The public sphere is a place of
artistic experimentation, and the larger audience needs to be encouraged to
actively engage in these kinds of experiments. This is the starting point of
the PhD thesis of Loredana Munteanu, which was subsequently used to set up a
cultural NGO in 2012. The Poetry Streetcar, an event held over September 10 -
October 1, 2019, the Traveling Letters Workshop / I Deliver love (held over
2015-2018), the #MuseumsDon’tBite Guide, the Classical Music Concert at the
Subway, started in 2012 and carried over through 2016, are but some of the
successful projects of the organization called Art Doesn’t Bite. The Poetry
Streetcar, a project organized this year over September 10 – October 1, in
partnership with the Bucharest City Hall and the Bucharest Transport Agency,
was aimed at bringing books closer to the larger public. 69% of Romanians and
46% of people in Bucharest claim they have never read a book, and only 9% say
they read on a daily basis, according to data compiled under the Cultural
Consumption Barometer of 2018. People who’ve traveled by the Poetry Streetcar
in Bucharest had the opportunity of reading or listening to poetry and jazz
music, as well as admiring the 100 poetry volumes that decorated the inside of
the streetcar. Loredana Munteanu, the founder and coordinator of the Art
Doesn’t Bite Cultural NGO, told us how people reacted:
Many young people realized they
should read more and spend less time on their tablets and smartphones. We also
spoke to elderly people who panicked, thinking they got on the wrong tram, who
liked the idea a lot, saying they’ve seen similar ideas in other countries as
well. I was very happy with their reaction, and doing more research I found out
this concept of poetry streetcar had never before been made, except for a very
short period of time in Hong Kong in 2013. At any rate, an event devoted to
poetry that should be continued for such a long period of time is unique in the
world. Besides, after the Poetry Doesn’t Bite project, I realized poets want to
get out there, meet their readers and read their works, as they are very seldom
presented with this opportunity. Putting together both types of reactions, from
both the public and the authors, who for various reasons lack the visibility
they deserve, I realized the Poetry Streetcar can bring together the two types
of expectations. Hence we created an event addressing both poets and urban
dwellers.
The Classical Music Concert at the
Subway was a festival held over 2012-2016, one of the most successful projects
of the Art Doesn’t Bite NGO. Under the project the most frequently transited
subway stations in Bucharest were turned into makeshift concert halls for
dozens of concerts, recitals and unique performances given by young artists.
Classical Music is for everyone! 46% of subway commuters took part in our
festival, says Loredana Munteanu.
This was our first project. Since
we founded the Art Doesn’t Bite NGO, our first idea was to create this
classical music festival at the subway. And then, after the festival’s first
edition was held, I realized this is what I want to do, to create cultural
projects for the public sphere. The project was met with great public
appreciation, and turned out to be one of the most popular public festivals. I
came to understand we need to give up the idea that art sits on a podium. We
need to bring art closer to the people. The idea that classical music is venued
only at the Romanian Athenaeum is prejudiced. Classical music is for everyone,
just like poetry is for everyone. It all depends on how you wrap it up and on the
way you present this kind of art to the larger audience. The Classical Music
Festival at the Subway was a fascinating experience. It provided the people of
Bucharest with an opportunity of seeing artists, tenors and ballerinas close
up. It was unbelievable.
(Translated by V. Palcu)