The "Photography Resource Center" project started from the desire to support the development and professionalization of the photographic community in Romania, at the moment there is a lack of community management and representation structures. Perhaps the biggest challenge of a freelance photographer is the fact that he has to be an artist, manager, salesman, PR and sometimes an accountant at the same time. In the case of amateur photographers, the challenge lies in the lack of finality of the artistic act and in the difficult process of entering the market. The public of events dedicated strictly to photography is a niche and relatively small one. 

 

Thus, the project proposes the creation of a photography resource center, which, in addition to a dedicated space, will offer educational programs, professional development programs, artistic events and products, and support services for professional photographers; the beneficiaries of the project will be the center's team, 2 visual artists, 158 professional and amateur photographers, 1215 event participants, 3 talented young people and 3 photographers from Norway. 

 

The role of the photography resource center is to connect photographers with each other, and photographers with other professionals in other fields. It also wants to be a nursery where amateur photographers can develop, to be able to take the step towards professionalization. Last but not least, the general objective is to become the most important photo resource center in Romania by developing a management structure for the community of photographers in Bucharest and in the country. 

 

The specific objectives aim at:

 

The development of a photo resource center in Bucharest which, by the end of the project, will offer a comprehensive range of resources and services for Romanian photographers, thus contributing to the professionalization and artistic development of the community and

Increasing the access of at least 158 photographers to professional development programs and at least 1215 people to artistic events by the end of the project, helping to increase access and diversify cultural products.

The project activities include the development of the center in the first year of implementation (mentoring for the team, organizing the space and the program) and the organization in the second year of a series of programs and events including workshops, courses, masterclasses, exhibitions, etc. The center will provide the following resources:

 

--Physical resources – library equipped with books and photo albums, computers with specific software for photo processing, workspaces and at least one fully equipped photo studio;

--Resources to facilitate skills development – authorized courses, photography workshops, masterclasses and portfolio assessments, discussions and information transfer opportunities for professional and amateur photographers;

--Resources for promoting photographers – exhibitions, author photography sales events and creative residencies.

 

The partner from Norway - Morten Bruun - will be actively involved in the construction of the center and the services offered, providing lecturers and mentors from Norway, communicating the project in Norway and supporting the development of the center. 

 

The results of the project are 3 jobs, 1215 participants in cultural activities, 1 SME supported, 7 professionals with skills/expertise developed at the workplace, 22 contemporary art activities supported and the strengthening of bilateral collaboration.

 

The Photography Resource Center project is financed by the EEA Grants 2014 - 2021 within the RO-CULTURE Program.

 

.....

The EEA Grants represent the contribution of Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway towards a green, competitive and inclusive Europe. There are two overall objectives: reduction of economic and social disparities in Europe, and to strengthen bilateral relations between the donor countries and 15 EU countries in Central and Southern Europe and the Baltics. The three donor countries cooperate closely with the EU through the Agreement on the European Economic Area (EEA). The donors have provided €3.3 billion through consecutive grant schemes between 1994 and 2014. For the period 2014-2021, the EEA Grants amount to €1.55 billion. More details are available on: www.eeagrants.org and www.eeagrants.ro.

 

RO-CULTURE is implemented in Romania by the Ministry of Culture through the Project Management Unit. The Programme aims at strengthening social and economic development through cultural cooperation, cultural entrepreneurship and cultural heritage management. The total budget amounts to almost 34 million EUR. For more details access: www.ro-cultura.ro