strong traditions of international cooperation. Internationality has had significant meaning for this area. People moved a lot, in transverse directions from east to west before the Second World War. After the war international cooperation was stopped for a
while. There was a time for reconstruction. In this project we raise postwar cooperation, mobility and common history. INTRODUCTION: SEARCHING FOR THE NORTHERN BEAUTY Cross-border cultural cooperation is probably one of the most efficient ways of promoting mutual understanding and bringing people together. Northern region has very much in common. By sharing ideas and best practises, by learning more about each other and by keeping up intercultural relations, it is possible to promote mutual understanding, common values and strengthen our northern identity. On the way to discover the northern beauty it is important to look to the past. By studying northern history we can find out who we are, can understand better the present and realize our plans in shared future. Northern beauty means northern people, northern lands and northern cultural capital: common values, worries and expectations; traditions, livelihoods and beliefs. Project activities will help with definitions of the North and building common identity. Project will also help to understand cultural differences. Cross border cooperation between arts and cultural institutions and organisations will enhance the expertise of art workers involved in the project and improve peoples knowledge of northern art history and gathering of cultural capital in the region. The Barents Region is not a uniform cultural area. It is more like a mosaic, compiled of from one another differing national and ethnic cultures as well as local cultures. One of the common features of the Barents Region is periphery. It might be difficult for the visual artist working in the North to get national or international recognition, because of that he must perform in exhibitions in the capital or in larger centers. Barents Region's cooperation offers a wider forum for the people living far from capitals. The project aims to reduce the periphery of the countries' border regions and to promote multilateral cross-border co-operation. Traditionally western research of arts and culture has focused on study and presentation of nationally significant artists' production. Studies are mainly made in the south. That's why work of Northern Barents artists has stayed unknown and northern fine art is not considered as being an integral part of national arts history. Through this project we are patching the hole and bring art and culture of Northern Barents as a part of national, international and European culture. Thus, the project aims to break centre-periphery confrontation. Project aims to strengthen interactions on local and international levels: Barents region has strong traditions of international cooperation. Internationality has had significant meaning for this area. The project strengthens national identities in the Barents region, but on the other hand it increases the feeling of togetherness, promotes cultural diversity, mutual understanding, tolerance and acceptation of other cultures.
Project activities, such as symposiums, a wide visual arts exhibition tour and research collaboration increase the interest towards Barents region and attractiveness of the area. They also state the EU idea: Europe is not only the area of the states - it is the area of regions as well. OVERALL OBJECTIVE The overall objective of the project is to contribute to the people-to-people cooperation and identity building of the Barents region by establishing cooperation between arts and cultural institutions in the Barents Euro-Arctic Region and therefore to break centre-periphery confrontation by creating new information and vision of art in 1970s and 1980s through research and Barents wide exhibition tour. OBJECTIVES The specific objective of the project is to build up the network between cultural actors and arts historians for implementing multilateral activities such as exhibitions, workshops and symposiums to increase awareness about rich and diverse arts and cultural heritage of the North. Aims are: 1) Supporting cultural organizations of the region, such as museums, research centres, universities, cultural institutes to collaborate internationally and to create and implement cultural and artistic activities. It is important to promote mobility and inter-cultural dialogue between people working in the cultural sector. 2) Gathering the common cultural capital, through the development of cooperation activities among art museum professionals and art historians to encourage northern values and positive identity building. Project increases arts, cultural and educational as well as research organisations competence and capacity development in producing cultural heritage related content production. Project aims to answer to the lack of basic communication between cultural institutions. Project provides opportunities for overall discussion and knowledge of each other s interests. Project develops communication and stimulates new future activities. Cooperative activities (such as writing the history of northern fine arts) and multi-cultural based starting points give for cultural actors and professional artists common experiences of Nordic cultural belonging and stimulate their ability to use new knowledge in cultural producing. Exchange of experiences and a new kind of cultural environment also develops and strengthens workers own professional skills. Project targets long-term, continues and stable cooperation, which is especially needed.
