14/03/2017
Seeking possibilities for successful dialogue with the audiences influenced by the contexts of globalism, theoreticians are discussing “a new genre museum”, which presents itself not as an archive of knowledge, but as a generator of knowledge, and considers its visitor not as a passive consumer but rather as an active co-participant in this incubator of knowledge.
The main operating directions have been specificied as: exhibition policy, building and exhibiting the collection, research, and implementation of education and social condenser programmes. The museum will be built through the exclusive use of private funds.
Collection and exhibition policy
In accordance with the memorandum of intent signed in 2014, in which the LMoCAF and Ministry of Culture agreed on the principles of collaboration for the implementation of the vision for the Latvian Museum of Contemporary Art, the Ministry of Culture has undertaken to deposit State-owned works in the Museum of Contemporary Art’s collection for assembling museum exhibitions and to make them accessible to the public in the long term. More information is available here.
The museum’s creative programme envisages the replacement of static and functional division of exhibition premises with a balanced programme of changing exhibitions showcasing the museum’s collection and contemporary art processes.
By emphasizing flexible creative collaboration with both overseas and local arts institutions in the museum’s operational concept, a fundamental role in the museum’s operations will be played by specially produced exhibitions, which are not based on the museum’s collection. Since there is currently a marked shortage of exhibition spaces in Riga that satisfy the criteria laid down in the guidelines for international loans, the LMoCA’s exhibition spaces will comply to the required quality to receive triple A collections.
Since an ever increasing role in contemporary art activities is played by a range of operational forms, which do not fit into the exhibition hall format, the museum must also be suitable for projects in which the formal aspects of visuality are not the most important thing (e.g. sound art, activities in new media, etc.). These operational forms must include active collaboration with artists and other arts institutions.
Research
Scientific research work is reflected in the collection and its presentation materials, in special exhibitions and their catalogues, conferences and academic publications. In this area, the museum must work together with its collaboration partner institutions, as well as in close coooperation with Ministry of Culture.
Education and public engagement programmes
As an incubator of knowledge, the museum is a place in which wide-ranging educational work is especially worth highlighting. These range from the development of methodological aids for schools to special education project classes for all age groups.
In coordinating its public activity, particular attention should be paid to activities, which would enable the museum to become a regular and popular meeting place for the broadest possible audience. Firstly, this would be ensured by the diversity and regularity of events, which is vital to the museum organically becoming part of the everyday lives of Rigans. Secondly, the museum would function as a favoured meeting place. The socialization forms it offers would envisage audience participation in the formation of content. We can observe this trend in any creative quarter of the city: poetry slams, jointly read book discussion groups, round table discussions, strategic planning games to find urban solutions, etc.
