The key objective of the Global Art Lab program is to develop, encourage, and demonstrate innovative new ways of understanding complex social dynamics and addressing common social challenges through the arts. The program facilitates the exchange of innovative art practices between artists and arts organizations in Central Asia (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan) and the U.S. and helps distribute this information to larger audiences through educational programs, public presentations, and an actively maintained website.

By creating new methods for addressing social concerns and building an international network of artists and arts organizations, Global Art Lab aims to expand contemporary art discourse to individuals who may have had no previous relationship to contemporary art. The program supports artists from Central Asia and the US in cultivating dialogue within and between their rich creative communities.

Funding for the Global Art Lab has been provided by the Christensen Foundation, the Kettering Family Foundation and the Trust for Mutual Understanding.

10/23/11

Bishkek workshops :: Live cinema/shadow theatre


Workshops are held in the space of the inspiring ArtEast organization.
At the first day of workshop we have a long discussion about the Manas Epic. For some this story is a source of pride for Kyrgyzstan, for others its a nationalist propaganda tool of the government. We debate whether or not it would be appropriate to project art onto the base of the Manas sculpture which was recently installed in Ala-too Square.

Participants break into groups based on mutual interests and create storyboards to begin planning their shows.



Next we go through how the equipment and software work and all participants are invited to play a hand in setting it up.

Soon the artists are plugging away at constructing shows for public exhibition.
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