3) Offering an opportunity to strengthen people-to-people cooperation and professional contacts both at the local and international level. Project develops cross-border contacts and networking in different fields of art and art history between professionals (art museum professionals and art history researchers). The exhibition tour in the project will raise interest among audience towards the arts of neighboring regions. Project stimulates writing of joint northern research of the visual arts history development. There is a complete lack of written and studied common northern arts history. Project intensifies and develops research network, brings together researchers and will give them an opportunity to be a part of a wider research forum. Project demonstrates that there are exploring worth themes in this area, thereby researchers are committed to northern areas. By the research process new networks will be constructed and information will be produced for tourism and other creative industries. Thus, the project gives impulses for the art history studies of the north. In previous project, coordinated by the University of Lapland was created Barents Culture Window portal, which is a good tool to spread information to wide area. Information technology is an excellent instrument to ensure the availability of the information. The project contents will be available in the portal. Information will support cultural tourism activities in the region. Information about art and culture enhances attractiveness of the region and increases wellbeing and self-awareness of local people. 4) Promoting cultural diversity and mutual understanding, improving people's knowledge of Northern art history and cultural heritage. Project aims to promote common values aiming to enhance the cultural heritage shared by the people of Barents region. It is significant to support identity building by identifying northern values, pointing out the great variety of cultural traditions and languages and to put attention to the existence of indigenous peoples in the area. The project strengthens cultural image of the Barents region and makes regional art and cultural potential visible, including Sami culture as mentioned above. Project increases cultural awareness and stimulates social learning processes. Experiences of the past generations are important to collect and to utilize for the benefit of the future. The utilisation of cultural similarities and differences shall provide the opportunity for better cooperation and mutual understanding. The project offers an opportunity to discover Northern beauty also widely than in the Barents region. The project will also develop identity building activities for young people, such as pedagogical workshops, performances and other exhibition activities.
HOW DOES THE PROJECT SUPPORT OBJECTIVES AND PRIORITIES OF THE PROGRAMME The project support the Kolarctic ENPI CBC programme s overall aim by reducing the periphery of the countries border regions, by promoting multilateral cross border cooperation, and by developing people-to-people cooperation and identity building. The project specifically supports the Kolarctic ENPI s priority 3 People-to-People cooperation and identity building by creating network of art researchers, art and cultural institutions, creating transferable Barents Art and Culture exhibition and joint art research symposiums and workshops, developing cooperation master plan and disseminating the project results for the benefit of inhabitants. The project addresses directly the Kolarctic Action Plan 2011, and its operative aim Common cultural events and meeting places bring people together from the Programme area. The project refers also to operative aim Promotion of the cultural diversity is supported. ACTIVITIES STEP 1, BASIC PLATFORM FOR THE PROJECT During 2012-2013, the project will develop conditions for the establishment of a network between cultural and research institutions by identifying focuses in common northern arts history research and making plans and preparations for visual art exhibition tour and research symposiums. The network organised by the project, will initially consist of art museum professionals and art researchers from cultural institutions operating in Norrbotten (Sweden), Lapland (Finland), Finnmark (Norway) and Murmansk (Russia). The project will arrange a regional symposium in each participating country to discuss and evaluate specific cultural themes and ideas related to exhibition and research (incl. panel discussions). Representatives from the project steering group will attend each symposium; participants from neighbour countries/regions will also be invited to attend the symposiums. The outcome of the symposiums will be documented. The report - common international publication - will identify art works presented in the exhibition and topics of fine arts history research, which are relevant to the area. The report will serve as a mind map for later corresponding activities. Regional reference meetings will be organised in each region when needed between visual (exhibitional) and research representatives (three to five persons). These meetings will support the regional representatives of the steering committee with perspective and feed-back to the final report and project suggestions. OVERALL OBJECTIVE, STEP 1
