Ambasada Kultury and Pilecki Institut present
Conference Imagining OpenMuzej Belarus
Оpen Muzej
Conference Imagining OpenMuzej Belarus
19 – 20.06.2023
Оpen Muzej
Public program:
2 days conference
Imagining OpenMuzej Belarus:
community, contemporary art, engagement
Dates:
June 19–20, 2023
Address:
Pilecki Institut, Pariser platz, 4A, Mitte, 10117, Berlin
Since 2022, a team of experts and professionals in the field of contemporary Belarusian art and culture have been working on the idea of establishing a public museum focused on research, archiving, preservation, support, development, demonstration and popularization of contemporary art of Belarus.
Perceiving museum as a process and a community, as a joint experience of practicing public history and a way of understanding the world as well as respecting art/culture as a right of every person the team sees and develops the OpenMuzej (OM) as a nomadic infrastructure.
The activity of The OpenMuzej addresses wides audiences and adheres to the principles of openness, mutual responsibility, interdisciplinarity, innovation based on the initiation and joint implementation of research, exhibition, educational and popularization projects with the involvement of Belarusian cultural actors – both in Belarus and in forced emigration.
On June 19-20 with support from Pilecki Institut Berlin we will organize a 2 days conference in order to discuss the role of museums as a place of community building and consolidation of the professional community and wide audiences.
Core audience:
Belarusian and foreign experts in the field of contemporary art and culture, representatives of international culture institutes and culture policy decision makers.
Day 1
June 19, 2023 / 10:00–17:00
OpenMuzej – from a Classical Museum to a Flexible Nomadic Structure
10:00–10:15
Opening speech by director of the Pilecki Institut Hanna Radziejowska
10:15–10:45
Intro
Understanding the Museum: How and Why Museums are Changing Nowadays. Forms, Formats, Values
Speaker:
Irina Kondratenko – art researcher, curator
10:45–11:30
Presentation of the OpenMuzej project idea and results of survey of Belarusian art community
OpenMuzej as an Opportunity to Strengthen the Community
Speakers:
Irina Kondratenko – art researcher, curator
Anna Chistoserdova – art manager Ambasada Kultury
11:30–11:45
Coffee break
11:45–13:30
Discussion
The Museum as a Structure that Embraces Community and Radiates Solidarity and Support
Moderator:
Oksana Karpovets – independent curator, art researcher
Speakers:
Dr. Annette Maechtel – managing director NGBK
Maria Beburia – contributor of MSN, co-founder CC Slonecznik
Aleksei Borisionok – independent curator and researcher
13:30–14:30
Break
14:30–16:00
Discussion
Solidarity, Horizontality, Communities: Cultural Projects in Belarus
Moderator:
Tony Lashden – queer activist, writer, researcher
Speakers:
Antonina Stebur – independent curator, researcher
Olga Shparaga – philosopher
eeefff group – Dzina Zhuk and Nicolay Spesivtsev, artists
Rufina Bazlova – artist
Day 2
June 20, 2023 / 10:00–16:30
What Kind of Support for Independent Belarusian Cultural Initiatives is Available and Needed?
10:00–10:30
Intro
Flexible Communities, Flexible Support
Speaker:
Tony Lashden – queer activist, writer, researcher
10:30–10:45
Short presentation of the OpenMuzej project idea and summary of 1st day of the conference
Speaker:
Anna Chistoserdova – art manager, Ambasada Kultury
10:45–11:00
Short presentation
Belarusian Diaspora in Germany
Speaker:
Yuliya Salauyova – 1 Chair RAZAM e.V.
11:00–11:15
Short presentation
Support of Belarusian Culture
Speaker:
Alina Koushik – Representative for National Revival, the United Transitional Cabinet of Belarus
11:15–11:30
Coffee break
11:30–13:30
Discussion with the participation of representatives of foundations and international programs
International Support for Initiatives and Projects of Independent Belarusian Culture
Moderator:
Hanna Radziejowska – director of the Pilecki Institut