Part of the Bilateral Initiatives Call – “Bilateral Cooperation for the Development of Contemporary Art”
We have launched a Romanian-Norwegian bilateral program aimed at fostering education and visibility for emerging artists. The project aims to support the career development of emerging artists by providing them with an international platform to increase their visibility.
The program includes mentorship in curatorial practices, a visual art exhibition with openings in both Bucharest and Lillestrøm, Norway, and an exhibition catalog documenting the entire initiative.
Two young artists will take on the role of curators, organizing an exhibition featuring works by two emerging photographers—one from Romania and one from Norway. They will be guided by experienced professionals from the cultural sector, including members of the Amfiteatru Foundation and Nitja Center teams.
The project team will produce a contemporary visual art exhibition supported by both partner organizations. Additionally, the mentorship program will benefit not only the young artists but also the experienced mentors from both institutions, who will engage in an exchange of knowledge and expertise.
At the end of November, the Amfiteatru Foundation team traveled to Oslo and Lillestrøm for an intensive three-day visit, meeting artists and curators, exploring exhibitions (including one in the process of installation), visiting an analog photography lab, an art academy, and, of course, the Nitja Center.
From the very first day, we were introduced to the Nitja Center, which functions as a cultural hub. The space houses a gallery, a small library, a café, and a dedicated arts and crafts room for workshops aimed at both children and adults. We had the opportunity to meet some of the center’s staff as well as several artists who shared insights into their practices and experiences.
We also had the chance to meet and review the portfolios of photographers from whom we will select participants for our project. Additionally, we visited the exhibition All Eyes On, curated by other young artists as part of the same program. Through discussions with them, we learned about the entire curatorial process, the experience of working as a team, the exchange of ideas, and how they became involved in the project.
We received a guided tour of FotoGalleriet Oslo, where the La Passione exhibition was presented to us by the artist, who, in this case, took on a curatorial role.
On the final day, we visited Cyan, a fascinating analog photography studio featuring a darkroom, a collection of niche equipment, and a small gallery. Immediately afterward, we toured Khio – The Oslo National Academy of the Arts, which impressed us all with its resources, facilities, and innovative educational approaches.