The overall objective of this phase is to establish a framework for cooperation and networking. The creation of multilateral network of art museum professionals and art historians will in the long-term increase the number of joint events and meeting places as well as the number of cultural consumers and visitors of cultural events and artistic productions. STEP 2, SETTING UP OF RESEARCH ACTIVITIES The project partners will agree about content of the exhibition and research during start-up phase, after which the project will set up arts history research activities in each area in order to organise exhibition and joint research symposiums in the Barents Region. Main topics and concept of the research will be identified as well as ways of presentation. As a result of this phase will be prepared large research-based information on northern arts history development. The publication will be announced in the final exhibition. Research material will be delievered to all partners, taking part to the project. OVERALL OBJECTIVE, STEP 2 The overall objective is to start up the research activities: how to present the development of fine arts 70-80s in each region. What are the main tendencies, trends, themes in the arts? What are different styles to make art during this period? What are the artist's conditions of living? How the way of living is seen in the arts production? Do artists have a mutual cooperation, and what kind of cooperation on international level? How the northern perspective in seen in this period? What are common values for artist? for citizens? As a result of this phase will be prepared a publication, which illustrates the history of northern fine art from regional perspective. In this publication North is not seen as a kind of periphery: in question there is the region with strong identity and significant cultural potential. STEP 3, IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROJECT ACTIVITIES In the implementation phase all the planned activities are put into action. Exhibitions, symposiums and workshops (2013-2014) will be implemented in accordance with agreed schedule. Storage of data will be obtained from project activities. OVERALL OBJECTIVE, STEP 3 The main aim of this phase is to bring results of the research and collaboration to the common knowledge. There are several meeting place for art historians, art museum professionals and artists. Opportunities for discussions on North, northern identity, northern values and way of living. Preliminary route for exhibition tour (2012-2013): Kemi (Lapland) - Luleå (Norrbotten) - Karasjok (Finnmark) - Murmansk STEP 4, EVALUATION AND FUTURE COOPERATION
Project evaluation will be done during project implementation and after completion of project activities. Information about project results including short-term outputs, and immediate and longer-term project outcomes will be collected, recorded and organized for future analyses and identification of opportunities and concrete ideas for inclusion in the possible future cooperation. OVERALL OBJECTIVE, STEP 4 Final stage of the project will include exchange of expertise in project and impact evaluation, discussions, additional hearings and final reports. The main goal of this stage is to collect thoughts and ideas about future collaboration, which could possibly concentrate on presenting project results and Northern beauty to in other Europe. ACTION PLAN Title Description Output(s) Activity 1 Project start Initial project activities, organizing staff and tender procedures. Forming the steering group. Distribution of responsibilities, contracts Activity 2 Creating a basic network Platform for network between art researchers and art museum professionals, as well as art and cultural institutions of the Barents region. Confirmation of plans and organization work, forming of expert group. Activity 2.1. Expert group meeting in Rovaniemi 2.1.1. Approval of the concept for the exhibition: decisions about the content, artists' and art works' selection 2.1.2. Develop the research plan 2.1.3.Approval of the schedule and the distribution of responsibilities 2.1.4.Logistics for the exhibition Activity 2.2. Expert group meeting in Luleå 2.2.1. Plans for the network 2.2.2. Defining structures for network
Activity 2.3. Expert group meeting in Karasjok 2.3.1. Putting together results of the research 2.3.2. Checking out how the methods are developed Activity 2.4. Expert group meeting in Murmansk 2.4.1. Evaluation of exhibition development process 2.4.2. Evaluation of the logistics for the exhibition 2.4.3. Evaluation of the methods developed in the project 2.4.4. Evaluation of the research activities 2.4.5. Discussions and thoughts for future project plan and further cooperation Activity 3 Exhibition and symposium tour Creating transferable Barents visual arts exhibition and organizing joint art research symposiums and workshops. 3.1. Implementation of the exhibition tour in Finland, Sweden, Norway and Russia. 3.2. Implementation of research symposiums in Finland, Sweden, Norway and Russia. 3.3. Implementation of workshops in Finland, Sweden, Norway and Russia Activity 4 Future master plan Creation of future master plan 4.1. Exchange of ideas, experiences and best practices (in accordance to expert meetings) 4.2. Discussions and agreements on future joint project and research Activity 5 Dissemination of project results Sharing project results 5.1. Result of the research will be published in common publication. 5.2. Exhibition will be reviewed by media, number of articles, promotional materials and press releases will made 5.3. Exhibition is itself a cultural product of cooperation and it
