In 2010 / 2011, working with local bases in 2 European cities - London and Paris - Breaking into the Museum engaged museums, young people (15 to 19 years´ old), video artists and creative film-makers in a vibrant exercise leading to the presentation of provocative cultural narratives - in the form of short video-works. To-date, the project has produced 26 short films of 1 to 3 minutes each.
Museums and archives are significant sites where cultural meanings are established and negotiated and Breaking into the Museum proposes a very concrete way of addressing key contemporary concerns of all major museums and cultural institutions: re-defining museums as public spaces in the 21st century; making them relevant to people today, and especially young people, bringing new audiences, finding new ways of formulating museums' relevance today, and putting youth voices and fresh new interpretations centre stage, by engaging and prompting youth voices.
The project focuses on:
- Young voices and views from marginalised urban locations;
- Engaging young perspectives/understandings/meanings with the mainstream;
- New-media creative expression - producing video works for exhibition;
- New audiences for museums - new ways to use and engage with museums, new promotions of museums as public spaces promotions of museums as public spaces;
- Challenging and enriching heritage interpretations.
In London - with Museum of London
In May/June 2010, 14 young people from the North Kensington area participated in a pilot initiative focusing on heritage, curating and creative video making - "breaking into" the Museum of London.
Working with the newly launched Galleries of Modern London, and assisted by museum personnel and creative film-makers in a five day workshop, each young participant produced a film of 1 to 3 minutes, inspired by a particular object in the collection.
Encouraging youth participation, the project promotes innovative intervention in heritage curating as an exciting form of 21st century cultural activism and engagement - here using the medium of film/video, grounded in an intensive learning and production workshop experience (handling camera and sound; developing narrative ideas; story-boarding; directing; editing).
The 14 films produced provide a slate of challenging statements from young people aged 16 to 19 and from diverse cultural backgrounds, about how they experience museum collections, as well as how they personally engage with designated heritage objects in their metropolitan museum.
The film-makers adopted a variety of modes of interpretation. The result is a collection of films ranging from documentary formats to evocative and creative pieces, including performances by the young film-makers.
The themes of their films range across race and class discrimination; classification and categorization; migration; Black and other political struggles like the late 20th century Brixton and Poll Tax riots; the Asian presence in London; women´s rights.
One of the young participants, Asmita, said: "It´s been an amazing experience, where I learnt a lot, working independently, thinking creatively, researching - and most important, taking risks´. David Spence, Director of Programmes of the Museum of London said: 'It is projects like Breaking into the Museum that inject energy and creativity into the organisation which is why I am so pleased that the Museum has worked with Manifesta. Viewing the films made by these young Londoners reminds us that this is the generation that will shape the future of our city, and our galleries should reflect their stories. The films are truly moving, and professionally executed, and I hope to see more of their work in the future.'
In Paris - with Collectif Tribudom
In April 2011, a second Breaking into the Museum (A l´Assaut du Musée), workshop took place Paris. Led by French partner Tribudom, a collective made of artists, musicians, creative film-makers and technicians in Paris.
A group of 12 young people recruited from the 20th arrondissement in the north of Paris and the neighbouring suburbs 'broke into' the Musée Carnavalet, Paris city museum located in the centre of Paris. The young participants first familiarised themselves with the Musée Carnavalet collection by participating in a pre-workshop visit to the museum. This was also the occasion for each of them to select a particular piece or theme from the collection, on which they would focus during the workshop
For the purposes of the project, and given the size of the museum, the French team decided to limit the visit and selection to the late 18th century French revolution and Commune and the iron work and store brands galleries.
In addition to the hands-on video production learning experience and the behind-the-scenes preparation and introduction to museum heritage curation, the workshop delivered 12 short films, inspired by museum´s collection.
The films tackle subjects inspired by famous French personalities, some from the French revolution, like Robespierre and Danton; the Jacobin in Hell; and the famous Bastille prisoner Henri Masers; costumes (Louis XVI); and particular rooms and spaces within the museum - the garden designed in the 19th century, and the Golden Salon. It is interesting to note that the 1789 Declaration of the Rights of Man and of Citizen was used by 2 participants to make a point on French contradictions (current or past) in terms of respect for human rights.
One of the young participants, Leslie, said: 'I learnt a lot by looking at other participants´ work. The workshop was very creative, also very intensive. I discovered how Paris was, in pastimes, and I found creating a narrative very interesting'.
Mona Abdel Hadi, from Collectif Tribudom, said: 'The
Breaking into the Museum workshop allowed us to break down preconceived views: between the young people; between the museum personnel and the young people; a genuine encounter took place between people from different backgrounds and walks of life who usually don´t meet. It was a special time for mutual discovery, and shared fun/pleasure.'
For more information on the project,
click here
We are currently in discussion to launch Breaking into the Museum in additional cities and museums in Europe and even exploring the possibility to take the project to Africa. Watch this space! Interested? Get in touch with us!
Breaking into the Museum is devised and led by Marion Vargaftig and Colin Prescod and produced by Manifesta (UK)
www.manifesta.org.uk
Project partners in London are Museum of London, Octavia Foundation and St Charles Catholic Sixth Form College.
Project partners in Paris are Collectif Tribudom. Thank you very much to the Musée Carnavalet for allowing us to work in their galleries and facilitating the process of filming within the museum.
Breaking into the Museum (Paris and London) is funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, The European Cultural Foundation, and the Mairie de Paris, Label Paris Europe.
Tribudom:
http://www.tribudom.net/
Heritage Lottery Fund:
http://www.hlf.org.uk
European Cultural Foundation:
http://www.eurocult.org/
Museum of London:
http://www.museumoflondon.org.uk/
Musée Carnavalet:
http://www.carnavalet.paris.fr/
Marie de Paris:
http://www.paris.fr/
Etonnant d'avoir reussi à faire une petite histoire avec le reportage original, bien joué !
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