25 years of "Inter-Art"

Stefan Balog
President
email

Ioan Hădărig
Art Director
email

Robert Lixandru
General Secretary
email

Zoltán Balog
Vice President
email

Andrei Bakó
Vice President
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Elena Cristea
Administrative director
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Greetings from
Mr. Sergiu Nistor
Presidential Adviser
Department of Culture, Religion and Centenary
Presidential Administration

In its 25 years of existence, the Inter-Art Foundation from Aiud has been a promoter of dialogue between creators, as well as between artists and art lovers. Moreover, the foundation has built a very valuable communication platform between Romanian artists representing all ethnic groups in Romania, as well as between Romanian and foreign artists, testimony in this sense being the 24 editions of the international artcamp and the two editions of the interethnic camp of contemporary art organized in Aiud (2016, 2018). The diversity of artistic expressions is actively supported and promoted by Inter-Art on the occasion of all organized events.

This approach based on dialogue and collaboration is the distinctive brand of the Inter-Art Foundation, a series of state and private institutions in Romania and abroad supporting these initiatives of the foundation.

Through exhibitions presented in prestigious venues such as the United Nations headquarters in New York, the European Parliament in Brussels or the Palace of the Nations in Geneva, Inter-Art is a true ambassador of intercultural Romania.

In recognition of the foundation's activity, in 2018 and 2019, the President of Romania awarded his High Patronage to the Interethnic Camp of Contemporary Art Aiud (June 5-15, 2018), to the exhibition "Images of Diversity" organized at the European Parliament (June 26-30 2018) and the Romanian contemporary art exhibition “Multicultural Identities” at the United Nations headquarters in New York (May 27-31, 2019).

I congratulate the Inter-Art Foundation Aiud on the occasion of its 25th anniversary and I wish all those involved in its activity many successful projects and a good national and international visibility in the future!

LACZIKO Enikő Katalin
State Secretary
Department for Interethnic Relations General Secretariat of the Government

Dear Inter-Art Foundation,
Dear István/Ștefan/Steven/Stephen,
Dear Mr. Hădărig,
Dear Robert,

7 years of collaboration embracing a variety of common projects as art camps, national and international exhibitions as well as online exhibition have led to a fruitful and strong partnership based on common ideas regarding the role of culture and art as the most efficient ambassador in promoting diversity. Culture represents knowledge, and above all, recognition of our own values, because the concept of culture only makes sense in the wider context of the interaction among people. It is not enough to think of culture as an accumulation of values throughout time, culture is an act of defining identity, of belonging to humanity - is an open window, a bridge to universal civilization.

The Inter-Art Foundation develops interethnic and intercultural programs that promote these ideas and bring significant contribution to the contemporary art in Romania and to strengthening interethnic relations since 1996.

The Department for Interethnic Relations and the Inter-Art Foundation resonate along these ideas and collaborated in annually bringing together artists from the 20 national minorities of Romania and majority to create a platform for dialogue and interaction to promote cultural diversity based on tolerance and being surrounded by ideas, concepts, beliefs and personalities shaped by different backgrounds.

The Department for Interethnic Relations is honored to have contributed to the success of these projects and assures its openness to support programs that aim to bring together all the artists belonging to different ethnicities and to promote them and their works on national and international level. Recognition and awareness of cultural differences and identities expressed and represented by the artists aim to enrich the intercultural dialogue, enhanced by the exhibitions.

Iulia Adriana Oana Badea, Mayor of Aiud Municipality
Dr. Lőrincz Helga, Deputy Mayor of Aiud Municipality

The constant involvement, during the 25 years, of the “Inter-Art” Foundation in the cultural-artistic life of the municipality of Aiud has materialized through dozens, if not hundreds, of cultural events of a high standard for the citizens of our small community. Which is why we are grateful to them.

The "Inter-Art" camps, the countless exhibitions and other cultural-artistic projects carried out within the excellent collaboration with the "Liviu Rebreanu" Cultural Center have made Aiud one of the most important centers of culture in Alba County. From this close collaboration events came out such as the two editions of the Interethnic Camp of Contemporary Art or the "Images of Diversity" art exhibition, organized under the auspices of the High Patronage of the President of Romania. Thanks to them, the city of Aiud won in 2019 the Award of Excellence in Cultural Promotion offered at the AMR Gala. The "Inter-Art" Foundation has become over time synonymous with "culture" in Aiud. Reasons why we are proud of them and support them in everything they do.

Hundreds of artists from dozens of countries have visited Aiud over the past two decades and taught us, through their creations, that art and culture are universal languages. The "Inter-Art" Foundation has helped to embrace diversity, multiculturalism and respect for each other, regardless of ethnicity, religion or gender. The "Inter-Art" Foundation reminds us through each of its projects that together we are better, which is why we chose this to be a common message of thanks: Thank you Mr. President Balog Stefan, Mr. Secretary General Robert Lixandru and Mr. Art Director Ioan Hădărig. Together we make an excellent team in Aiud. We hope you continue what you are doing, at least as much as so far!