reflects results of the research work Activity 6 Project management and evaluation Project management and evaluation 6.1. Project kick off meeting 6.2 Project daily management 6.3. Project monitoring (Steering group meetings) 6.4. Project evaluation 6.5. Project closure 6.6. Project reporting including auditing 6.7. Financial management TARGET GROUP Target group of the project: art museum professionals, art managers, art historians, arts and cultural institutions, educational research institutions from the Barents region. Final beneficiaries : 1) Art museum professionals, art managers, art historians and organizations, involved in the project, professional artists; academic researchers, students of art history and museum professionals. 2) Wide audience, cultural consumers from the Barents region, local people and communities living in the northern parts of Finland, Sweden, Norway and North-west Russia. 3) Regions involved in the project (municipalities, development agencies, companies) 4) Indirectly creative industries and especially cultural tourism sphere will have some positive impacts from the project activities. PROJECT ORGANISATION Lead Partner: University of Lapland Steering Group: Lead Partner and Regional Project Partners from Lapland, Norrbotten, Murmansk and Finnmark, 4x2 persons and the project leader. In addition the steering group will also have 2 members from outside the
project and two representatives from public and private organisations. Expert Group: The expert group will plan the exhibitions and symposiums together with the project leader, 4x2 persons. (Can be divided if needed: 4 representatives from museums and 4 researchers). Regional Reference Group: The reference group will support the regional representatives of the steering group with perspective and feed-back to the actions, final report and project proposals. Project personnel By procurement a project leader will be sub-contracted to the project. (Project leader and assistant) Project partners: Kemi Art Museum, Arts Council of Lapland and University of Lapland from Finland; Murmansk Art Museum from Russia, Kulturens Hus, Konsthall Luleå from Sweden; Samisk Kunstnersenter, Karasjok from Norway. ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES Steering Group (SG) One member as a regular member for the steering group will be presented by each participant organization. The steering group will be appointed by the lead partner. The Lead Partner appoints the members of the steering group after negotiations with the partners. The steering group appoints the chairman and vice-chairman from among its members. The purpose of SG is to ensure its support to the project management. In addition, the steering group will also contain expert 2 members from outside the project and 2 representatives of the private and public organizations. The steering group can also invite and hear experts, when necessary. The project manager acts as the secretary of the steering group. The composition of the steering group must be subjected to the approval of the Joint Managing Authority s contact person, after which the decision is sent to the Joint Managing Authority for its information. The Joint Managing Authority s and/or the Branch Office s representative attends the steering group s meetings as the representative of the Contractor. The minutes of the steering group will be numbered, retained as well as delivered to the Joint Managing Authority s financial unit with the payment request. The steering group will meet 5 times during the project meetings in: Rovaniemi, Kemi, Luleå,
Karasjok, and Murmansk. The SG will monitor the implementation of the project plan and control the operation in accordance with the Grant Contract. The project and its steering group will be provided all documents, materials and reports as also its members will participate in self-evaluation processes. The steering group will support and will be involved in developing the implementation of the project and combine it with the implementation of other strategies of the EU, Norway and Russian Federation. Steering Group members will also commit to take responsibility upon the development, dissemination and establishment of the project s results during and after the project. Expert Group (EG) The Expert group will be responsible for planning exhibitions and symposiums together with the project manager. EG will provide the content guidance and help with the implementation of artistic aspect of the project. EG is proposed to contain 1 representative from each partner organization. The Expert Group will meet 4 times within the project life, in: Kemi, Luleå, Karasjok and Murmansk. Regional Reference Groups (RRGs: RRG Finland, RRG Sweden, RRG Russia, RRG Norway) RRGs will support regional representatives of the Steering Group with perspective and feedback to the implemented activities. There is 1 subgroup in each participating country, responsible for support processes of project activities at the national level, facilitating dialog with external stakeholders and other experts from the field. Project Coordination and Management Group (PCMG) Project will have its coordination and management group, which is lead by project manager. Project manager is responsible for overall management, division of tasks, time schedule, information flow and communication between contracting bodies and project organisation. The close cooperation between project assistant and project financial managers is crucial in successful financial management and monitoring of the financial and operative processes. Organisation University of Lapland as a Lead partner will be responsible for the project organisation, management and implementation. A steering group, consisting of 9 members will include two representatives from each side and project leader. Representatives of the steering group are from the partner organizations concerning the project oversight and control. Steering group can invite other experts that have special interest in the outcome of the project. Steering group will provide direction and guidance to the project and instruct the project personnel in project strategies and implementation process.
