International touring exhibitions
An interesting way of addressing both the internationalisation and the financial
issue is analysed by Rebecca Amsellen in one of her recent research works
(2013) presented during the CreArt seminar:“Analysis of the artistic production
in the European cultural policies” held in Arad in September
2013
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.
She has
studied international touring exhibitions as an international strategy that can
offer museums an innovative economic model. The three internationalisation
models for exhibitions she examines represent a different financial involvement
of the museum in each of them:
a) coproduced exhibition —where several museums (generally a maximum of
three) work together to realise an exhibition that will travel to and be
exhibited in the parent institutions for a period of time;
b) co-organised exhibition —for which several museums collaborate towards
an exhibition with only one being the technical producer and one institution
financially responsible; and
c) export of an exhibition —when a museum designs and produces an
exhibition that is then sold to one or various museums (Amsellem 2013).
These models also contribute to increase the circulation of artworks across
borders and therefore help to cope with the market fragmentation of the sector.
As part of its work programme, the CreArt project has an annual touring
exhibition visiting three different cities during each edition. Partners elect a
curator who selects the artists on artistic criteria and according to their
accordance with the concept of the European exhibition.Thus, out of the 100
applying for each edition, 20 artists participate in the European exhibition every
year.The network jointly coordinates budget and logistics for the tour.
CreArt cities are developing interesting projects to tackle this and to explore
alternative ways to raise funds. For instance, the Croatian Association ofVisual Artists
(HDLU) - member of the CreArt network - is seeking private funding through
diversifying the uses of its main building in Zagreb (the distinctive Meštrović pavilion).
It also works toward the future establishment of a Chamber of Fine and Applied
Artists to collaborate with the industry towards projects inspired by the models of
the creative industries, and planning to establish a fund for its members or activities
led by them.
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Presentation available at:
Valladolid 2013
Lecce 2013
Zagreb 2014
Pardubice 2015
