A system that makes it possible for people to commission public art projects themselves has been introduced. New Patrons, already active in Europe, Africa and the US, has just been launched in India.
Max Mueller Bhavan, Calcutta, is accepting applications for the New Patrons project from across Bengal, Jharkhand, Odisha, Bihar, Sikkim, Tripura, Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh.
“They have been planning this for a long time in Mumbai, Delhi and Chennai. But we managed to see it take off here first,” Nandita Palchoudhuri, arts curator and entrepreneur, said.
She has been brainstorming with Max Mueller Bhavan’s director Friso Maecker and programme officer Sharmistha Sarkar over the past few weeks on how best to implement the project.
Any group of individuals over 18 with an original idea that could start an artistic dialogue or participatory process can apply for the New Patrons project.
The idea has to be novel and aesthetic that will bring sustainable change in the local milieu, make life easier, bring people together, restore and beautify architecture or invent new ways to sensitise people about an issue.
A special jury will select an idea and place it before a team of mediators from the New Patrons initiative who will collaborate with the group to identify a suitable artist and a funding plan. The core team of the New Patrons initiative will guide and monitor the progress regularly.
In France, a community got a renowned composer to create a composition for an orchestra of amateur musicians with unconventional instruments.
Another community commissioned an artist to landscape and restore a heritage landmark.
So far, there has been a heartening response from the Northeast and Calcutta, Sarkar said. “There are interesting projects on the city they live in, dying art forms etc. But we are still waiting for Bihar and Odisha to respond.”
People often have ideas but don’t know how to take it forward or who to contact or how to negotiate with various government or private bodies, Palchoudhuri said.
“The New Patrons team takes care of all such issues through discussions with the group. For the artists, too, it is a new experience,” she said.
“The collaboration between citizens, mediators and artists makes for equal involvement and sharing of responsibilities not always seen in cultural productions. It is also possible to rope in foreign sponsors.”
Those wishing to apply can send in their proposals in English or Hindi to newpatrons@kolkata.goethe.org before November 30.
Proposals should include a short description of the project idea that the group collectively seeks to execute, the need for such a project and the impact expected and an introduction of the group and its members.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Front Page> Calcutta> Story / by Sebanti Sarkar / Wednesday – November 23rd, 2016