Intra Asia Network
Encyclopedia
The Intra Asia Network, or IAN, is a loose consortium
of cultural workers and creative spaces, artist exchange projects, community engagement initiaitves and artist residency programmes operating throughout Asia
. This consortium was founded to facilitate the greater mobility of Asia's cultural producers, practitioners, and creative people through the development, promotion and empowerment of artist-in-residency and artist-in-community projects. Membership represents over 15 countries and hundreds of Asian art spaces and initiatives.
Taiwan and other local and international funders, a meeting of 35 Asian artist directors from 15 countries was held in July 2005 in Taiwan
. The thrust of the gathering was to discuss the issues and difficulties concerning Asian artists’ mobility and cultural exchange. Asia is in need of understanding itself in both a traditional and contemporary context: a premise of IAN is that 21st century cultural identity in Asia will be understood through movements, projects, and residencies of its own culture workers. The Intra Asia Network for artist residency, mobility, and exchange now comprises members from Taiwan, Cambodia
, Thailand, Japan, China, Korea
, Vietnam, Indonesia
, Malaysia, and even Australia and New Zealand.
A second meeting of IAN representatives was held, with the support of Asia Europe Foundation, during the annual conference of Res Artis
in Berlin, convened by the ufaFabrik. That gathering involved the leaders of 40 Asian culture NGOs and reaffirmed the need for an action group to share knowledge, resources, experience and collaboration across Asian borders.
The third conference of IAN was held in South Korea in September 2006. The workshops were held in conjunction with the 2006 Gwangju Bienniale, while the second half of the gathering was held at Ssamzie Space
in Seoul. The objectives focused on the common concerns of many Asian directors and cultural leaders: professional development, management of artist’s space and initiaitves, and new models for funding, operating, and advocating for the role of artists' mobility and cultural exchange. This most recent gathering was co-sponsored by Artists Forum International (AFI), with support from Arts Council of Korea, City of Gwangju
, the Korean Nonprofit Alternative Space Network, and the Prince Claus Fund.
Since 2000, Asian culture directors have gathered in various cities, such as Hong Kong, Seoul, Shanghai, Sydney, Taiwan, to discuss the challenges and opportunities of sustainable engagement of artists and society. The conversations have also focused on the sustainable impact and contribution of the arts to the fast economic transformation of Asia. There is a deep awareness of regional diversity and traditions within Asia, but the cultural leaders also note common and growing stress of headlong urban development and marginalization of rural people.
Following the 2005 workshop and conferences, there was a consensus that a formal initiative be formed to help foster more intra-Asian exchanges and cultural dialogue. This objective was further confirmed at the more recent meeting of arts leaders in Seoul in September 2006. Thus Intra Asia Network, a collective consortium, has been established based on a shared vision to use Asian art and culture, and innovative project development, as the medium for a balanced social condition for all parts of Asia.
The Network's core value is that the artistic process, and community engaging projects, can foster understanding and equality between Asian cultures. The Network intends to decrease isolation and build professional capacity by sharing mutual knowledge and resources across Asia. The consortium wishes to promote the understanding of practices and standards for ethical behavior, professionalism, and artistic methodology. The Network acts as a “Power Block” for advocacy and facilitates relationships with international funding bodies.
Consortium
A consortium is an association of two or more individuals, companies, organizations or governments with the objective of participating in a common activity or pooling their resources for achieving a common goal....
of cultural workers and creative spaces, artist exchange projects, community engagement initiaitves and artist residency programmes operating throughout Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
. This consortium was founded to facilitate the greater mobility of Asia's cultural producers, practitioners, and creative people through the development, promotion and empowerment of artist-in-residency and artist-in-community projects. Membership represents over 15 countries and hundreds of Asian art spaces and initiatives.
History of IAN
Through the support of Asian Cultural CouncilAsian Cultural Council
The Asian Cultural Council is an American non-profit organization dedicated to providing support to Asian-American cultural exchange in the areas of visual and performing arts.- History :...
Taiwan and other local and international funders, a meeting of 35 Asian artist directors from 15 countries was held in July 2005 in Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
. The thrust of the gathering was to discuss the issues and difficulties concerning Asian artists’ mobility and cultural exchange. Asia is in need of understanding itself in both a traditional and contemporary context: a premise of IAN is that 21st century cultural identity in Asia will be understood through movements, projects, and residencies of its own culture workers. The Intra Asia Network for artist residency, mobility, and exchange now comprises members from Taiwan, Cambodia
Cambodia
Cambodia , officially known as the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia...
, Thailand, Japan, China, Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
, Vietnam, Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
, Malaysia, and even Australia and New Zealand.
