Heritage as a living entity
The Parallel Traces project takes as a premise the consideration of heritage sites and heritage traces as kind of laboratories to re-interpret traditions and art as means to encourage activities and artistic projects which explore the links between heritage and contemporary culture. In that sense, the whole Project intends to treat the heritage traces not as static elements or entities, but as living and dynamic, in permanent evolution. Our goal is to use them to inspire new arts and contemporary creation including digital arts, music, performances and installations while ensuring continuity in the cultural significance of the place and the theme.
The idea of the project initiators, the European Association for the Preservation and Promotion of Jewish Culture and Heritage – AEPJ was to offer a new point of view on this culture and its heritage in several European cities, through the artistic works, and photography in particular. Together with partners from Bruxelles, Zaragoza, Girona, Wroclaw, Tbilisi, Belgrade and Sighet, a mapping application for representative Jewish stories, landmarks and sites was produced, as a new media guide aimed at the inhabitants as well as the physical and virtual visitors of this unique tour. In the desire to exith the exclusively digital space and to have this subject realized through the contemporary art as well, a call for artists was issued, to have the works on the subject od Jewish heritage produced from their own perspective. The works of the selected artists are the part of the exhibition which is now reaching Belgrade, and is produced through "Tačka komunikacije", a local project partner organization.
The focus of the exhibition is the work of a local artist, Nikola Radić Lucati, selected to represent Serbia in this project, and who is recognized by the local audience for his specific exhibiting practice and always innovative approach in the presentation of his subjects. The visitors will have the opportunity to see the works of Dina Oganova, Daniel Grunfeld, Agnieszka Trachevska and Israel Arino as the representatives of the partner countries in this project. The second selection showcases the works that were shortlisted in the competition categories. From Now: Presence at Present i From the Past: Pictures with History.
The editor of the programme in Belgrade is curator of the DKSG Gallery Maida Gruden. The project is supported through the Creative Europe and by the Ministry of Culture and Information of Serbia.
● Rosa Juanco (Parallel Traces artistic director)
● Israel Ariño (Guest Artist, Girona, Cataluna, Spain)
● Nikola Radić Lucati (Guest Artist, Belgrade, Serbia)
● Agnieszka Traczewska (Guest Artist – Wroclaw, Poland)
● Daniel Gruenfeld (Guest Artist – Sighet, Romania)
● Ewa Rossano (Parallel Traces Contest 2nd prize: Category From Now: Presence at Present)
● Witja Frank (Parallel Traces Contest 1st prize: Category From the Past: Pictures with History)
HERITAGE IN A DIGITAL ENVIRONMENT, AND WHAT TO DO WITH IT?
26.2. Sunday, Heritage House, 18:00-20:00h
One of the priorities of the Call for Proposals for International Cooperation in the Culture and Art of the Creative Europe Program is digital transformation. According to the call, the digital shift has a major impact on the production, distribution, access to and consumption of cultural and creative goods and services. This discourse of the creative industries imposes the need for new skills, knowledge, and business models of organizations operating in the field of culture. Most organizations are trying to adapt but with what success rate? Platforms, applications, online archives almost automatically become part of the results of project proposals in order to gain more points in the evaluation process. What are the outcomes of these digital “products” after their formal completion? Do these processes come down to mere fulfillment of project activities, have we learned anything from them, have we succeeded to transform our own organizations, the scene and the community? What is it exactly that we need to transform? What skills, knowledge and resources are we missing? Is it necessary to reform the education system as well? Are we still waiting for the digital native generation to take over the contemporary culture sector? Do we need corporate or government support and what kind? Are there any examples of "good practice" we should be aware of? The questions are opening up and many applications, platforms and archives remain just completed and reported project activities.
On the occasion of another new application that was created as part of the Parallel traces, a new lens of Jewish Heritage project, we will try to answer some of these questions. Participants in the interview are: Nina Mihaljinac, UNESCO Chair for Cultural Policy and Management, University of the Arts in Belgrade; Uros Krcadinac, Faculty of Media and Communication; Milena Jokanovic, Center for Museology and Heritology, Faculty of Philosophy, Belgrade; and Nikola Radić Lucati, artist; moderator is Andrija Stojanovic, Point of Communication.