Representing Tbilisi State Academy of Art, Georgia
Participated in the Cumulus conference In this place
April 27 – May 1, 2016 in Nottingham, UK. Hosted by NTU.

‘One of the greatest impressions I’ve got, was the casual atmosphere and informal relations within the Board members and towards the conference, participants, all, strategically acting with the goal of creation of the contemporary, open-minded society.’

First of all I’d like to express gratitude for inviting me to the Cumulus Plus+ Conference IN THIS PLACE at Nottingham Trent university, and of course, for awarding me with the grant.

I have a broad-range background of traveling and participation in various conferences, art projects, etc. Though here, after attending the Cumulus conference for the first time, I’d like to mention some of my impressions, feelings, thoughts:

• What has Cumulus given to me?

Currently, travel and culture is widely seen as one of the most important issues in regard with global networking. The reason is that travel inevitably involves contact with other cultures, gaining the cultural experience and insight into the knowledge on the culture of a ‘Place’. Travel in search of culture, in its general sense, and the idea of “Travel for Inter-cultural  Dialog” benefits the traveler – the higher art university’s representative, as well as,  the ‘Place’ of destination, not only economically, but make both of them more culturally sensitive, predisposes the representative of  the new country/ the new university, taking part in Cumulus Conference, for valuing cultural traditions and gaining understanding in the culture of  the  ‘Place’, its roots and the current state.

Firstly I’d like to mention that I had a sense of being part of the mainstream processes, ongoing in art and design, educational approaches, internationalization strategies. All I’ve learnt can be used as a guideline for my university’s further development.

Secondly I’ve gained critical thinking and more profound insight into my own, local culture and art education from the perspective, broadened after networking and sharing the knowledge and experience with great variety of countries’ and universities’ representatives.

And also, one of the greatest impressions I’ve got, was the casual atmosphere and informal relations within the Board members and towards the conference, participants, all, strategically acting with the goal of creation of the contemporary, open-minded society.

I felt as if being part of a large and powerful community of professionals, and it was truly pleasing.

• What have I given to Cumulus?

I think that Georgia and the Tbilisi State Academy of Art, represented by me, could be attractive partner with its ancient traditional knowledge in arts and crafts, with its current movements and tendencies.

Historically, Georgia   has become the  cross road of Eastern and Western cultures because of being one of the most  important countries of the  SILKROAD, the historical trade route between Europe and  the East, deriving  its name from the trade of Chinese Silk.  Though not only. This is the country, the alphabet of which is the one of the 14 independent alphabets in the world. The great ancient   cathedrals,   the UNESCO heritage sites,  ancient poetry and  literature, track to the period of the so termed Georgian Renaissance of the 12th to early 13th centuries, that   preceded its Western European analogue.
Even the Tbilisi State Academy of Art,  the higher art university of about 100 years old, and its  historic building, the monument of cultural heritage, is an excellent expression of multi-cultural interactions: the European styles-Baroque, late Classicist, applied for decorating the building’s façade,   are mixed with Iranian Qajar Dynasty styles,   the building’s  interior was decorated with.

The internationalization vector of the Tbilisi State Academy of Art is directed towards becoming relevant and compatible with the common European space. “Heritage for Intercultural Dialogue through Culture, Art and Travel”, safeguarding the  ‘Spirit of Place’, enhancing the concept of the use of heritage for the purpose of promoting intercultural dialogue, recognizing and respecting the cultural diversity in parallel to  presenting the local cultural and art  expressions – this is the academy’s major Slogan.

I think the noted above,  completely corresponds to the emphasis and goals, set at the conference.

• What are the perspectives of collaboration?

I think, further collaboration with the Cumulus can be proceeded in various ways, and can achieve the point of being beneficial for both sides. We can start by sending the young talented designers, artists and students for participating in the Cumulus conferences, and also, searching the possible ways for arranging the Cumulus conference in Georgia. I hope that it can enrich the Cumulus experience of collaboration with the   multi-cultural country.

Maya Koyava – Kipiani

Head of Foreign Affairs Department, Tbilisi State Academy of Art, Georgia (maya.kipiani@art.edu.ge)

About Cumulus PLUS+

The aim is to create the opportunity for friendship between people and generate partnership and exchange of knowledge between the different institutions. Cumulus mobilizes candidates with a travel grant to come over to the conferences under the Cumulus umbrella. The target group are academics and staff working in colleges and universities in art, design and media in higher education from different parts of the world and countries less familiar to Cumulusians.
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