A second meeting of IAN representatives was held, with the support of Asia Europe Foundation, during the annual conference of Res Artis
Res Artis
Res Artis is the largest existing network of artist residency programs, representing the interests of more than 300 centers and organizations in 50 countries worldwide that offer international artists the optimum conditions for producing art...
in Berlin, convened by the ufaFabrik. That gathering involved the leaders of 40 Asian culture NGOs and reaffirmed the need for an action group to share knowledge, resources, experience and collaboration across Asian borders.
The third conference of IAN was held in South Korea in September 2006. The workshops were held in conjunction with the 2006 Gwangju Bienniale, while the second half of the gathering was held at Ssamzie Space
Ssamzie Space
SSamzie Space was founded in 2000 as a nonprofit, multi-disciplinary, cultural and arts organization to support the cutting-edge progressive artwork of Korea. SSamzie Space works to fulfill the mission of the SSamzie Art Project** which was the precedent project of SSamzie Space, sponsored by...
in Seoul. The objectives focused on the common concerns of many Asian directors and cultural leaders: professional development, management of artist’s space and initiaitves, and new models for funding, operating, and advocating for the role of artists' mobility and cultural exchange. This most recent gathering was co-sponsored by Artists Forum International (AFI), with support from Arts Council of Korea, City of Gwangju
Gwangju
Gwangju is the sixth largest city in South Korea. It is a designated metropolitan city under the direct control of the central government's Home Minister...
, the Korean Nonprofit Alternative Space Network, and the Prince Claus Fund.
Background and Mission
Intra Asia Network is an open source platform for culture organizations. Its mission is to facilitate artistic mobility of Asia's cultural producers, practitioners, and creative people, through the development, promotion and empowerment of culture exchange projects.Since 2000, Asian culture directors have gathered in various cities, such as Hong Kong, Seoul, Shanghai, Sydney, Taiwan, to discuss the challenges and opportunities of sustainable engagement of artists and society. The conversations have also focused on the sustainable impact and contribution of the arts to the fast economic transformation of Asia. There is a deep awareness of regional diversity and traditions within Asia, but the cultural leaders also note common and growing stress of headlong urban development and marginalization of rural people.
Following the 2005 workshop and conferences, there was a consensus that a formal initiative be formed to help foster more intra-Asian exchanges and cultural dialogue. This objective was further confirmed at the more recent meeting of arts leaders in Seoul in September 2006. Thus Intra Asia Network, a collective consortium, has been established based on a shared vision to use Asian art and culture, and innovative project development, as the medium for a balanced social condition for all parts of Asia.
Structure of Network
Intra Asia Network is an open source network to serve and support Asian culture organizations. It will not be formalized as a legal entity, but will remain as an autonomous, flexible and independently structured entity. Membership is free, and all share equally in rights and responsibilities to further the network’s mission. Contributions and commitments are on a voluntary basis. Communications for members and the general public is driven via a website, e-group, blogs and the Internet. Regional workshops and conferences will be planned as supportive opportunities and funding allow.Key programs and core values
The Network is unique as it is initiated throughout Asia for the benefit of cross-cultural experience and creative exchanges. The network seeks an inclusivity of all cultural workers and creative spaces, artist exchange projects, community engagement initiatives and artist residency programs. It intends to bring together multiple cultures, functions, sectors, characteristics, disciplines, and ideas into it programs.The Network's core value is that the artistic process, and community engaging projects, can foster understanding and equality between Asian cultures. The Network intends to decrease isolation and build professional capacity by sharing mutual knowledge and resources across Asia. The consortium wishes to promote the understanding of practices and standards for ethical behavior, professionalism, and artistic methodology. The Network acts as a “Power Block” for advocacy and facilitates relationships with international funding bodies.
IAN Member Links
- Arts Council of Mongolia (Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia) site
- Artspace (Sydney, Australia) site
- Bamboo Culture International (Taipei, Taiwan) site
- BizArt (Shanghai, China) site
- Cemeti Art Foundation (Indonesia) site
- RAP - Rumah Air Panas (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia) site
- Reyum Institute of Arts and Culture (Phnom Penh, Cambodia) site
- SSamzie Space (Seoul, Korea) site
- Substation (Singapore) site
- Taipei Artist Village (Taiwan) site
- The AiR Association (Hong Kong) site
- Vis-a-Vis artlab (Xiamen, China) site
- Youkobo Art Space (Tokyo, Japan) site
- Wellington Arts CentreWellington Arts CentreThe Wellington Arts Centre , is the New Zealand capital's primary creative production facility and support complex. It was between 2003-2005, and was formally opened by Mayor Kerry Prendergast in July 2005. For twelve years previous, the city's arts centre had been based at the much smaller...
- Campus Hanoi (Hanoi, Vietnam) site