Stefan Balog
President, “Inter-Art” Foundation, Aiud

A quarter of a century of Inter-Art! An anniversary moment in which the actual moment is unfortunately missing. All that remains is the virtual, symbolic, socially distant anniversary.

And remain of course the 25 years, with good and bad, sadness and joy, special projects or goals still unachievable. But all these aspects form a unique story of an artistic alternative, a different approach to the artistic and creative concept

Inter-Art was born from the desire to offer our sincerity and devotion to all those who would need it. We tried to break down obtuse barriers and to offer openness to artists around the world. Our only basic criterion was, is and will be VALUE.

We must not lose hope in the future and continue our aspirations. We did things We never dreamed of in 1996. We have exhibited 4 times at the UN Headquarters in New York, twice at the Palace of Nations in Geneva, twice at the European Parliament in Brussels and in many other exceptional places.  We took Romanian art to Asia, Africa, America and the Caribbean. We brought to Aiud within the traditional Inter – Art International Art Camps artists from 6 continents, for 10 years we organized creative camps for youth, we organized as a world premiere an art camp in a maximum security prison in use.

The year 2020 brings us another absolute world premiere, an intercontinental exhibition dedicated to the 75th anniversary of the United Nations that includes all 193 member countries. A project meant to reach a peak in terms of achievements, a symbolic bridge between all the nations of the world.

I hope the 25 years of Inter-Art mattered and it wasn't just a spark. We are at an important turning point, a moment of celebration that opens the next door for us to step further, to a place in history.

Ioan Hădărig
Art Director, “Inter-Art” Foundation, Aiud

Talking about 25 years of Inter-Art in Aiud means to realize that an artistic phenomenon, created in a provincial town in Transylvania, Romania, has managed to shape artistic destinies, to impose values ​​of the Romanian contemporary art in an international context, to offer national and international cultural alternatives, to express ideals, feelings, experiences, attitudes.

The artistic directorate of such a project, which has brought together, over time, over 500 artists from around the world, belonging to both national and universal culture, tried to conceptualize several unique dimensions:
- an artistic space in Aiud, Transylvania, Romania, where artists managed to transpose their feelings into works of art, becoming, over time, a true museum of contemporary art;
- unique and exciting artistic spaces in international exhibitions held in New York, Washington DC, Kutztown, Vienna, Vichy, Geneva, Brussels, Bucharest, Cluj-Napoca, Alba-Iulia, Aiud, etc.;
- raising awareness of artists and the public about participation in some civic projects, through exhibitions at: UN headquarters in New York, dedicated to climate change, the European Parliament, dedicated to freedom and art without borders, Mail-Art projects within the Inter-Art International Artcamps, dedicated to human values, art, traditions and culture, etc .;
- accomplishment of some national and international projects under the High Patronage of the President of Romania.

25 years of Inter-Art projects is a conscious attempt to capitalize the creative human potential and to transform it into a conscious attitude of personifying the cultural and artistic spaces of communities, in defining the elements of multiculturalism.

The Inter-Art International Artcamp Aiud is established, in this context, as a unique phenomenon through its dimensions, as a unique curatorial approach that proposes to redefine the present artistic time.

Robert Lixandru
General Secretary, “Inter-Art” Foundation, Aiud

"Inter-Art", turns 25 - a quarter of a century, a project of a lifetime. Happy to be a part of it.

Partnerships concluded

Aiud City Hall (Romania), ”Liviu Rebreanu” Cultural Centre Aiud (Romania), Alba Iulia City Hall, ”Lucian Blaga” County Library Alba,”Promart Haiti” Association (Haiti), National Commission of Romania for UNESCO, Skepsis Group Alba Iulia (Romania), Shumen Society of Artists (Bulgaria), , Sasaran Arts Association (Malaysia), AMAC Association (Morocco), Miró Foundation of photographic art (Hungary), „Echange&Partage” Association (France), Cultural Centre, Salzburg (Austria), ”Bethlen” Foundation Gyomaendrőd (Hungary), ”Design Bureau” Foundation, Bombay (India), ”A. Marius” Foundation Cluj-Napoca, Aiud branch (Romania), „Aparte” Association, Cluj-Napoca (Romania), ”Nazareth” Association, Alba Iulia (Romania), Artists Association from Yinchuan (China).

Institutions and organizations with which we collaborated on various projects

Presidential Administration of Romania
Parliament of Romania
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Romania
Romanian Cultural Institute
Department for Interethnic Relations – Government of Romania
Permanent Mission of Romania to the United Nations
United Nations Office of Romania in Geneva
Woodrow Wilson Center, Washington DC, USA
Alba County Council
Cotroceni National Museum, Bucharest, Romania
National Museum of Unification, Alba Iulia, Romania (August 2015)
Romanian Literature Museum in Bucharest,Romania
Corvin’s Castle Hunedoara, Romania
Museum of Art, Cluj Napoca, Romania
Museum of Art, Tulcea, Romania
National Library, Bucharest, Romania
Museum of Bucovina, Suceava, Romania
History Museum of Transylvania, Cluj Napoca, Romania
New Arts Program, Kutztown, Pennsylvania, USA
Uccle Cultural Center, Brussels, Belgium
OK Gallery, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Arthis Association, Brussels, Belgium
“Time Gallery” Vienna, Austria
Augustin Bena Center of Culture Alba Iulia
1989 Revolution Memorial, Timișoara, Romania
Maximum Security Prison Aiud
The German Forum, Sibiu, Romania

25 years of Inter-Art, dedicated to the promotion of contemporary art on all meridians of the world.

