RESULTS
The student project resulted in very cool observations and interpretations of the topic of the #IP2019, #inequality & #solidarity. You can see them on Instagram by following the tags and hashtags.
▪️Best hashtag: @czechoutolomouc #yolo_mouc
▪️Fits best the IP topic: @chuzesolidarityolomouc
▪️Artistic value: @stuckinequality_ol
▪️Best concept: @walkingherstory_ip
▪️Originality: @bill_in_olomouc
▪️Inspiration: @beer_rality
▪️Methods/techniques: @couldyoulive_here
▪️Curatorial merit: #euforolo
▪️Critical analysis of chosen pics: #olomoucincontrasts
▪️Spiritedness: @followthewheelchair#rollomouc
1. The Project
Rationale
After having worked on a paper and reflected on the different sub-themes during the semester, as well as the IP panels and student sessions, students are invited to express their understanding of the questions, concepts and issues raised by the IP theme by engaging in a group project and participating in a series of creative / curatorial workshops.
To recap, the IP2019 theme addresses the double issues of inequality and solidarity. The idea is that inequality and solidarity might be found everywhere: From the global level over the national level, down to cities and everyday life. Modern societies are stratified, and inequality – between social classes, genders, age cohorts, occupations or any characteristic you might name – is prevalent. But so is solidarity, whether in “official” welfare programmes or informal local initiatives.
We want to sharpen your view for everyday inequality and solidarity and encourage you to walk through Olomouc with a specific view: Where do we find manifestations of inequality, where manifestations of solidarity? Do these manifestations form a coherent whole, or a bewildering crisscrossing pattern? Are these “huge” and blatant forms of inequality and solidarity, or can you find “small” instances of inequality and solidarity in everyday gestures, social interactions and artifacts? We as IP organizers do not know, and have no ready-made answer. That is why we would like you to explore this issue with a view for good pictures and an interesting story.
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Whether in a professional, academic or ‘creative’ setting, in the future you will be challenged with designing, implementing and presenting projects in a particular format, often with tight budgets and other constraints (like time!). This is an opportunity to put your skills to work in a fun, dynamic and inventive atmosphere.
Content
You will prepare the project during the week of the IP. On the Opening Day, the workshop will be explained and introduced and groups will be devised. There will be an introduction to Instagram that allows you to get some insights into the specifics of the task. At three points throughout the week, you will have time to work on your project together.
To start with, you will set off to explore the city in order to find out how the topics of “Solidarity and Inequality” are relevant in Olomouc. In order to make this task as easy as possible, each group willhave at least one student who has been studying in Olomouc for a semester.
You should seek to showcase your creativity, both in selecting the particular sites or practices to which you wish to draw their audience’s attention, and in determining how to represent and display those spaces imaginatively, informatively, engagingly and attractively.
Each group is to produce a series of pictures of their given subject that will be combined to an Instawalk, which is to be given a proper name/ hashtag that best transports what viewers will experience once following you on this walk and choose fitting hashtags for your work. In addition, we ask you to write a concise description/outline/instruction for your followers,
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Instawalks as a genre are used in many ways to explore museums or cities, for example. In one description that can be found online, it reads:
“Basically, an Instawalk is when a group of people get together to explore a place while documenting their experience with photos, using Instagram. Everyone sees the world in a different way, and snapping a photo of something you like is a simple but effective way of sharing what you value about the world around you. One of the great things about Instagram is the ability to tag your photos, and when everyone in the group uses the same tag, it creates a montage of photos that represent the collective experience.”
That world of our Instawalk is Olomouc and the result is to come across as casual, but will be the result of your collective work throughout the week. The particular task of that work is to show how the Yearly Topic is relevant for life in the city of Olomouc and how it can be made visible in the best possible way.
The projects will be presented at Konvikton Saturday 29th June, and will be judged by a jury in terms of their curatorial merit (meaning the motivation of the decisions that underlie the work TBA), critical analysis of the chosen pictures, originality, artistic value, and the building of meaningful links to the IP themes.
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Format
Students will be divided up into groups of 8-9 people in such a way as to ensure a good mix from the different Euroculture partner universities. The groups will be announced during the kick-off session.
For the successful completion of the project, there are a number of elements which need to be addressed. The groups will need to decide how best to divide up the tasks between them. Possible tasks to consider might include (but are not limited to) research, artistic output/photography, presentation of the project to the audience, text production/copywriting, and project coordination.
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Product
Each group will be given a small amount of wall space in the corridor in front of Konvikt, where the Instawalks will be presented on Saturday, 29th June. Studentswill already have access to the room on Saturday at 13.30 for preparation, and the ‘exhibition’ will take place on Saturday afternoon (14:30 – 16:00).
This exhibition space is where groups will be able to display their project. Each group will be given a map of Olomouc, where you can mark your Instawalk through Olomouc, so that visitors can not only follow your walk via Instagram but on the map as well. Additionally, you should display the name/ hashtag(s) of your instawalk and some background information on the walk. Pens and paper will be provided.
A jury will then award prices for different categories such as best title, best concept, originality or critical analysis of the chosen pictures.
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2. The Guidelines
Stages
First, reflect on the topic. You should be aware of the relevance of your project, and the way it fits into the general theme of the IP. Should you have any questions or concerns, you can point them out during the IP student project kick-off meeting on Sunday 23th June.
Second, decide on your concept. When you start working on your project, decide what you want to accomplish with it. Do you want to raise awareness, shock, denounce? Is it an artistic reflection on the issue? Plan your project carefully before starting your work.
Third, choose your tool. Use the resources you have, be creative, but also realistic as to what is possible within the parameters you are facing. How are you going to produce and present your work? Your aim should be to create a unique and inventive project.
Fourth, bundle your project. Get ready to present it to your Euroculture fellow students/staff members.
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Schedule (Dates)
See schedule
Sunday 23/6 :
Kick-off: Introduction to IP student project (14:00-16:00, Department of History, room 1.12).
Tuesday 25/6 :
Group action (in the field) from 16:30-19:00. Rooms 1.04 and 1.08 in the Department of History will be available for students to work in. Staff members will also be on hand here for consultations for groups.
Wednesday 26/6:
Group action (in the field) from 09:00-16:00. Rooms 1.04 and 1.08 in the Department of History will be available for students to work in. Staff members will also be on hand here for consultations for groups between 09.00-10.00 and 15.00-16.00.
Make sure to be back at the Department of History for the workshop with Michael George at 16:00!
Saturday 29/6:
Group action in the field / finalization of the project from 09:00-12:00.
Konvikt (Univerzitní 283/2) will be available for students to set up their project presentations from 13.30. Staff members will also be on hand for consultations for groups).
Project exhibition from 14:30-16:00 in the corridor in front of Konvikt.
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Project Phases
1. Embarking on a project: research phase
2. Operationalization of the project: action phase
3. Delivering the project: production phase
