Art Centre Terezín
Basic information
Project Title
Art Centre Terezín
Full project title
Art Centre Terezín
Category
Shaping a circular industrial ecosystem and supporting life-cycle thinking
Project Description
Art Centre Terezín is a project which aims to revive the fortress of Terezín, enhance creative industries and culture capital in Aussiger Region.
Linking creative, educational, social and commercial sphere in an organic way should create a vibrant spot where both individuals and companies come to create new ideas and solution in the name of sustainability.
Linking creative, educational, social and commercial sphere in an organic way should create a vibrant spot where both individuals and companies come to create new ideas and solution in the name of sustainability.
Geographical Scope
Local
Project Region
Aussiger Region, Terezín – Město změny (Project Terezín), Czechia
Urban or rural issues
Mainly urban
Physical or other transformations
It refers to other types of transformations (soft investment)
EU Programme or fund
No
Description of the project
Summary
The Terezín Art Residency Centre is a pilot project, the development phase of which is funded by the Innovation Centre of the Ústí nad Labem Region (ICUK) and is being developed with the support and participation of Terezín - City of Change (TMZ). The operator will be Adequate stuff z.s., a cultural and educational platform established in 2021 and based in Teplice.
The idea arose from the need for quick action to revive Terezín.
It connects several goals: to bring art and design students both from Czech republic and abroad to come, stay, meet and improve their skills, bring in cultural events and new visitors to Terezín, to further develop arts and crafts in the Ústí nad Labem region and, in the long term, to contribute to the creation of new jobs and increase professional expertise.
The uniqueness of the concept lies in several points:
● symbiosis with the needs of historical spaces and involved organisations
● consistent philosophy of sustainability and recycling
● focus on the regional problems
The idea arose from the need for quick action to revive Terezín.
It connects several goals: to bring art and design students both from Czech republic and abroad to come, stay, meet and improve their skills, bring in cultural events and new visitors to Terezín, to further develop arts and crafts in the Ústí nad Labem region and, in the long term, to contribute to the creation of new jobs and increase professional expertise.
The uniqueness of the concept lies in several points:
● symbiosis with the needs of historical spaces and involved organisations
● consistent philosophy of sustainability and recycling
● focus on the regional problems
Key objectives for sustainability
The equipment of the centre and the materials to be worked with will be obtained from donations from sponsors, donated from closed factories or salvaged after the modernization. In the case of materials, this will include residual substances, deadstock, donations and also bargains obtained through the Cyrkl waste materials marketplace. If shortages or waste materials are perceived as an advantage, we can expect surprising and innovative solutions. The Centre had potential to become an important spot for innovation and recycling.
Key objectives for aesthetics and quality
THE OPEN WORKSHOP FOR PUBLIC
The generous and impressive space of Information Centre will provide an inspiring space for expert-led workshops, but also an opportunity for individuals to create a souvenir and learn something new. In this way, the centre can fulfil an important function - not least because for many people nowadays, even small and creative manual work is an unfamiliar discipline. In this way, there is also an opportunity to attract new visitors to the 18th-century exhibition, which has long received undeserved attention at the expense of the Holocaust Memorial, which ultimately leads to the disrepair of some of the buildings.
Activities that could take place here include making badges, printing T-shirts and tote bags, small sewing projects with possible assistance (scrunchies, fanny packs made from old jeans, ladies' dresses made from men's shirts, etc.), making collages, posters, comics, paper-making or bookbinding, etc.
The open workshop includes an exhibition of donated specimens created by the residents.
The presence of Art centre can enhance the whole area of Terezín city by public space interventions and collaborations with local businesses as well as attracting new residents, visitors, tenants, vendors etc.
The generous and impressive space of Information Centre will provide an inspiring space for expert-led workshops, but also an opportunity for individuals to create a souvenir and learn something new. In this way, the centre can fulfil an important function - not least because for many people nowadays, even small and creative manual work is an unfamiliar discipline. In this way, there is also an opportunity to attract new visitors to the 18th-century exhibition, which has long received undeserved attention at the expense of the Holocaust Memorial, which ultimately leads to the disrepair of some of the buildings.
Activities that could take place here include making badges, printing T-shirts and tote bags, small sewing projects with possible assistance (scrunchies, fanny packs made from old jeans, ladies' dresses made from men's shirts, etc.), making collages, posters, comics, paper-making or bookbinding, etc.
The open workshop includes an exhibition of donated specimens created by the residents.
The presence of Art centre can enhance the whole area of Terezín city by public space interventions and collaborations with local businesses as well as attracting new residents, visitors, tenants, vendors etc.
Key objectives for inclusion
The role of the Centre is also to advocate for public education in the region across generations - both practical education under professional guidance and theoretical education. This will again contribute to the development of local and sustainable tourism. Residents participate in educational programmes as part of their learning experience – to deepen their teaching skills and develop their future careers and making their income from teaching and art praxis rather than of selling their art as a commodity.
- practical lectures for the public in cooperation with the universities involved
- connection with the future workplace of the Štětí Secondary School: students can meet their older colleagues and use the workshop for their projects
- initiating lectures and educational events
- summer schools for fostered children whom has radically smaller opportunity to nourish their talent
Access to the public workshop should be free of charge as Aussiger regions is one of the poorest in Czech republic.
