Mentorship and production program for emerging artists
ACCELERATOR CÂMPULUNG is a mentorship and production programme dedicated to emerging artists. This program is based on a deep understanding of the importance of a strategic approach in developing the career path of emerging artists. We focus on the fact that such an approach is not only beneficial for the artists but also for the partnering institutions, intending to educate the widest possible audience, not just the professionalized one.
In the current cultural context in Romania, there is a significant lack of communication between artists and audiences. This gap is generated by the absence of a common language between the two parties. Through this program, the Eastwards Prospectus Cultural Association (ACEP) and the City Hall of Câmpulung, our institutional partner, aim to create a context in which artists and audiences can develop a dialogue.
One of our goals is to address the lack of information about the professional environment in contemporary art, presenting it as an ecosystem in which the artist is not only an individual creator but also becomes the core of collaborative processes with other professionals in the field. It also requires direct communication with the public, imposing complementary knowledge to that of creation.
In this context, we select 10 emerging artists who, for 4 months, we put in contact with Romanian art professionals. Throughout the program, the artists will be permanently coordinated and supported by a team of professionals consisting of the project manager, Andrei Breahnă, and the technical coordinator of the project, Georgia Țidorescu, whose main purpose will be to ensure, together with the mentors of the program, a framework for professional development through a strategic and coherent approach and to provide the artists with the necessary tools to develop the skills of presentation, organization, and communication of their practice.
From March to June 2024, selected emerging artists will participate in:
- three intensive workshops supported by three Romanian mentors on the subjects: Contemporary art market and funding possibilities – the artist-cultural entrepreneur hypothesis; Curating – artist-curator collaboration; Site-specific works and adaptation possibilities.
- individual mentorship sessions with the three mentors.
- the production of the digital content project “MEET THE ARTISTS”, dedicated to their professional work, which will be available on the website https://accelerator-mentorat.ro/.
Ultimately, the artists will produce works of art on a theme decided in the working groups, which they will present in different spaces in Câmpulung.
Through ACCELERATOR CÂMPULUNG, we aim to provide artists with theoretical knowledge and practical solutions, useful to manage their professional path effectively: how the contemporary art system works, the internal operations of a contemporary art organization, production budgets, pricing of artworks, presentation of their practice and communication with different audiences. They will also receive support for the production of artworks to be exhibited in public spaces or specific locations, according to the concept agreed with Georgia Țidorescu, curator.
The 10 selected emerging artists will each receive a gross fee of 5,000 lei for participating in both stages of the project – mentoring program and production of artworks and their exhibition in venues in Câmpulung.
We invite emerging artists from all over the country to apply for the call for entries!
Eligibility
The program accepts applications from artists who:
- Are emerging artists*
- Are over 21 years of age, with no formal education requirement
- Have a maximum of 10 years of continuous experience in the visual arts
- Are Romanian citizens
- Have the opportunity to participate in March in the laboratories in Câmpulung
- Can participate in the meetings organized by the project team to exhibit the works made individually or in collaboration with other artists in the proposed spaces in Câmpulung
- Are available for involvement in a mentoring and production program for 4 months (March – June 2024), through physical and online participation in all activities carried out within the program, depending on how each stage is carried out
*By “emerging artists” we mean artists with less than 10 years of professional experience. We have opted for the term “emerging” instead of “young” because we also accept applications from those who have made a career change or decided to prioritize their artistic activity in recent years, regardless of age.
Registration
Application files must contain:
- CV
- Cover letter, reflecting the intentions of the emerging artists in line with the project’s structure and the types of activities proposed and one idea/proposal for an artistic project related to Câmpulung (max. 400 words).
- Artist’s portfolio with max. 10 works (max. file size: 20 MB; for video works, include links and, if necessary, passwords).
Send files by email to accelerator@eastwardsprospectus.com.
Deadline: 18 February 2024, 23:59
Subject: Open call for emerging artists
We will send you an email confirming receipt of your application file.
If you have any questions about the application process, write to Georgia Țidorescu at accelerator@eastwardsprospectus.com
Key dates
Registration: until 18 February 2024, 23:59
Selection of participants: 19 – 22 February 2024
Announcement of participants: 23 February 2024
Workshops and physical meetings (in Câmpulung): 11 – 15 March 2024
One-to-one mentoring sessions (online): 25 – 31 March 2024
Artwork production: 1 April – 3 May 2024
Exhibition of artworks in public space: 12 May – 30 June 2024
Selection process
During the selection phase, the jury will go through all the applications and select the ten participants based on an evaluation grid. We regret that we cannot provide feedback to those who are not selected.
Regulation
Read here the rules of the call.
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Frequently asked questions
What does “emerging artist” mean?
