 The project Development of Cultural Industries in the Cultural Institutions of Armenia, Georgia and Turkey through the introduction to the UK experience in product development, business management and marketing”was launched in April, 2009 within the frames of British Council's "Creative Collaboration" programme. The project focuses on cooperation of the museums and producers of the partner countries in the field of the cultural industries, namely in area of museum reproductions and traditional crafts that serve as a source for creative exchanges and economic benefits for cultural institutions as well as for individual producers, artists and artisans. GACC plan to organize a workshop for the specialists from Armenia, Georgia and Turkey in product development, business management, and marketing with Selina Fellowes, a leading UK consultant in income generation in the heritage sector and Lisa Gee, director of the UK based Harley Foundation and Gallery. The output of the project will be newly developed product ranges of museum reproductions and traditional crafts of each participant country, which will be presented in the virtual exhibition on the specially developed web pages. As an extension to the project there is the possibility of exhibiting of the production at the UK or European international gift fairs with the aim of gaining access to international markets.
The long term goal of the project is to turn local crafts traditions into creative and business joint ventures, using the extensive expertise and experience of the UK and other western countries. It is anticipated the merchandise ranges will be sold through various retailers such as museum shops, galleries and design led retailers in the UK and beyond. In the longer term there may also be opportunities for the craftspeople and designers/makers of the 3 participating countries to work with UK craftspeople and designers/makers through some exchange program or meeting at trade shows in the UK.
|
Januray 15-20, 2010
GACC visited Kutaisi and Batumi for the planning of upcoming activities. The meetings with local authorites had been also  held. The design and concept of the exhibition had been drafted in cooperation with museums' staff.
Januray 10, 2010
BC allocated the additional funding for the extension of the project. The supplementary activities will cover set up of the museum shop in Kutaisi State Museum and the exhibition at the Batumi Archaeological Museum.
December 30, 2009 - Launch of Online exhibition
The Online exhiition of the collections creatin as a part of the project had been launched. Please follow the link to brawse musem collections. Visit Online Exhibition
December 25, 2009 - EXPO
Armenian Museums initiated to organize the EXPO of their production on December 25, 2009 at the National Gallery of Armenia. At the EXPO, Armenian museums will present their new product; it will be the opportunity to test the collections on the Christmas market.Additionally to the Expo it is planned to organize the workshop: Case - sharing the experience of GACC project Museum Reproductions product lines, promotion and Marketing. Speaker - the project leader Maka Dvalishvili.
 December 15, 2009 - January 15, 2010 - Exhibition "Christmas Gift"
The exhibition "Christmas Gift" will tacke place at GACC. Will be presented the new collections developmed as a part of British Council Creative Collaboration Project.
July 13-16, 2009 - Workshop at GACC
 On July 13, 2009 at GACC started the
workshop for Georgian and Armenian Museum Staff and Crafts People facilitated by the UK experts
This 4-day intensive workshop will focus on product development, business management, and marketing on the one hand and on the educational value of the museum activities on the other hand.  Selina Fellowes, a leading UK consultant in income generation in the heritage sector and Timothy Mason, the Head of the Arts & heritage Consultancy and a leading authority on cultural heritage issues in arts from the UK will serve as the facilitators of the workshop. The output of the project will be new product ranges of museum reproductions and crafts.
May 14, 2009 – Meeting at Batumi Archaeological Museum
 Project team visited Batumi Archa-eological museum with the view of its inclusion in the project. The Director of the museum Mr. Amiran Kakhidze expressed interest and provided the vast material. In collaboration with local curators project team selected the several jewelry pieces and ceramic vessels for designing the line of historical motives for Batumi Archaeological Museum. The possibility of the opening of the museum shop has also been discussed.
May 5, 2009 Project Team Visits Kutaisi State History Museum
 On May 5, 2009 GACC had meetings at the Kutaisi State History Museum. The director of the Museum had been introduced to the scope of ongoing project, which gained a great interest. Together with Museum staff project designer selected the items, which will serve as sources for creation of the collection of historical gift.
April 5 - 8, 2009 - GACC visit to Erevan, Armenia
 As scheduled, GACC project team visited Armenia on April 5-8, 2009. The aim of the visit was presentation of the project to Armenian target institutions, identification of partners and planning of project activities. The meeting have been held on April 6, 2009 at BC office. The presentation gained the deep interest of participants.
April 7, 2009 was dedicated to the GACC’s closer contact with individual museums, galleries and crafts stores. The tentative list of Armenian Partners - Erebuni Museum, Museumof Echmiadzin, National Gallery of Armenia, National History Museum and Wood Carving Museum.
GACC expresses the deep gratitude to the British Council – Armenia for the assistance in planning this trip.
April 3, 2009 - Presentation of the Project
 The project was launched on 3 April, at special reception at the Georgian Arts and Culture Centre (GACC). The project called Development of Cultural Industries in the South Caucasus Countries: Introduction to the UK Experience in Product development, Business Management and Marketing became the only winner of the Creative Collaboration grant in the South Caucasus, thus becoming a part of a large scale South-East European programme known as Creative Collaboration.
|
