Syndicate: Jennifer de Felice: pantograph

[Inke Arns <inke@berlin.snafu.de>]

From: "Jennifer De Felice" <jennifer.defelice@ecn.cz>
Organization: SCCA
Date: Thu, 7 Jan 1999 17:14:35 +001
Subject: pantograph


Best Wishes and Greetings from me for 1999.

Most likely the Pantograph project proposal has already appeared on 
the Syndicate list but just to be on the safe side here it is again.

Regards,

Jennifer de Felice


PANTOGRAPH - an instrument of mediation


WHAT>  
Pantograph - an experiment in constructive discussion and the
initiation of interregional projects addressing the folds between
culture, society, and politics within the former "east bloc".

WHEN>
>From March through May, the
ten participants will together devise the discussion areas and begin
sharing project ideas. (A Pantograph web site will be mounted for such
discussion.) The meeting will take place on 6-13 June 1999

WHERE>
at the
Center for Metamedia in the Plasy Monastery, Czech Republic.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>   www.hermit.cz    <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<


pantograph
an instrument of mediation

The Center for Metamedia and the Soros Center for Contemporary
Arts-Prague invite proposals for participation in the project
Pantograph - an experiment in constructive discussion and the
initiation of interregional projects addressing the folds between
culture, society, and politics within the former "east bloc".

Art and artists have yet to locate themselves within the unfolding
transition from totalitarian control to approximations of "open
societies". Have artists given up on relevance? Has art become
isolated from social spheres that could extend its ability to
communicate?  Has the confrontation with the spectacular flood of
consumerism and "westernisms" turned out to be a dull dead-end? Have
art and artists so little to say in the time of political, economic,
and social instability?  

Pantograph is an occasion to approach questions like these with
discussion and invention. The project organizers seek ten individuals
willing to work together on rigorous and provocative analyses and
"spin-off" projects that address contemporary conditions, meanings and
functions of culture within the region. These projects - devised and
initiated within the Pantograph framework - will explore innovative
and resourceful ways to bring relevance to art. Pantograph offers the
opportunity for the discussion of ideas to form into projects that
address and affect those issues the participants identify as most
vital.

Proposals for participation in Pantograph will be accepted from
mid-December 1998 through February 1999. From March through May, the
ten participants will together devise the discussion areas and begin
sharing project ideas. (A Pantograph web site will be mounted for such
discussion.) The meeting will take place on 6-13 June 1999 at the
Center for Metamedia in the Plasy Monastery, Czech Republic. At the
close of the meeting, the participants will present proposals for
projects. A selection of these projects will receive a modest amount
start-up money to ensure their realization.

Proposal  for Participation:
We ask you to send no later than February 1999:  
-- a written statement that expresses your interest in the Pantograph
project's themes and goals; --  initial ideas for collaborative
projects; --  information about your background and experience in
initiating and seeing through innovative cultural projects. Early
application is recommended. Artists, organizers, theorists and
activists - with no regard for nationality - are encouraged to apply.
The selection of participants will be made by the project organizers.
Send by e-mail to: hermit@plz.pvtnet.cz by fax to: Pantograph,
SCCA-Prague - 00 420 2 57 32 06 40 by post to:  Pantograph, SCCA
Prague, Jelení 9, 11800 Praha 1 Czech Republic Questions are best sent
to the e-mail address.

Pantograph is funded in part by grants from Soros Centers for Art
Regional Projects (SCARP), Pro Helvetia Ost West, the Hermit Fund,
Soros Center for Contemporary Arts-Prague and other foundations with
interest in stimulating the exchange of ideas.

Pantograph organizers:
Milos Vojtechovsky, Jo Williams, Ludvik Hlavacek, Jennifer De Felice