Encounters with nature shape our culture, education and artistic practices because we are part of nature. The 2024Cultural Mediation Forum reflected these connections and showed that nature mediation is an essential tool for promoting ecological awareness, sustainability and community-centered reconnection. Cultural mediation becomes, in this sense, a framework for communication and artistic interpretation of the living world of which we are part.
The sixth edition of the forum, organized by the Clujean Cultural Centre through the Academia of Change platform, took place on 29 and 30 October at the QUB Space in Cluj-Napoca and brought together over 100 cultural professionals: artists, teachers, researchers, educators and cultural mediation specialists. The central theme “We learn from nature” was reflected through a series of discussions and workshops that emphasized the vital link between art, science and education, such as:
- Appreciative approach to community and environmental activism: Ana-Maria Paladuș and Bogdan Gioară led a workshop in which participants explored perspectives on the positive motivations that drive people’s engagement for change in nature and community.
- Models of environmental education: Eva Stein shared experiences of Haus der Kulturen der Welt’s innovative environmental education programs that have had a positive impact on young people, highlighting how art can create a safe space for dialogue and exploration. Andreia Bruckner brought the perspective of the accessibility of cultural programs and the importance of programs dedicated to young visually impaired young people in relation to nature.
- Art and science as allies in mediation: Robertina Šebjanič presented projects highlighting the human impact on aquatic environments and demonstrated how artistic practices can bring complex scientific realities to the forefront and Mimi Ciora and Gavril Pop talked about their artistic projects dedicated to young people and the importance of creating the right context for interaction with young people around urban ecology themes.
- Environmental education for activating communities: Sabina Baciu showed how film and art events can stimulate dialog about the climate crisis and cultivate critical thinking among young people, while Alina Teodorescu and Alina Zară told about projects that are strongly rooted in the communities where they work and that meet with areas such as crafts or entrepreneurship.
- Good communication of technical data about nature in mediation: Tibor Hartel talked about the importance of good communication and specialized knowledge to have a real impact and Dana Peca illustrated by her own example the professional migration between research, education and civic action.
- Interdisciplinary approaches and sustainability: Marlene Herberth and Orsolya Gál shared their experiences on how crafts and the relationship with the natural environment can be integrated into artistic and educational practices to support sustainable living and cultural heritage preservation.
- Resources and learning contexts: Bianca Băilă talked about the Științescu Program, a fund dedicated to science communication programs in communities, Claudia Șerbănuță complemented with her perspective on the essential role of libraries as true community hubs, and the guided tour and workshop facilitated by Marius Mornea showed that augmented reality can support the exploration of lesser-known elements of biodiversity in places we think we know very well, such as parks
The program of the Cultural Mediation Forum was curated by Corina Bucea (Clujean Cultural Center / Academy of Change) and Raluca Iacob (cultural policy and management consultant), and participation was free of charge.
“For six editions we have been organizing the Cultural Mediation Forum as a space for meeting, learning and inspiration for those working at the intersection of art, culture and education. Each edition, however, opens surprising perspectives, revealing through the chosen theme new initiatives that make culture or science relevant and understandable to the public, but also affirming, step by step, this field of cultural mediation as a relevant and consistent one through so many diverse practices. “, said Corina Bucea, curator of the Cultural Mediation Forum.
“The Cultural Mediation Forum is every time an opportunity to reflect together on the solutions that mediators find to bring the public closer to art or cultural heritage. With this year’s theme, which put nature in the foreground as an object of mediation, we saw even more clearly that emotion and empathy, not just clear and accurate facts, are needed to communicate well and raise public awareness about environmental issues. People end up caring about things they can understand and that have personal meaning to them.” Raluca Iacob, curator of the Cultural Mediation Forum.
Launch of the Mediation+ Virtual Library, a resource for cultural professionals
A highlight of the Cultural Mediation Forum 2024 was the official launch of the Mediation+ Virtual Library, an innovative digital platform dedicated to supporting the ongoing training of cultural professionals. This library offers free access to a wide range of online and physical resources.
Irina Bălan, moderator of the forum with extensive experience in cultural management and communication, underlined the importance of librarians as cultural mediators: “In wanting to create a specialized library for cultural mediators, we started from a consultation with library representatives. We learned that librarians are true cultural mediators, highly involved and professional, and they do much more than lending books, building real communities around them. We want to learn from them how to organically grow such a community of practice.”
The project is co-financed by the Ministry of Culture, the Administration of the National Cultural Fund and the Municipality of Cluj-Napoca. The project does not necessarily represent the position of the Ministry of Culture or the Administration of the National Cultural Fund. AFCN is not responsible for the content of the project or how the project results can be used. These are entirely the responsibility of the grantee.
