Conference Imagining OpenMuzej Belarus

The conference will be held in English

Public program:

_{2 days conference}

Imagining OpenMuzej Belarus: 
community, contemporary art, engagement 

_{Dates: June 19–20, 2023}

_{Address: Pilecki Institut, Pariser platz, 4A, Mitte, 10117, Berlin}

Since 2022, a team of experts and professionals in the field of contemporary Belarusian art and culture have been working on the idea of establishing a public museum focused on research, archiving, preservation, support, development, demonstration and popularization of contemporary art of Belarus. 

Perceiving museum as a process and a community, as a joint experience of practicing public history and a way of understanding the world as well as respecting art/culture as a right of every person the team sees and develops the as a nomadic infrastructure.

The activity of The OpenMuzej addresses wides audiences and adheres to the principles of openness, mutual responsibility, interdisciplinarity, innovation based on the initiation and joint implementation of research, exhibition, educational and popularization projects with the involvement of Belarusian cultural actors – both in Belarus and in forced emigration.

On June 19-20 with support from Pilecki Institut Berlin we will organize a 2 days in order to discuss the role of museums as a place of community building and consolidation of the professional community and wide audiences. 

Core audience: Belarusian and foreign experts in the field of contemporary art and culture, representatives of international culture institutes and culture policy decision makers.

Day 1 

_{June 19, 2023 / 10:00–17:00}

OpenMuzej – from a Classical Museum to a Flexible Nomadic Structure

10:00–10:15

Opening speech by director of the Pilecki Institut Hanna Radziejowska

10:15–10:45

_Intro

Understanding the Museum: How and Why Museums are Changing Nowadays. Forms, Formats, Values

_{Speaker: 
Irina Kondratenko – art researcher, curator} 

10:45–11:30

_{Presentation of the OpenMuzej project idea and results of survey of Belarusian art community}

OpenMuzej as an Opportunity to Strengthen the Community 

_{Speakers: 
– art researcher, curator
– art manager,}

11:30–11:45

Coffee break 

11:45–13:30

_Discussion

The Museum as a Structure that Embraces Community and Radiates Solidarity and Support

_{Moderator: 
Oksana Karpovets – independent curator, art researcher}

_{Speakers: 
Dr. Annette Maechtel – managing director NGBK
Maria Beburia – contributor of MSN, co-founder CC Slonecznik
– independent curator and researcher}

13:30–14:30

Break

14:30–16:00

_Discussion

Solidarity, Horizontality, Communities: Cultural Projects in Belarus

_{Moderator: 
– queer activist, writer, researcher}

_{Speakers: 
– independent curator, researcher
– philosopher
group – Dzina Zhuk and Nicolay Spesivtsev, artists
– artist}

Day 2

_{June 20, 2023 / 10:00–16:30}

What Kind of Support for Independent Belarusian Cultural Initiatives is Available and Needed? 

10:00–10:30 

_Intro

Flexible Communities, Flexible Support

_{Speaker: 
Tony Lashden – queer activist, writer, researcher}

10:30–10:45 

Short presentation of the OpenMuzej project idea and summary of 1st day of the conference

_{Speaker:
Anna Chistoserdova – art manager, Ambasada Kultury}

10:45–11:00 

_{Short presentation}

Belarusian Diaspora in Germany

_{Speaker:
Yuliya Salauyova – 1 Chair RAZAM e.V.}

11:00–11:15 

_{Short presentation}

Support of Belarusian Culture

_{Speaker:
Alina Koushik – Representative for National Revival, the United Transitional Cabinet of Belarus}

11:15–11:30

Coffee break 

11:30–13:30

_{Discussion with the participation of representatives of foundations and international programs}

International Support for Initiatives and Projects of Independent Belarusian Culture

_{Moderator: 
Hanna Radziejowska – director of the Pilecki Institut}