1. Art cities of the future
Today the art world is more of a world in
every sense, with a larger population, a
wider territory and a greater number of
nationalities. A new book, Art Cities of the
Future: 21st Century Avant-Gardes,
uncovers twelve cities from around the
world which are thought to become
important artistic hubs in the years to
come.
These cities have emerged in the recent
years as centres of interest in cultural
activities. They have been chosen based on
their impact on contemporary art, history of
artistic importance, and overall cultural
climate. This new generation of artists seem
to gain prominence on the international art
circuit, with a variety of photography,
painting, sculpture, installation, video,
performance and new media works.
Cluj-Napoca and Singapore among these cities
Since we have offices in Singapore and Cluj-Napoca, these cities are very close to our hearts.
When we’ve stumbled upon this news, we felt very proud that both of them have been
included on this list of art cities of the future. Cluj made it surprisingly for the podium, listed
third, while Singapore keeps itself on the first half, listed sixth.
Here are the artistic hubs mentioned in the book for both cities:
Cluj-Napoca
The National Museum of Art – it holds a very valuable Romanian and universal
heritage (XV-XXI centuries) with over 13,000 artistic pieces (painting, sculpture,
graphic arts, decorative arts and a collection of documents). Educational and cultural
programs are organised here often, for the better understanding and appreciation of
the Romanian and Transylvanian culture.
The Paintbrush Factory – this is a collective space for contemporary arts in Cluj. The
project started as an independent initiative to bring together ideas, events and
2. projects of cultural organizations, galleries, producers and independent artists in the
City.
Singapore
The Institute of Contemporary Arts Singapore – it is devoted to the exhibition and
research of international and Asian contemporary art.
The Singapore Art Museum – it advocates and presents contemporary art practices
of Singapore and the South-East Asian region. SAM has amassed one of the world’s
largest public collections of modern and contemporary South-East Asian artworks,
with a growing component in international contemporary art.
The National Art Gallery – it hopes to strengthen Singapore’s role as a regional and
international hub for visual arts. South-East Asian art, including Singapore art, from
the 19th century to present day will be displayed in the new premises.
Thanks to this ground-breaking book, these cultural centres will gain even more attention
from new artists, collectors and art critics.