Tribute to the artists who were with us but in the meantime went to other dimensions.

Inter-Art 1996
I^st edition
10 – 23 august, 1996

organizers: Aiud Local Council , The Hungarian Cultural Society in Transilvania (EMKE)

camp leaders : Ştefan Balog, Mezei Sándor

participants : Eva Mazzucco, Egidius Golob, Franz Heis (Austria), Dimiter Kostandivov, Angel Gadjev (Bulgaria), Wang Yichu, Wang Jie Yen, Liu Yici (China), Ivan Iacob Steinberger (Israel), Afanasie Oprea (Republic of Moldova), Trojan Marian Josef (Poland), Pataj Pál, Holányi Julianna, Nagyné Veres Róza, Dioszeginé Biró Ilona (Hungary), Szöcs Andréa, Cacovean Victor, Iuga Alexandru, Adorján Mária, Harácsek Zoltán, Boitor Viorica, Fülöp Mária, Alin Gavrilă, Kiss Ibolya, Rusu Ioan, Ciobanu Camelia, Dascalu Mihai, Bardi Natalia, Ferencz Károly, Horváth Attila, Horhat Horea, Bota Ana, Bota Valentin, Imets László (Romania).

Inter-Art 1997
II^nd edition
10 – 23 august, 1997

organizers: Aiud Local Council , The Hungarian Cultural Society in Transilvania (EMKE) - Alba branch

collaborators: The Ministry of Culture - Visual Arts Division, the“Bethel” Foundation, the “Liviu Rebreanu” Cultural Center Aiud, the Cultural Center in Salzburg (Austria)

camp leaders : Ştefan Balog, Mezei Sándor

coordinators : Balog Zoltán, Savulescu Ciprian, Domokos Gyöngyvér

participants : Eva Mazzucco, Egidius Golob, Brigitte Bader, Gertl Thuswaldner (Austria), Jan Sweet (Australia), Dimitar Kostamdinov (Bulgaria), Trojan Marian Josef (Poland), Lucia Wehrl (Sweden), Catherine Isack (USA) , Pataj Pál, Holányi Julianna, Nagyné Veres Róza, Hevesi Nagy Anikó, Novák Hanga (Hungary), Boitor Viorica, Fülöp Mária, Bardi Natalia, Cacovean Victor, Kiss Ibolya, Gavrilă Alin, Imets László, Mihai Dascalu, Camelia Ciobanu, Boţa Ana, Adorján Mária, Horváth Attila, Harácsek Zoltán, Ferencz Károly, Rusu Ioan, Iuga Alexandru, Boţa Valentin, Szöcs Andrea (Romania).

Inter-Art 1998
III^rd edition
10 – 23 august, 1998

organizers: Aiud Local Council and City Hall, the “Inter-art” Foundation, the “A. Marius” Foundation Cluj Napoca, Aiud branch

collaborators: The Ministry of Culture - Visual Arts Division, the Departamental Center for the Preservation and Promotion of Traditional Culture Alba, the “Liviu Rebreanu” Cultural Center in Aiud, the Cultural Center in Salzburg (Austria)

camp leader : Ştefan Balog

administration council: Ioan Hădărig, Fodor Ladislau, Robert Lixandru

coordinators : Balog Zoltán, Horváth Iuliu, Savulescu Ciprian, Hapau Adrian

participants : Eva Mazzucco, Egidius Golob, Brigitte Bader, Herbert Hapferweiser (Austria), Dimitar Kostandinov (Bulgaria), Vanja Hudina (Croatia), Sorin Anca (Germany), Ivan Iacob Steinberger (Israel), Afanasie Oprea, Maria Oprea (Rep. of Moldavia), Lucia Wehrl (Sweden), Oleg Nedoshytko (Ukraine), Dr. Pataj Pál, Hevesi Nagy Anikó, Nagyné Veres Róza, Novák Hanga, Holányi Julianna, Nagy Zopán, Puj Tivadar (Hungary), Boitor Viorica, Fülöp Mária, Popa Claudiu, Horváth Gyöngyvér, Frunză Mihai, Kléh Gyöngyvér, Imets László, Adriana Ilie, Bálint Rodica, Bardi Cristina, András Andrea, Horváth Attila, Savinescu Eugen, Savinescu Emilian, Cotoară Calin, Cacovean Victor, Iuga Alexandru, Ela Martin, Deak Alpár, Lovász Noémi, Alin Gavrilă, Romi Chiorean, Horhat Horea (Romania).

"Inter-Art" Foundation, Aiud, Romania

Stefan Balog
President
email

Ioan Hădărig
Art Director
email

Robert Lixandru
General Secretary
email