Museums will be responsible for the exhibitional part of the project (exhibition and educational activities, such as workshops, performances etc.). Each country will decide the way of presenting northern fine art of own region from the examined period. University of Lapland will coordinate research activities. During research symposiums will be gathered research material for common publication. Experts will make decisions about contents of publication. EXPECTED RESULTS Common cultural events (exhibitions and research seminars) create meeting places and bring people together Cooperation and communication between target groups will be increased Strengthening of the cultural identity will be supported Common information about northern cultural heritage will be available, new research materials will be published Promotion of the cultural diversity will be supported Information exchange will be increased (e.g. cooperation networks between cultural workers) Promotion of institutional & educational cooperation (e.g. ArCHis -network: art. culture & history research in the Barents region) Deep partnership between cultural organizations will be build Activities on people-to-people cooperation and identity building will be supported Exchange of best practices will be stimulated Northern arts history of 70-80s will be presented. It will be the start for deeper research collaboration of Northern visual arts history. OUTPUTS 1. Network of art researchers, art and cultural institutions on the Barents region is in place. 2. Transferable Barents Art and Culture exhibition and joint art research symposiums and workshops organized and performed. 3. Future cooperation master plan developed. 4. Project results (publication, reviews, DVD, articles and promotional materials) developed and disseminated.
5. Project management performed and evaluation done. IMPACTS The project is aiming at people-to-people cooperation and to increase cooperation between cultural institutions. Project will support capacity building and exchange of experiences between institutions of education, art and culture in a perspective of mutual interest. The project will increase the number of networks. It also will support the objectives of the program by promoting cultural diversity, increasing the number of joint events and meeting places, and raise the number of cultural consumers visiting joint cultural events. By raising the number of cultural consumers, northern arts get more noted. By project activities awareness towards northern arts history will be increased. Cultural environment: The project will establish new kind of multi-cultural environment and improve awareness of Northern unique cultural heritage and identity. Professionals involved in the project will develop stable expert network and therefore will improve and enrich Northern cultural environment. Use of existing infrastructure: Museums will utilize ICT more effectively. Living conditions and amenities: Project will improve cultural services in sparsely populated areas. The project will develop new communal networks (cross-border contacts and networking in different fields of art and culture) and shared social understanding. Conversation and development of cultural diversity: Project will develop platform for multi-cultural discussion and exchange of information and knowledge of cultural diversity. Project will increase information about Northern cultures including Sami culture. MONITORING AND EVALUATION The project web-site will be a main valuable source of the project information. In addition, the information will be published on the Barents www-pages barentsinfo.org and on cultural portal Barents Culture Window. Publication on northern fine arts with research material will be published; some of the articles will be available in the internet. Steering group, national reference groups and expert group will provide information and expert advice and participate in the process of project monitoring and evaluation.