ArtyGeneration in time of Covid-19 - 2/2
During this pandemic, artists are more necessary than ever : their creations are enlightening what we are living, offering colours for our eyes, connection for our souls and questions for our future to reflect on. They are also, as we all are, more vulnerable than ever.
We wanted to offer a platform for them to share their concerns and their voices.
Here is an overview of how the ArtyGeneration community is dealing with this crisis, as well as what they have to offer - to you, reader, and to the society as a whole.
The diversity of their answers is an ode to their singularity.
It is also striking to see that, in a small group of about 30 people, the gifts of some are matching with other’s needs. Let that be an inspiration and an encouragement to be open to others in these difficult time.
The second question we asked was : “In this special period, what can you offer ?”
Here is the ArtyGeneration collective kit to face quarantine and Covid-19.
Help !
Of course, if you have the time and the ressource, we can only suggest to offer your help.
As Olga Nikitch, apply for volunteering. Here are few options : Ya Doma or Добрые Люди.
Learn !
As Vera Maslova says “It’s a one of a kind opportunity to embrace digital as a valuable addition to the cultural experience that we have in normal life”. If you always wanted to develop your creativity, to retrain in the cultural field or just to keep your brain active, our amazing community is full of great initiatives.
Irina Petrakova is offering online drawing courses.
Anna Mikhaylova is offering consultancy about social media and online events.
Irina Izotova is offering one on one mentoring sessions if someone feels like using this time for an self exploratory quest.
Alexander Vasin is turning the unique Typomania festival into a digital event with online conferences to attend. Wait until late May !
Maria Pokrovskaya and Artclever are offering, during the quarantine, a free access of Maria’s course of fine art and analytics "In the Hand of the Master", in Russian with English subtitles.
Science.Me is offering a series of free online lectures, debates, live Q&As by speakers in different fields like art, science, philosophy and business over the coming months.
Sasha Kremenets is launching The Cultural Place project. With the promocode ArtyGeneration, you 'll get a 20% discount on any product.
I love sharing my skills. Last year I taught at HSE (Moscow), spoke at Tartu University, was an expert in different educational events. Also my specialisation is working with the local community on improving the quality of life through culture and arts. With The Cultural Place project, We will talk about cool projects in the cultural field all over the world, but first of all we will create a fruitful environment around us, so we can improve and learn together.
Surround yourself with art !
Nothing better than art everywhere to face this challenging period. Here are some recommendations :
Buy it directly from the artist : Irina Petrakova drawings, Katya Bryskina’s samples, Tim Parchikov’s photos or Masha Yankovskaya paintings.
“All that I’m making day by day is beauty. My pieces of art are made to outreach beauty for everyone. I believe that beauty can help entering a new world, a new way of thinking.” Masha Yankovskaya
Buy art anyway: In its mission to support Russian market and artists, InArt offers artworks by Russian artists at a stable price level (before the ruble tumble). Special discount may be offered to motivate the demand. “Collectors should be more open and risk friendly as they are going to buy online, with possibility to return the artwork of course.” says Ksenia Podoynitsyna.
Wear a scarf for good : Olga Nikitch is offering two of her scarves as a gift if you transfer 10000₽ to any fund which helps doctors (here is an example). Then just send her a receipt of your transfer. The first two persons will get scarves of their own choice.
Listen to music.
“The sound and music have the same value in the physical and digital world. Music has a bodiless nature and can be transmitted anywhere.” so let’s enjoy it. Katia Bryskina has a playlist for every period of her life. Here is her “self-isolation” one.
RUSH initiative aims at promoting Russian musicians. They just launched the “Support Local” project with one if the main federal cultural radio stations - Radio Culture. The “Support Local” project, presenting most interesting Russian acts and their music is starting as a two months marathon. “Hopefully this will grow into a bigger project devoted to Russian musical contemporaries.” says Veronika Belousova from Rush Initiative.
Go digital
As previously said, this special period is acting like a shake up for all and everything. Whether for business or for new experiences of - buying, curating, supporting - art, the current transformation is all about digital acceleration.
Irina Nikolskaya fiercefully says : “What can I suggest in this context? Go totally online through an online gallery, with online quality check of art objects, with online exhibitions using VR technologies and go beyond the borders of the Russian Federation. I strive to make our art business international. We have now actively continued our transformation into an online format. Watch us 🔥 The crisis is a new point of growth and new opportunities for us. Thanks to our friends, fans and partners, we continue to carry out the project's mission: to popularise Russian art, both in Russia and abroad. In Art we trust! 🔥”
As a committed supporter of Russian artists, the SDV Foundation focuses on smoothing the crisis, looking forward to the singing springs. “Crisis time is always a springboard for something new. It is known that after almost every crisis the art market reaches an even greater peak. I am sure that the time will come for great transformations: the development of new media, digital art and online sales. We plan to take part in this process. But now we are trying to support artists by acquiring their works.” Foundation director Alexandra Ionova says.
Veronika Belousova, is also working on finding the most effective way to support musicians. “With SOUND UP, as we were forced to switch from our most loved live music segment, we are working now on several video and digital related projects that we hope could be a nice alternative to our fans while we still have public events restrictions. We are also launching an artist management agency - something we were doing before as a side project, but now it will have a form of a proper artist management agency, working on promotion, development and growth of artists we believe in.”
Working on a new offer is also on the agenda for the creative studio IntyLab. What to do when your key skill is to create immersive experiences ? Keep working on new ideas ! “We would like to offer more complex and more accurate solutions. For September, we are preparing some very accurate middle-budget solutions that will fit the market's needs widely.” Social distancing made easier thanks to digital interactive experiences ?
Last but not least, Artclever is offering jobs and consulting. Maria Pokrovskaya calls out to teachers and educational institutions in the field of creative industries and linguistics. Artclever is a project that has been successfully developing online education for 3 years and helps partners to develop their educational media projects! You can both follow their courses and use the Artclever platform for your students.
Work on a plan for what comes next !
Margarita Pushkina and Cosmoscow, as one of the main contemporary art players, have a key part in the outcome of the situation. “I am sure, that the challenge, that humanity has faced, will allow us to build even stronger ties within the art community, and not only in the country, but also beyond its borders - with international colleagues. So now we are preparing a public program on the eve of the Off White Charity Auction with artists and curators from different countries as participants and we are discussing with international speakers about their participation in Cosmoscow Talks – a discussion platform held as a part of the Art Fair. We are as well soon launching the Teodorus – a multifunctional online platform, which will be useful for collectors from all over the world to get acquainted with Russian contemporary art even when the borders are closed.”
A great illustration of what Simon Mraz wishes : “I would like to a be able to offer a post pandemic horizon. I would like to be fit and ready to work the moment it is possible again. I believe it is very important to continue to work concentrated as much as possible!”
So Stay at Home, Stay Safe and Stay Creative.
In this special period, what do you need ? A collective answer to discover here.
Title picture by Daniele de Batté.
For any question or request, you can contact every ArtyGeneration member on social medias, or just write me an email !
Marine
marine.b@artistikbazaar.com
