Art Doesn't Bite

art doesn't bite The Poetry Streetcar is the latest project implemented by this cultural NGO

The public sphere is a place of artistic experimentation, and the larger audience needs to be encouraged to actively engage in these kinds of experiments. This is the starting point of the PhD thesis of Loredana Munteanu, which was subsequently used to set up a cultural NGO in 2012. The Poetry Streetcar, an event held over September 10 - October 1, 2019, the Traveling Letters Workshop / I Deliver love (held over 2015-2018), the #MuseumsDon'tBite Guide, the Classical Music Concert at the Subway, started in 2012 and carried over through 2016, are but some of the successful projects of the organization called Art Doesn't Bite. The Poetry Streetcar, a project organized this year over September 10 - October 1, in partnership with the Bucharest City Hall and the Bucharest Transport Agency, was aimed at bringing books closer to the larger public. 69% of Romanians and 46% of people in Bucharest claim they have never read a book, and only 9% say they read on a daily basis, according to data compiled under the Cultural Consumption Barometer of 2018. People who've traveled by the Poetry Streetcar in Bucharest had the opportunity of reading or listening to poetry and jazz music, as well as admiring the 100 poetry volumes that decorated the inside of the streetcar. Loredana Munteanu, the founder and coordinator of the Art Doesn't Bite Cultural NGO, told us how people reacted:


"Many young people realized they should read more and spend less time on their tablets and smartphones. We also spoke to elderly people who panicked, thinking they got on the wrong tram, who liked the idea a lot, saying they've seen similar ideas in other countries as well. I was very happy with their reaction, and doing more research I found out this concept of poetry streetcar had never before been made, except for a very short period of time in Hong Kong in 2013. At any rate, an event devoted to poetry that should be continued for such a long period of time is unique in the world. Besides, after the Poetry Doesn't Bite project, I realized poets want to get out there, meet their readers and read their works, as they are very seldom presented with this opportunity. Putting together both types of reactions, from both the public and the authors, who for various reasons lack the visibility they deserve, I realized the Poetry Streetcar can bring together the two types of expectations. Hence we created an event addressing both poets and urban dwellers".


The Classical Music Concert at the Subway was a festival held over 2012-2016, one of the most successful projects of the Art Doesn't Bite NGO. Under the project the most frequently transited subway stations in Bucharest were turned into makeshift concert halls for dozens of concerts, recitals and unique performances given by young artists. Classical Music is for everyone! 46% of subway commuters took part in our festival, says Loredana Munteanu.


"This was our first project. Since we founded the Art Doesn't Bite NGO, our first idea was to create this classical music festival at the subway. And then, after the festival's first edition was held, I realized this is what I want to do, to create cultural projects for the public sphere. The project was met with great public appreciation, and turned out to be one of the most popular public festivals. I came to understand we need to give up the idea that art sits on a podium. We need to bring art closer to the people. The idea that classical music is venued only at the Romanian Athenaeum is prejudiced. Classical music is for everyone, just like poetry is for everyone. It all depends on how you wrap it up and on the way you present this kind of art to the larger audience. The Classical Music Festival at the Subway was a fascinating experience. It provided the people of Bucharest with an opportunity of seeing artists, tenors and ballerinas close up. It was unbelievable".

(Translated by V. Palcu)



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Publicat: 2019-12-21 14:00:00
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