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The Bilateral visual arts exchange project
"Travesías" (Crossings): Chile
- Asia Pacific" will be launched on 15 November,
at "Espacio Riesco" Convention Center,
as an independent event, but in the context of
the APEC Chile 2004 Leaders' Summit, to take place
in Santiago, Chile. For the first time since the
foundation of APEC in 1989, a cultural exchange
proposal is set up as part of the activities,
thus opening a new communications framework for
mutual knowledge and enrichment.
»
The
Project, fostered by the Museum of Contemporary
Art (MAC), will be presented by its Director,
Mr. Francisco Brugnoli, with the assistance of
multimedia material. Its implementation, initially
intended to take place within a period of five
years (2005-2010), will imply the exchange of
contemporary visual arts exhibitions between Chile
and some of the 21 APEC member Economies. Its
purpose is to reinforce cultural creation and
dissemination at world level and to enrich economic
exchange through artistic and cultural initiatives.
»The
first showcase of the "Travesías (Crossings):
Chile - Asia Pacific" project has been programmed
for November 2005, and would include a selection
of Chilean art to be exhibited at the National
Museum of Contemporary Art in the Republic of
Korea.
The
execution of free trade agreements between Chile
and APEC Economies/cultures makes it imperative
to develop bilateral projects supplementing the
commercial exchange already underway, so as to
facilitate the creation of cultural cooperation
alliances that will allow a better mutual understanding
and the strengthening of existing bonds.
Travesías
(Crossings): Chile - Asia Pacific is an innovative
bilateral visual arts exchange project fostered
by the Museum of Contemporary Art in Santiago,
based on Article 10 of UNESCO's Universal Declaration
on Cultural Diversity (adopted by the 31st session
of its General Conference, held in Paris on 02
November 2001). The latter stipulates the importance
of reinforcing the creative and diffusion capabilities
of culture at world level, considering the current
imbalance in the flow and exchange of cultural
goods at international level, and with the purpose
of allowing all countries, "particularly
the developing ones and those in transition to
development, to establish viable and competitive
cultural industries at both domestic and international
levels".
It
should be noted that in the past few years, the
MAC has distinguished itself for its efficient
management and production, as well as for its
outstanding curatorial level, having had high-level
exhibitions at national and international level
(such as, for example: "Selections of São
Paulo Biennial", 2002; "Italian Transvanguard",
2003; "National Selection, MERCOSUR Biennial
of Visual Arts", 2004) which positions it
as a center of interest in what is currently regarded
as the leading art trends. Because of this and
also due to the required urgency, in May 2004
the Chilean government granted a funding of US$
3 million for the refurbishment of its neo-classic
building, of great architectural and national
heritage value, declared National Monument in
1976, and foundationally linked to the history
of the Republic. Its remodeling, expected to be
ready in late 2005, will enable the museum to
be in optimum conditions to receive the international
exhibitions of this project, as well as its heritage
collection of art and temporary exhibitions.
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