- practical lectures for the public in cooperation with the universities involved
- connection with the future workplace of the Štětí Secondary School: students can meet their older colleagues and use the workshop for their projects
- initiating lectures and educational events
- summer schools for fostered children whom has radically smaller opportunity to nourish their talent
Access to the public workshop should be free of charge as Aussiger regions is one of the poorest in Czech republic.
Results in relation to category
The idea arose in October 2022, the opening is set for April 2023.
Smart approach makes this project happen quicker than is usual in cultural sphere, especially in Czech republic.
The accomodation and studio is already set, the materials are being sources.
Two particular cooperations with partners (Malfini, TON) are in process.
Smart approach makes this project happen quicker than is usual in cultural sphere, especially in Czech republic.
The accomodation and studio is already set, the materials are being sources.
Two particular cooperations with partners (Malfini, TON) are in process.
How Citizens benefit
The aim of this complementary initiative is to link the artistic and commercial spheres in the region for a case of particular cooperation, which may ultimately take many forms and which will be developed in cooperation with the marketing department of the company in question. In this way, it is possible to bring respected brands (TON, Malfini, Průša 3D, etc.) and additional funding to Terezín, as well as to help smaller, local design firms from here.
Aussiger region desperately needs to raise cultural capital, qualification and life quality.
Eventhough it sounds like a cliché, especially in terms of bureacracy, Aussiger region need more hope, something new and it needs it rather sooner than later.
Aussiger region desperately needs to raise cultural capital, qualification and life quality.
Eventhough it sounds like a cliché, especially in terms of bureacracy, Aussiger region need more hope, something new and it needs it rather sooner than later.
Physical or other transformations
It refers to other types of transformations (soft investment)
Innovative character
An organically conceived project has several options for further growth, which can be implemented in different order according to the current possibilities and needs:
other fields: product design, graphic design, footwear, architecture
an additional residency for theoretical disciplines (art history, curating), whose resident* will participate in exhibitions and further presentation of the works created there
- manufactory with sheltered workplaces dedicated to the production of high-quality, regional arts and crafts products
cooperation with brands (TON, Průša, Malfini, etc.)
overlap with local cultural events: exhibitions, conferences, symposia, cultural events, festivals
other fields: product design, graphic design, footwear, architecture
an additional residency for theoretical disciplines (art history, curating), whose resident* will participate in exhibitions and further presentation of the works created there
- manufactory with sheltered workplaces dedicated to the production of high-quality, regional arts and crafts products
cooperation with brands (TON, Průša, Malfini, etc.)
overlap with local cultural events: exhibitions, conferences, symposia, cultural events, festivals
Disciplines/knowledge reflected
The initiative is based on long-life study and working experience of the founder, BcA. Hannah Saleh. With both social sciences and art education, working experience from film (directing, production and costume design), writing (VICE magazine etc.), work in hospitality and cultural production, also including experiences from volunteering in homeless shelters, during refugee crisis, foster homes and from living abroad (London, Berlin, art residency in Spinnerei, Leipzig, DE).
The key is mixing several fiels together in the purpose of more sustainable, organic and sensible projects.
The key is mixing several fiels together in the purpose of more sustainable, organic and sensible projects.
Methodology used
The approach aims to be quite revolutionary: bringing low-key, artistic (=cheaper and more effective) ways to meeting goals. From papers to real life.
Using of the DIY method bring more efficient and quicker solutions.
Using of the DIY method bring more efficient and quicker solutions.
How stakeholders are engaged
LOCAL:
Adequate stuff z.s. : founder and provider
Terezín – Město změny / Project Terezín: providing premises and HR
- various sponsors and donors: from enthusiastic individuals to czech companies
REGIONAL:
ICUK (Inovation Centre for Aussiger Region) – connections, primary fungindg (October 22 – March 2023), networking and supervising
Aussiger Region: secondary funding from April until August 2023 (in process)
EUROPEAN:
Deutsch-Tschechische Zukunftsfonds: funding of phase two starting September 2023
Adequate stuff z.s. : founder and provider
Terezín – Město změny / Project Terezín: providing premises and HR
- various sponsors and donors: from enthusiastic individuals to czech companies
REGIONAL:
ICUK (Inovation Centre for Aussiger Region) – connections, primary fungindg (October 22 – March 2023), networking and supervising
Aussiger Region: secondary funding from April until August 2023 (in process)
EUROPEAN:
Deutsch-Tschechische Zukunftsfonds: funding of phase two starting September 2023
Global challenges
- reviving former mining areas through creative industries
- social inclusion and rising cultural capital in poor region with structural problems
- rescuing historically unique fortress that is trapped in bureaucratical no-man's land and thus uses minimum of it's potential
- social inclusion and rising cultural capital in poor region with structural problems
- rescuing historically unique fortress that is trapped in bureaucratical no-man's land and thus uses minimum of it's potential
Learning transferred to other parties
Art Centre Terezin should be a model study for similiar projects not only in Aussiger region, but also in the wider area: how to link art, commercial, educational and social sphere in order to create more sustainable environment and increase living conditions, cultural capital and genuine potential.
Keywords
region
recycling
craftmanship
inclusion
art education
