Art Mongolia
Art Mongolia: Reflections on 2008 2008 Has been a bountiful year for ACM (Arts Council of Mongolia). Celebrating its 6th year since establishment, ACM has grown, broadly and successfully expanded its activities year by year. After its 5th anniversary, ACM has reviewed its past activities and embarked upon a new strategy and a new stage of progress. Continuing its activities in the four Program areas of Advocacy, Arts Education, Artist Development and Cultural heritage, ACM has witnessed many developments in wider areas. The Arts Education Program implemented its annual, ongoing and new projects featuring 'We Can-We Are Talented' video art training at the 'Red Ger' Media art center, 'Art for Change' after-school education project, 'Focus on Kids' black and white photography project for disadvantaged children, and the 'My History-My Culture' CD. The Program also joined efforts with the Cultural Heritage Education Program, resulting in the Museum heritage education project implemented at the museums in the Bulgan and Tuv aimags and at the Zanabazar Fine Arts Museum. A total of 7 arts and heritage education projects were implemented involving 3,000 children, with 45 professional arts educators and museum workers, 15 artists, 25 arts teachers and 10 community workers receiving training. The highlight of the Arts Education Program was the brand-new art festival named Culture Naadam 'Nomadic Spirit Revives', organized in collaboration with the Mongolian University of Arts and Culture and the METAA Company of Korea with support from the Mongolian Government and the Mayor's office. The Culture Naadam was aimed to enhance the scope and quality of the arts and culture services during Naadam and to provide public access to the arts. The festival could become the inaugural event to promote nomadic culture and traditions to local and international audiences; reaching more than 20.000 visitors during its 2-day operation. 2009 Will see ACM further implementing new projects and the 2nd Culture Naadam festival. In 2008, ACM's Advocacy program has largely focused on media advocacy aiming to raise the profile of arts and culture amongst the general public. Being a new, major shift, the Advocacy media campaign advocated for an increased public awareness of the importance of arts in culture and in human and social development through the 'Arts network', monthly TV program and 'Arts network', monthly page on daily newspapers. The highlight of the Advocacy program was the 'Arts Network' TV program, which provides a platform for critical discussion of arts and cultural issues, to promote critical thinking and evaluation of the arts, to increase the use of the arts in facilitating positive social change and to enhance and sustain engagement with and access to arts and culture. The 'Arts Network' monthly TV program is broadcast nationally at prime time on Mongolian National Television, reaching out to over 50 percent of the total audience throughout the country and was voted to be one of the Top 5 best programs by audience pool. The 'Arts Network' TV program is to be continued throughout 2009. The 'Arts Network' monthly arts and culture page in the 'Today' daily newspaper creates a high-profile avenue for engagement with Mongolian arts, introduces arts advocacy issues in the public sphere, including the advocacy article 'Arts and Culture in the programs of Parties in the Election'. ACM is to continue its media advocacy campaign throughout 2009. Preserving the rich and diverse culture and traditions of Mongolia is another important area of the work that ACM is involved in. In 2008, the Program saw the final result of the Mongolian Monasteries Documentation project, implemented in collaboration with the Mongolian Presidential Office and supported by the US Embassy in Ulaanbaatar, Khan Bank and other local and international donors. As a result of the project, a website, www.mongoliantemples.org, was created providing a database for 994 old and 279 re-opened and new temples and monasteries. Another major highlight of the program was the Choijin Lama Temple Museum Restoration set project, with objectives to carry out a conservation and preservation assessment ' and 'establish a new garden at this unique historic, cultural and architectural treasure. The Choijin Lama Temple Museum Garden Project has created a relaxing environment for the public and the Museum Restoration Assessment project result provided the very first detailed drawing of the architecture and restoration assessments necessary for further projects to be implemented in the future. The Artist Development Program has greatly expanded its activities both internationally and nationally. The program initiated and saw results from many diverse projects, featuring 'Nomadic Arts Residency', modern dance training, residency programs and performances in collaboration with the Canadian Coleman Lemieux & Compagnie, Battery Dance Company, Les Ateliers Desmae, Arts Council of Korea, US Embassy, University of Culture and Arts of Mongolia, Music and Dance College, theaters in the Bayan-Ulgii and Tuv aimags, where over 300 local and international artists were involved. The program focused on promoting Mongolian traditional arts internationally through participation by the 'Altan Urag' Folk Rock Group at the 19th International Arts Festival in Macao; and a performance by three artists 'Faster, Higher, Stronger' in Macao, as well as at the Banff Summer Arts Festival in Canada and the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics. The 2008 year was fruitful for many artists, musicians and arts managers who were successful recipients of grants from ACM. During 2007-2008 ACM supported 29 arts organizations, artists and art managers and awarded grants totaling USD 50,970. During the period 2003-2008, ACM has supported 94 arts organizations and 49 individual artists and arts managers and has awarded a total of USD 258,793 in grants. The highlight of the Program was the introduction of the 'ACM Fellow ship' program, which aims to enhance leadership and management skills and knowledge of young arts leaders. The 9-month program to be held annually is to involve lectures by various arts and social leaders and workshops and trainings conducted by international experts in various fields. Another highlight was the Nomadic Arts Residency program that promotes international exchange in the field of arts with support and partnership from the Arts Council of Korea. Altogether 12 Mongolian and Korean artists were selected to reside in the Mongolian countryside for 2 weeks and the artistic outcome of their residency was presented to the South Gobi people in series of community arts projects designed by the artists. Thank you to all our supporters, funding bodies, board members, program partners and project participants during 2008 that have made all of these wonderful projects possible. We are looking forward to the many fresh and stimulating projects planned for 2009. THE MONGOL MESSENGER |
