Art Centrum Terezín (ACT) aims to create a community space for applied art that will develop creative thinking and abilities in the region. The project supported and financed by the Innovation Center of the Ústí Region (ICUK) is launching a pilot season in the premises of the Artillery Barracks in Terezín's Great Fortress with the support of the Terezín - City of Change association. The grand opening will take place on Friday, June 30 from 2:00 p.m.
The idea to establish an art center arose out of the need for a quick action to revive the city of Terezín last fall during joint dialogues between the Innovation Center of the Ústí Region, the Terezín-City of Change Association and the Adequate Stuff cultural platform. The initiative connects several goals at once: to bring cultural events and visitors to Terezín, to develop arts and crafts and design in the Ústí Region and, in the long term, to contribute to the creation of new jobs and increasing professional expertise. The uniqueness of the concept lies in the symbiosis with the needs of historical spaces and interested organizations, the consistent philosophy of sustainability and recycling, and the focus on the current problems of the region.
ACT will use the existing premises in the Artillery Barracks building, where a community workshop focusing on sewing, crocheting, working with textiles and other small jobs is to be established. The sewing studio collects donations in the form of unused materials, machines and other equipment donated, for example, by the world-famous company TON or individual donors from the public. A place will be created for students and graduates of art faculties where they can freely work with donations during their artistic residencies, which also applies to those interested from the general public at the planned workshops. "Effective, aesthetic and socially responsible use of what is commonly and unnecessarily considered waste is one of the main challenges of today. Working with what we have available is not only the cheapest, but also the most innovative approach. The most interesting ideas arise precisely on the basis of such creative constraints,” founder Hannah Saleh explains her philosophy.
interested organizations, a consistent philosophy of sustainability and recycling, and a focus on the current problems of the region.
ACT will use the existing premises in the Artillery Barracks building, where a community workshop focusing on sewing, crocheting, working with textiles and other small jobs is to be established. The sewing studio collects donations in the form of unused materials, machines and other equipment donated, for example, by the world-famous company TON or individual donors from the public. A place will be created for students and graduates of art faculties where they can freely work with donations during their artistic residencies, which also applies to those interested from the general public at the planned workshops. "Effective, aesthetic and socially responsible use of what is commonly and unnecessarily considered waste is one of the main challenges of today. Working with what we have available is not only the cheapest, but also the most innovative approach. The most interesting ideas arise precisely on the basis of such creative constraints,” founder Hannah Saleh explains her philosophy.
The shape of the center in its pilot phase was also largely determined by the existing spaces located in the Artillery Barracks: tastefully refurbished rooms, until now only used occasionally, and a hitherto structural dead end, which will be transformed into a pleasant studio. "Our association is focused not only on supporting the fortress from the 18th century, but also on representing Terezín's innovative, modern direction forward. It is very inspiring not only for me, but also for a large number of fields and enthusiasts. Under the current conditions, the priority for us is an independent project as much as possible, which brings something new, active to the already living environment for me, which Terezín should definitely become more and more. Working with artists is sometimes a big challenge, but my team welcomes challenges. We welcome the presence and work of artists here, as they have always been an integral part of the development of society,” thinks Vendula Bláhová, director of Terezín – the city of change.
The Innovation Center of the Ústí Region played a key role in the project, which immediately decided to support and supervise the idea. "Terezín is an important but haunted place that is still being dealt with at the highest levels, but is still not getting help as quickly as it needs. However, the art center project was different in that it was able to develop very quickly, even with the minimal funds that we could release so quickly, which were directed exclusively to the potential of the people behind the center. It is supposed to be the first signal that creative projects can happen in Terezín, namely that they arise from the initiative from below,” praises the project Martin Mata, director of ICUK.
"The center starts really modestly and minimalistic, but due to the organic concept, it plans to expand in many directions in the future, which will happen according to the possibilities. We want to expand the workshop so that it also becomes a workplace for product design, i.e. carpentry and upholstery, and establish cooperation not only with the Faculty of Art and Design of the UJEP - study fields dealing with costume and scenography, as well as other art fields, are also under consideration, to organize courses for the public , symposia and other cultural events and, last but not least, to intervene in the Information Center, or Íčka, where we would eventually like to set up an open workshop for the public, an exhibition space and a shop with the most interesting things that are being created in the Ústí Region and which cannot yet be found comprehensively in one place .” summarizes the plans of the founder. "Due to the non-conceptual and lengthy support of culture, which is unfortunately a sad reality in the Czech Republic, the following months will be crucial, during which we will seek sponsorship support and also interesting collaborations. The aim is to connect the cultural, social, educational and commercial spheres in a way that will be viable and which will hopefully in time create the much-needed decent jobs,” he adds, adding that the success of the project is guaranteed by its need in the region.
The ceremonial opening of the pilot season will take place on Friday, June 30, from 2:00 p.m. in the Artillery Barracks, Akademická 409, Terezín.
The event is open to professionals and the general public - more info HERE
/source: Press release ACT – Art Center Terezín
