In the context of the opening of the cultural program Timisoara – European Capital of Culture in 2023, the Baraka Artist Cultural Association, in collaboration with the Secondary School No. 30 from Timisoara, organized the HUNDRED UP project, an interactive artistic event dedicated to pupils from grades I-VIII.
HUNDRED UP took place in two stages. The first stage consisted of a collaborative action between a group of locally and internationally recognized visual artists and the pupils of Secondary School No. 30 from Timișoara who created together, in the school premises, a mural art installation, open to the general public for visiting and reception during the opening weekend of the European Capital of Culture.
In the second stage of the project, the students of Secondary School No. 30 participated in a series of conferences in the form of workshops focused on understanding the importance of art history and the cultural project “Timișoara – European Cultural Capital in 2023” for the community and the evolution of the city, thus aiming to increase their access and participation in cultural life.
“The Hundred Up project represents an important catalyst for the impetus and development of a future generation with a relevant position towards culture and contemporary art. The objectives of the project were the facilitation of access to the cultural infrastructure, the promotion of cultural skills and creativity, the organization of a collaboration framework with children for the creation of a work of art, the organization of the opening of the mural open to the general public on the occasion of the launch of the project Timișoara – European Capital of Culture in 2023.
The whole action enjoyed the attention of more than 2000 people, including: students, parents, teachers and people interested in taking part in the program of activities proposed in the context of the official opening of Timișoara – European Capital of Culture”, stated Mihai Toth.
The group of artists that initiated and implemented the HUNDRED UP project was formed by Mihai Toth, Cezara Carla Pădurean, Florin Arhire, Mirela Cerbu, Luca Mixich. The members of the group are doctoral and master’s students of the Faculty of Arts and Design in Timisoara, each with significant experience in the development of cultural-artistic projects and activities carried out both locally, nationally and internationally.
The Baraka Artist Cultural Association is defined as an artistic research center, having a collaborative character, open to partnerships from the institutional sphere, but also from the private sphere. An important register from the association’s activity portfolio has to do with involvement in the process of connecting the contemporary art scene with the general public. At the same time, the association represents a resource context dedicated to the needs of the artistic producer (artist) and the public, to develop a direct and formative dialogue through research, exhibition and art promotion.
The project is part of the national cultural program “Timișoara – European Capital of Culture in 2023” and is financed by the Opening+ program, run by the Project Center of the Municipality of Timișoara, with amounts allocated from the state budget, through the budget of the Ministry of Culture.
