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a
dream. a story.
It took nine months from sketching the
programmes, the idea of the whole thing, the website, networking,
finding and renovating a location, hosting the first collective art
residencies.
Nothing would have happened without the generosity of my parents, the
enthusiasm of friends and strangers I met on the journey. Everyone
helped with what they had available: feedback, encouragement, design,
working hands, programming, being around and make things happen. Little
money has come from donors (local companies and friends) and nothing so
far from funding bodies. I struggle with finding a strategy for
sustainability, considering whether it would be appropriate to ask
artists to participate in covering the lodging/meals/production costs
while working here. On one side this would give us entire freedom to
realize projects without depending on funding bodies - which implies
following specific policies. On the other hand, in the spirit of
hospitality I would like to be able to cover all the costs with funds
we collect ourselves.
Another issue I struggle with is the lifestyle that I like to promote
without imposing my vision on others. In my travels I have always
looked for places that were radicaly different in culture and values,
and with wide open eyes I tried to see how the people that hosted me
dealt with their lives, their customs and rites, and to live like them
for the period I was their guest. It's not about copying or not having
my own vision, it's about real, felt observation. I would like to share
this message, to create a place where visitors feel invited to explore
in this way the centre and from here, the surrounding area; to leave a
trace of their own creativity behind, as an organic connection that
feeds future visitors, making a place that travels itself, through the
imprints of the travelers that left a sign of their curiosity and
knowledge behind.
Can this dream become true and nourish others? Time will tell. You are
welcome to get in touch and help.
Iuliana Varodi, summer 2007
Text published in 2008 by YYZBOOKS in the book decentre,
concerning artist-run culture/a propos de centres d'artistes edited by Elaine Chang, Andrea Lalonde, Chris Lloyd, Steve Loft, Jonathan Middleton, Daniel Roy, Haema Sivanesan.
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