EL-DRAC
From EL-DRAC
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EL-DRAC for the arts
The European art project EL-DRAC (valenciano for el dragón, the dragon) brings together artists, art agents, and supporters throughout Europe. EL-DRAC was initiated in 2006 by the artist Juan Petry and organizes workshops, exhibitions and symposiums. EL-DRAC promotes the current political approach to maintain unity through diversity in Europe by means of cooperation, interaction and joint projects. EL-DRAC is an innovative and additional art intermediary and works as an informal network for artists, curators, art agents and art collectors. EL-DRAC is a reliable international partner for existing local structures. EL-DRAC organizes the dialogue.
EL-DRAC works together with useful organisations like artistay and Saint-Henri.
Objectives
Art experiences its highest appreciation by private or public purchase. Purchase includes a commitment to take care of art as a cultural good. If art finds sponsors and friends that are dedicated to its conservation and preservation, it will become part of the cultural heritage of a society. EL-DRAC brings together art and sponsors.
Young art in the primary market is promoted by committed friends and intermediaries. This usually happens in a local context. But these times require a global strategy. Think globally - act locally! EL-DRAC offers young art an international platform for development, exchange and distribution.
The appropriate organizational form for the complex world of today is the swarm. Everyone can contribute something. Any form of active participation is encouraged. EL-DRAC combines resources.
Instruments
EL-DRAC uses all modern means of communication, such as MediaWiki, the software behind Wikipedia. Thus the network and the information flow will be developed further in the best way.
On the way
EL-DRAC appeared before the public in May 2007. In the first year, two exhibitions took place in the Casa del Dragón in Cervera del Maestre in Spain. In the first exhibition, entitled "Amigos en el Arte I.", Peter Buch, Jose Caldes, Genevieve Girot, Antje Kalisch and Barbara Rombach showed the diversity of young European art. In the autumn of that year EL-DRAC presented selected works by Jordi Castells, Julja Schneider, Menxu Soriano and Etienne Szabo under the title "Amigos en el Arte II." in the House of the Dragon.
In 2008 EL-DRAC organized four exhibitions in Spain. Parallel to the third exhibition, the installation of Jo Pellenz, entitled "PAPERWORKS", was shown in the Ermita de San Sebastian in cooperation with the town hall of Cervera del Maestre. The exhibition year in Spain was closed with the exhibition "Inconsciente Colectivo en la Casa del Dragón" in November, organized by an international group of artists (from Belgium, Spain, Argentina and Venezuela). At the end of November as well, the exhibition "EL-DRAC en COLONIA" with 19 artists from 7 European countries was held in Cologne, Germany. With good news for the art market, El-DRAC gave a statement of what has been accomplished so far.
For 2009, several exhibitions in different places in Spain, Germany and other European countries are planned. In the summer EL-DRAC will organize a major arts festival in the region of Maestrazgo under the title "La vuelta del arte 2009".
Cooperation partners
EL-DRAC continues networking. Cooperations are becoming more and more important for the successful operation of EL-DRAC. Here you find a choice of our partners:
Artistay
Artistay is an agent for international artists and arranges artist-in-residence-programmes in various areas in France for them.
Aorta e.V.
Aorta e.V. The organization of artists in Germany organises the 1. Ruhrbiennale 2010.
Gracia Art Project
Garcia Art Project organises international artists in Barcelona.
Saint Henri
Saint Henri offers an extraordinary artist-in-residence-programme in Southern France (since 1990).