In the context of this project, an emerging artist has less than 10 years of professional experience. We define this professional experience through various activities, from residencies and participation in group exhibitions to solo exhibitions and presentations of work at art fairs.
We have opted for the term “emerging” instead of “young” because we also accept submissions from those who have made a career change or decided to prioritize artistic activity in recent years, regardless of age.
Is the mentoring program only for Romanian artists?
Yes, only Romanian artists can apply. Whether you live and/or work in Romania or abroad, if you are a Romanian citizen you can send us your application. All selected artists must be willing to travel to Câmpulung Muscel to participate in the workshops organized by ACEP and to participate in all the activities carried out within the program.
We are a duo or an artistic collective. Can we apply?
Yes. Please include this information in your application. Please note that the fee will be awarded for the duo/collective and will be divided between the members.
Can I only participate online?
ACCELERATOR CÂMPULUNG is a four-month project, with activities taking place mainly offline, participation in all the activities carried out within the program is mandatory. We believe that the best way to participate in the workshops is in the same physical space as the other artists and mentors invited to the program.
Each lab will physically take place over three days. Each mentor will allow you to deepen your knowledge through the assignments you will receive and then you will work on your own from the assignments given by the mentors and receive online feedback from each of them in individual online working sessions.
I don’t live in Câmpulung. Will my travel and accommodation expenses be reimbursed?
Travel and accommodation expenses for the workshops that will take place in Câmpulung from 11 to 15 March 2024 will not be reimbursed.
We support participating artists with a gross fee of 5000 lei gross, which will be paid in two installments, one of which is for attending the digital project “Face to face with an artist”, where artists will answer questions about themselves and their practice, and the second for preparing the artworks.
What data should I remember?
For registration: until 18 February 2024, 23:59
To find out if you have been selected: 23 February 2024
To attend the intensive workshops in Câmpulung: 11 – 15 March 2024
For one-to-one mentoring sessions (online): 25 – 31 March 2024
For the production of artworks in public space: 1 April – 3 May 2024
For exhibition of works: 12 May – 30 June 2024
What does the project timetable look like in detail?
ACCELERATOR CÂMPULUNG runs over four months and comprises two phases: the mentoring program (three workshops over three days starting on 11 March); the production of artworks (min. 1 work/artist; period 1 April – 3 May 2024) and the exhibition of works in public space (12 May – 30 June 2024).
ACCELERATOR CÂMPULUNG starts with five days (11 – 15 March 2024) of in-person activities: one day for each of the three workshops organized in this first week (Contemporary Art System; Contemporary Art Market and Funding Opportunities; Curating. The relationship between artist and curator and In-situ Works – Adapting to new spaces). Between 25 and 31 March, activities will continue online in the form of one-to-one mentoring.
After completing the mentoring program, you will move on to the second stage of the project and will be guided by our team to start the production of the artwork that will be exhibited in different locations in Câmpulung. The curator of the program will establish the concept of the artwork together with you, the production of the artworks will take place from 1 April to 3 May 2024 and the exhibition itself from 12 May to 30 June 2024.
What results does the project aim to achieve?
We aim, at the end of ACCELERATOR CÂMPULUNG, to:
- have more confidence and ability to follow your career path in the art scene,
- have the knowledge and skills to manage a personal exhibition project
- expand your network of professional contacts
- be part of a community that shares professional opportunities
Through the two stages – mentoring and exhibition of artworks made in-situ, in different locations in Câmpulung, suggested by the project team – ACCELERATOR CÂMPULUNG engages emerging artists in an experience that will help them improve their adaptability.
You will learn from mentors in three workshops and individual mentoring sessions. You will gain insights on topics such as the Contemporary art market and funding opportunities – the artist-cultural entrepreneur hypothesis; Curating – -artist-curator collaboration; On-site works and the possibilities of adaptation
Thus, you will receive tangible complementary information, which formal education in Romania does not offer, and through which you can improve your skills in organizing, presenting, and communicating your practice.
You will get access to the resources you need to produce new work. You will produce these works and collaborate constantly with a curator throughout the process. Artistic creation will take place through individual works to be exhibited in different venues in Câmpulung.
The structure of the program facilitates interaction within the core group of emerging artists, between you and Romanian professionals, as well as interaction with the general public.
If I have further questions, who can I contact?
If you have any questions about the project, please write to Georgia Țidorescu at accelerator@eastwardsprospectus.com.
Mentors
Photo credits: Oltin Dogaru
Andrei Breahnă – Cultural Manager
After graduating from the Academy of Economic Studies in Bucharest, Andrei started his career in France, where he worked with international companies in the technology sector. In 2012, he graduated with a Master’s degree in Management of Artistic and Cultural Activities at INSEEC, France, and since then his career path has been focused on art. Back in Romania, he co-founded Gaep (originally called EASTWARDS PROSPECTUS) in 2014 with his partner, architect Raluca Șoaita.
