Alternative Cultural Spaces (SCA) carries on its agenda to support and promote alternative cultural spaces in different regions of Moldova striving to make contemporary art accessible for the general public. Currently on its second edition, SCA aims to promote public associations, cultural initiatives and independent artists who experiment with new forms in art and who initiate projects and programs which bring an alternative to institutional and commercial discourses, thus contributing significantly to the development of contemporary art and the dynamics of the local cultural scene. As a response to the socio-political and cultural context that defines the activity of the independent cultural sector, SCA manifests itself from the need for a collective effort to support and make visible the existing cultural infrastructures, as well as the need for a unified vision on culture.
Present edition SCA2023 opens a space for discussion and reflection on some key questions that concern both the independent cultural sector and the wider society. These revolve around questions such as – How do we organize ourselves? On which economic basis do we manage our activity? How do we get the necessary resources? What kind of infrastructures can we create and develop? How do we educate, train, and contribute to the education of the general public? How do we deal with humanitarian crises and whom do we stand in solidarity with? What is the alternative we propose? And ultimately, what is it alternative to?
These questions resonate strongly with the artistic practice and the ways in which members of the independent cultural sector organize. Supported within SCA2023, this year’s participating initiatives will attempt to provide answers to them and propose alternatives to the dominant discourses in society. These expressions will hopefully guide the current civic and artistic initiatives towards further directions of movement, help the independent cultural sector secure a firm position between the state and the market and at the same time claim our right to culture, along with all other rights.
The SCA2023 program includes over 40 cultural activities and will take place during the course of two consecutive weekends: June 22-25 in regions of the Republic of Moldova and June 29 and July 2 in Chisinau and its suburbs. Artists and cultural workers from Balti, Cahul, Chisinau, Dubăsari, Durlesti, Gura Galbenei, Hîrtop, Naslavcea, Puhăceni, Trușeni and Volintiri will exhibit their works or those of the communities they have recently worked with, start a community dialogue and cultural exchange through events that will take the form of exhibitions, art installations, film screenings, creative workshops, panel discussions, interventions in public space, performance art, concerts and community parties.
SPACES INCLUDED IN SCA2023
The diversity of alternative cultural spaces mapped in the SCA2023 edition lists non-commercial artist-run spaces such as ACB34, Ou Gallery, Suspiria and House of Zemstvo, the latter being an alternative center for the independent cultural community in Chisinau which in turn hosts 3rd Space studio, Art Workshop, CycloCulture Workshop, Club, Corridor, Queer Cafe, Space, Sound Studio.
Other alternative project spaces organized within art education institutions include Podzemka, Warmerpol and Buncăr and within the commercial initiatives – Pro Sănătate. In the regions and suburbs, these initiatives can be found within the culture houses, such as those in Volintiri (Stefan Vodă), Naslavcea (Ocnița), Durlești (Chișinău), Gura Galbenei (Cimișlia), Hîrtop (Cimișlia), the Museum of Ethnography and History in Trușeni, or civic centers as they Studem Youth Center from Balti andClub 19 from Dubăsari.
The latter typology of alternative spaces involves reclaiming public space and includes the urban neighborhood courtyards, Gh. Asachi Square, UTM University Square, Flat Space / B68 – the urban garden in Chisinau, the abandoned library in Durlești, the Culture House Square in Puhăceni and Cahul Train Station.
PARTICIPANTS:
Local artists and cultural workers participating in SCA2023 are Clara Abdullah, Cauia Daniel, Ion Ciobanu, Victor Ciobanu, Elena Cușnir, Lilia Dragneva, Anna Galatonova, Alex Medinschi, Dorin Nebunu, Igor Platon, Ghenadie Popescu, Victoria Rotari, Marina Scalețchi, Zinaida Soroceanu, Ilona Spesivțev, Marin Turea.
Artists and cultural workers participating through regional mobility programs are Valeria Barbas, DJ Borș, Arina Cazac, Carolina Cheianu, Darius Chetrari, Radu Corlăteanu, Rusanda Curcă, Maks Graur, Maria Guțu, Ina Hîncu, Veronica Munteanu, Mihai Moldovanu, Olga Roșca, Alexandra Novac, Victor Organ, Natalia Parfenova, Anna Plămădeală, Parascovia Sava, Alexandra Stepanova și Elena Tomilova.
Ukrainian artists are in residence or participating in the program Fantastic Little Splash [UA], Eva Holts [UA], Olga Kashimbekova [UA], Gleb Katchuk [UA], Serge Polyakov [UA], Oleksandr Sirous [UA], as well as the other international artists: Ruben Hollinger [CH], Arturo de Ita Perez [MX], Andrei Șerban [RO].
The cultural community at the House of Zemstvo meets on Anna Bantiuc, Cristian Doroftei, Octavian Fedco, Tatiana Fiodorova, Eugenia Gligor, Lorelei Grigoriță, Vadim Hîncu, Andrei Morari, Nicolae Morozov, Diana Munteanu, Iulia Pînzari, Maxim Polyakov, Anna Provozin, Alevtina Romanenco, Elena Russu, Vitalie Sprînceană, Mihaela Ștefania, Eugeniu Țurcan, Vladimir Us, Tatiana Vieru.
The students and graduates from the College of Art Al. Plamadeala are Olivia Furtună, Casandra Mazur, Elena Șeremet.
ORGANIZERS
Asociația Oberliht, Coaliția Sectorului Cultural Independent din RM
PARTNERS
ABC – Alianța Biciclete Chișinău / Accolada / Arată că îți pasă, Trușeni / CPC Arta Azi / AO Art Platforma / AO ArsZona / August Fest / AO Cele2Ceasuri / Centrul pentru artă contemporană KSA:K / Colectivul Drujba / Colectivul Gamma-Field / Driadele / H-TOP – tinerii din Hîrtop / AO Laolaltă / Mediu curat și oameni sănătoși din Volintiri / AO MOLDOX / PODVAL / RoR – Ritmurile Rezistenței Chișinău / AO Studem / ZAO
FINANCIAL SUPPORT
Ministerul Culturii al Republicii Moldova, Fondului Noii Democrații, Fundația Culturală Europeană, Primăria Municipiului Chișinău
PROGRAM
Spații Culturale Alternative / 30 mai - 1 iunie 2024 