Foreword
The project to create "new culture houses", or DNA centers, was initiated, according to RBC, by Vladislav Surkov, supported by Alexander Mamut, and is being implemented on behalf of Dmitry Medvedev by the Ministry of Culture in cooperation with the Strelka Institute for Media, Architecture and Design. The Institute took an active part in the development of the functional program of DNA centers as a whole and now supervises the work of the first, Kaluga project of the program (see a detailed article in Gazeta.ru).
The task of the DNA centers is to support contemporary art in the regions. Nikolai Polissky and his team took part in the presentation of the Kaluga center, specially for the presentation they erected two installations in the courtyard of the Kaluga Museum of Cosmonautics - "Rockets" (these are the brothers of the rockets that flank "Universal Mind" in Nikolo-Lenivets) and a wooden spiral called " Brilliant thought. " The event was also decorated with their works by Kaluga artists Alexei Vasiliev and Vladimir Marin, and recently famous British artists from the rAndom International studio with the installation Future Self. According to the Minister of Culture Medinsky, (see, for example, an article in the WG), DNA centers should help young artists find their circle in their hometowns, whereas before they had to travel to the capital for recognition.
The first DNA centers will be opened in three cities: Kaluga (curated by Strelka), Pervouralsk (curator Alisa Prudnikova, director of the NCCA) and Vladivostok (curated by Savely Archipenko, art director of the ETAGI project in St. Petersburg). It is planned to construct new buildings for the centers, and the freshness of their architecture, along with the creative program of the centers, should also contribute to a change in the “cultural code” (words of Alexander Mamut) of the residents. However, it is not yet known what the architectural projects will be. The organizers emphasize that their main capital is people and the project is aimed at “self-realization of young residents of Russian cities”.
Interview
The curator of public programs at Strelka Institute Yekaterina Girshina answered several questions about the DNA centers program.
What is the main task of the centers being created?
Ekaterina Girshina:
The program has two main objectives. First, it is the building of a DNA community, designed to unite people who will further create new meanings, new projects and a new context within the city. Secondly, it is important to increase the interest of ordinary citizens in modern culture.
What will happen to the Kaluga DNA Center now, after the presentation?
Ekaterina Girshina:
At this stage, we are defining a circle of Kaluga progressive artists, musicians, curators, young entrepreneurs and architects who will subsequently form the backbone of the House of New Culture. It is important for us to create an environment in which creative people can reach their full potential. The task is not to export culture to the regions, but to cultivate it from within, that is, we will start with people, and already offer infrastructure for their projects.
A development program for 2013 has been defined, areas of contemporary culture - cinema, media art, popular science, street culture and theater - have been designated, within which open events will be held.
Particular attention will be paid to the relationship between culture and science. Modern culture interacts with technology, everything that we will produce must be tightly linked to innovation, which is especially important for Kaluga, the cradle of cosmonautics. Technology helps to engage the viewer in co-writing.
How will the activities of the center affect ordinary residents of Kaluga who are not related to contemporary art?
Ekaterina Girshina:
As for the townspeople, we will start with simple things, like street food festivals, which will be attended by local farmers and celebrity chefs brought by Strelka. Crafts are developed in Kaluga, and we will bring specialists in ceramics or wood so that they can help those who wish to learn something new and try it out in practice.
As part of the opening, a discussion was held on the development of contemporary culture in the regions of Russia. Residents of Kaluga would like the cultural sphere to leave the reservation in 5-10 years, to reform cultural institutions and spaces so that they become open to everyone. Creative competition is needed: it is important that, in addition to one strong center, there is a number of small establishments with their own agenda. It is very important to follow the process of communication between educational institutions, theaters, children's clubs and other institutions.
A detailed photo report from the opening of the Kaluga DNA Center can be seen here.