Workshop: contemporary art market and funding opportunities
The lab aims to decode the art market and accompany emerging artists to navigate this ecosystem.
Topics covered include:
- Primary market and art galleries: the role of the gallery, career development strategies, gallery-artist relationship, contractual and management issues.
- Art fairs: history, hierarchy, post-pandemic positioning.
- Production of artworks and identification of distribution channels.
- Financing contemporary art in the future.
Photo credit: Vlad Cîndea
Georgia Țidorescu – Independent curator
Georgia Țidorescu is a young curator based in Bucharest. Since 2018 she has been working in the production of exhibitions for different institutions and organizations, such as Art Encounters Biennial 2019 and 2021 and projects developed by Contrasens Cultural Association. In 2023 she was part of the curatorial board of the Art Encounters Biennial, My Rhino Is Not A Myth: art science fictions. She is currently focusing on the development of a new exhibition space, Calciu Space, opened in Atelierelor Scânteia. With a curatorial lab profile, Calciu Space emerged from a desire to explore new and young artists who base their practice on long-term research.
Workshop: The relationship between curator and artist
The lab aims to explain the relationship between artist and curator, defining the roles and areas of action of the two. In this lab we will elaborate on the steps of preparing an exhibition from scratch, also getting into the area of production and understanding a project team.
Among the topics covered:
- Contextual elements of the contemporary art system.
- The dialogue between artist and curator.
- Examples from art history.
- Preparing an exhibition from scratch.
Pavel Brăila, visual artist
Photo credit: Radu Bălan
Pavel Brăila works in various media such as video, photography, performance, and installation. In his films and performances, he invites the viewer to participate in his universe of cultural observations of Moldova, for which he often investigates things, and social absurdities that escape the global geopolitical discourse. Since the mid-1990s, Pavel Brăila has participated in numerous international art exhibitions and film festivals. He has participated twice in Documenta (Documenta 11, 2002, Kassel, and Documenta 14, 2017, Kassel and Athens), as well as Manifesta 10 (2014, St. Petersburg). He created the concept art for Pavilion 1 of the Republic of Moldova at the Universal Exhibition (2015, Milan), and his film “Definitively Unfinished” was awarded at the 2009 Oberhausen International Film Festival.
Workshop: On-site works and possibilities of adaptation
The lab aims to understand the ways of working with space when making in-situ works. In this lab, we will look at ways of adapting existing works and approaching a site from scratch.
Topics covered include:
- how to find the right space for a work
- how an adaptation can take the form of a new work
- how intrusive we can be on a space
Jury
Andrei Breahnă – Cultural Manager
Andrei Breahnă is co-founder of Gaep Gallery, which he opened in 2014, after returning to Romania after seven years in France. He initially worked in the technology sector. Following a Master’s degree in Management of Artistic and Cultural Activities at INSEEC, France, he refocused on management and entrepreneurship in contemporary art.
Ioana Chira – Gallery Manager
Ioana Chira is Gallery Manager at Gaep. She studied Journalism (bachelor’s degree at the University of Bucharest) and Public Relations in Marketing (master’s degree at the Academy of Economic Studies). For 18 years she worked in the press: she started as a cultural reporter at Mediafax, then wrote about the intersection between society and culture in publications such as Ziarul de Duminică and Business Magazin, and between 2011 and 2019 she was the coordinating editor of Harper’s BAZAAR Romania, where she initiated and developed, together with the rest of the editorial team, the BAZAAR Art section. Since 2016, Ioana has been producing content for cultural organizations and communicating contemporary art projects, and since 2020 she has been Gallery Manager at Gaep.
Georgia Țidorescu – Independent curator
Georgia Țidorescu is a young curator based in Bucharest. Since 2018 she has been working in the production of exhibitions for different institutions and organizations, such as Art Encounters Biennial 2019 and 2021 and projects developed by Contrasens Cultural Association. In 2023 she was part of the curatorial board of the Art Encounters Biennial, My Rhino Is Not A Myth: art science fictions. She is currently focusing on the development of a new exhibition space, Calciu Space, opened in Atelierelor Scânteia. With a curatorial lab profile, Calciu Space emerged from a desire to explore new and young artists who base their practice on long-term research.
Mădălina Zagarin, Chief Architect of Campulung Municipality
Mădălina Zagarin is the chief architect of the municipality of Câmpulung, Doctor of Urban Planning, with 15 years of experience in the private sector and 2 years in public administration. From her position as the city’s architect, Mădălina is a supporter of the arts and cultural actors, wanting to make her involvement felt in finding suitable locations for the works to be located in Câmpulung.