Test Experience: Prequel and Spin-off
Text by Daniela Rimei
The success of the Open Atelier experiment relies heavily on selecting the "right" artist who not only respects the museum's contents but also offers a new perspective on them. This artist should have experience in handling the chosen art form and a solid following audience. Additionally, they should be able to pass on their expertise to provide training opportunities for the project's target audience.
Once the artist is identified, it's essential to create a map of local stakeholders potentially interested in being involved. Different levels of involvement, such as promotion towards associations and partnerships that offer knowledge exchange and training opportunities, can coexist. Among these types, training is the most effective, as it invites users to engage with the proposed content and generate new contributions. This approach enriches the project with fresh ideas and expands people's cultural horizons.
During the first Open Atelier test, a group of well-known Fanny & Alexander artists from the contemporary Italian theatre scene was involved in developing the photographic archive found in the Skagen Museum. Along with them, a young artist, Erik Pollini, was invited to reflect on the museum's photographic heritage.
In addition to generic promotion, some training opportunities were activated with schools in the city. For instance, Mara Cerri met with students from the Pesaro art school to share the working method used on the photos sent by the Skagen Museum. Meanwhile, the aspect of dramaturgical creation curated by Chiara Lagani of Fanny Alexander was shared with a classical high school. She sewed passages from various authors drawing inspiration from the images created by Mara Cerri based on the photographs.
The most surprising aspect and the measure of the initiative's success is the generative power of the actions put in place. For example, the workshop held by Mara Cerri is becoming an exhibition in the centre of Pesaro, an unplanned result born of the enthusiasm of all the participants.
This test is still generating content and arousing interest on Skagen Museum photos: an independent Association called Terrae which attended the event in Pesaro has contacted AMAT to host a Skagen Museum intervention in a photo Festival on June 2023... The best seems yet to come!
