The Institute – the Creative District and other projects which showcase the dynamism and cultural di
The idea of creativity seems to be highly appreciated in many regions of the globe
Carmen Săndulescu, 27.04.2019, 17:28
In
literature or science, sports or marketing, trade or visual arts, we come
across various expressions of creativity, under many forms, be it the
classical one – a painting or a book, an advertising banner or a bicycle – or
a phone and laptop.
According to its Facebook page, The Institute promotes Romania’s
creative industries and aims to contribute to modernising Romania. One of
their best known projects is called the Creative District and was launched in
Bucharest, back in 2017.
Words are beautiful and to the point, but let us now take a look at some
facts. One of the projects has been recently carried out at the weekend, in
three consecutive weeks. The Institute and the Institute for Public Policies
(IPP), with the support of Electrica SA have shed light on two iconic buildings
of the Creative District, situated in Bucharest’s old city centre.
Ana Păun, communication expert with the Creative District (The
Institute), explains:
Ana Paun: This is one of the
brand new projects that we develop at the Creative District. One of the
conclusions drawn after the national census of 2011 was that 9 in 10 houses in
Bucharest were completely or partially uninhabited. And I’m referring to a
series of landmark buildings, of special importance for both the capital’s
culture and heritage. There are so many extremely beautiful and valuable houses
within the perimeter of the Creative District, but which are not inhabited
today. And we thought we could draw the city inhabitants’ attention by lighting
these houses on the inside, just like they would have been inhabited.
Bucharest has been the guest city of this year’s edition of the Madrid
Design Festival. Romania’s capital city mounted an exhibition devoted to the
Creative District. The exhibition Bucharest Creative Quarter@Madrid Design
Festival was supported by the Romanian Cultural Institute and The Institute,
and it was opened to the public for a month and a half.
Now, the Institute team is getting ready for new challenges. The first
such challenge will be the 7th Romanian Design Week, hosted by
Bucharest between May 17 and 26. This festival has grown by the year. In 2019 it supports and echoes the
discourse of the local creative industries, underlining the major contribution
of creative communities as well as the way in which they turn the capital into
a truly European city. Ana Păun, communication expert with the Creative
District, explains:
Ana Paun: A series of
creative hubs or clusters, I would say, have developed in our city along the
years. One such hub is that at Industria Bumbacului S.A. or in other places
like the Creative District, where there is a concentration of creative
businesses, workshops and studios. The Romanian Design Week comes up with an
itinerary of creative hubs. Each of them organises events, from parties to
fairs and customised coffees- everything is part of this year’s edition of RDW.
Naturally, there will also be a central exhibition, as usual. In 2019, it will
be hosted by the BCR building in the University Square, a historical building which
will be open to the public for the first time.
The central exhibition will include over 200 works. So, the month of May
will bring along not only scents of peony and lime-tree blossom but also many
enticing offers.
