|
Show Information:
Cities-of-Art is a recognition given to a city by its own community of artists.
For a city to be accepted into the Cities-of-Art International Accord, it must not only have fine art museums and galleries, courses of study, a fine collection of art in public places but, most importantly, it must offer a supportive environment to its own community of artists, allowing and encouraging them to develop and prosper.
So far there are only two cities in the world which are fully accredited members of this international Accord: Port Moody in British Columbia, Canada and New Plymouth in New Zealand.
The Cities-of-Art Accord started when Canadian artist, Rainer Daniels, and his arts administrator wife Helen visited New Zealand and gave Dale Copeland a lapel badge which said "Port Moody, City of the Arts".
That was enough to start an international comparison of cities as places which honour and support their artistic community. And that comparison has led to this award.
As more cities in the world apply to be accepted into this Accord, the opportunities for artists can only expand. Berlin and Paris are at present discussing acceptance.
Dale Copeland is organizing the Accord in New Plymouth, and Helen Daniels is co-coordinating events in Port Moody.
Exhibitions and exchanges and invitations arise between members of the Accord. The first exhibition was on the Internet, on the Virtual Tart site http://virtual.tart.co.nz during August 2006. It showed 1 work from each of 15 artists from New Plymouth and 15 from Port Moody.
The coherence of the exhibition was not from any externally imposed theme, but from the concept of Cities-of-Art. Thirty individuals from two widely separated communities which value art and artists, came together in an international meeting of equals. It was an extremely interesting exhibition as viewers looked for similarities and differences.
This has led towards more shared exhibitions, visits, and studio exchanges ... First is this shared exhibition in the Blackberry Gallery in Port Moody in July/August 2007. 21 artists from New Plymouth in New Zealand have sent their artwork to Port Moody, Canada.
And next will be a shared exhibition in the Real Tart Gallery in New Plymouth, June 2008.
|
