Culture History and Nature Together in Contemporary Art
Introduction
From 21st until 25th July 2008 Auchindrain Museum hosted the Scottish element of a twenty four month European Union, Culture 2000 funded project.
The aim of the project entitled Culture, Heritage & Nature Together in Contemporary Art (CHANTICA) is to provide opportunities for young people drawn from rural areas in the periphery of Europe; who are disadvantaged by being far from the centres of education and culture to travel to other European countries and participate in cultural activities in multi-national teams.
35 young people from the following regions in Europe travelled to Argyll to work at Auchindrain Museum and participate in the Scottish element of the CHANTICA project:
Stropkov, Slovakia
Athens, Greece
Cyprus
Cumbria, England
Aberfeldy and Comrie, Perthshire
During the course of the week the young people including several from mid-Argyll worked in the Township buildings with craftspeople and artists who were part funded by a grant from Museums Galleries Scotland to learn about and produce contemporary art that brought up to date some of the traditional skills and folk-traditions associated with the Highland farm township of Auchindrain.
Friday 25th July saw an exhibition of the art work produced by the young people and performances by them of songs, stories and dance.
Storytelling workshop, MacNicol’s House
Partners
The Museum worked on the CHANTICA project in partnership with:
e-isotis (Greece and Cyprus)
Grampus Heritage & Training Limited (Cumbria, England)
STROPEK (Stropkov, Slovakia)
Vitra: Center for Sustainable Development (Cerknica, Slovenia)
Learning Outcomes
Young people from the periphery of Europe had the opportunity to learn about and produce contemporary art that interprets the traditional skills and folk-traditions associated with the Highland way of life.
An opportunity to work with and learn from skilled Scottish artists and craftspeople, and to work in multi-national teams of young people learning new skills and producing contemporary art whilst working together towards a common goal i.e. the exhibition of work and performances on 25th July
The young participants gained confidence by performing songs, stories and dance and exhibiting the art that they had created on the final day and learnt how to interpret what they had learnt during their week at Auchindrain for members of the general public
Multi-national teams of young people were able to learn about the history and culture of the Highlands of Scotland and about the contemporary and historical links between European states. During their time at Auchindrain Museum the young people were able to learn about how art and culture can be used as tools in rural development and the re-awakening of widespread interest in local culture and heritage.
The young people, youth workers, project staff and administrators who travelled to Scotland to participate in the CHANTICA project learnt international co-operation, new ways of working and interpreting culture and art
Social Outcomes
The social outcomes of the CHANTICA project can be summarised as:
Providing a mechanism for young people from the periphery of Europe to meet and work together in multi-national teams to achieve a common goal.
Raising awareness in young people of the richness and diversity of European culture and heritage and the development of respect for cultural diversity.
Providing a mechanism for the creation and maintenance of new cross-cultural and trans-European friendships
Providing a mechanism for the development and democratisation of culture on a European level through projects involving art, culture and heritage.
All of the young people who participated in the CHANTICA project were from remote and peripheral regions of Europe, all of which have their own racial tensions and xenophobic attitudes. Through working in multi-national teams during their time at Auchindrain Museum the young people involved in the project learned to appreciate each others shared European heritage and culture
Challenges Faced & Overcome
The only real challenge that arose during the course of the CHANTICA project, which ran very smoothly and harmoniously, was as a result of a language barrier. Only one of the young people from Stropkov, Slovakia spoke English. Young people from Slovenia kindly acted as interpreters for the Slovak young people who couldn’t speak English. Much communication was also done through the use of sign language.
Impact On General Visitors To The Museum
The Museum’s involvement in the CHANTICA project was publicised in editorials in the Argyllshire Advertiser and Dunoon Observer during the week commencing 14th July. Along with posters and flyers distributed by the Museum the editorials generated a lot of interest in the CHANTICA project both within the local community and in regards to home (UK) and foreign tourists. This led to a large number of first time and repeat visitors to the Museum during the week commencing 21st July.
The total number of visitors to the Museum during the course of the CHANTICA project was 465.
Project Benefits
Through hosting the CHANTICA project Auchindrain Museum has:
Through the development and delivery of the CHANTICA project the Museum has been involved in the creation of a model of best practice that increases opportunities for young people from the periphery of Europe to learn about and keep alive traditional skills and folk-traditions and shape them for contemporary use.
Helped to raise awareness of Auchindrain Museum both nationally and internationally.
Increased access to the Township of Auchindrain for a wide range of people, creating new audiences for the Museum and encouraging local people and tourists to pay a repeat visit or first visit to the Museum
Helped Auchindrain Museum to develop a network of partners and enabled it to participate in international partnership working activities.
The Museum’s Role In The Remainder Of The CHANTICA Project
Auchindrain Museum and young people from mid-Argyll will continue to be part of the CHANTICA project. In 2009 the Museum Manager and two young people from mid-Argyll will travel to Greece to take part in the Greek cultural element of the CHANTICA project. Young people from mid-Argyll and a member of Museum staff will also travel to Slovakia in the winter of 2009 to participate in the Slovak cultural element of the CHANTICA project.
The Museum was also invited to participate in the dissemination event in Slovakia.
In 2010 a DVD and a book will be produced to celebrate the achievements of the CHANTICA project. The Museum will be involved in the production of both the book and the DVD.
