Sverdlovskaya oblast
22-23 august 2020
22-23 august 2020
PERVOURALSK
Rayonnale: I am here
project context
Pervouralsk is a single-industry town in the Urals, about an hour’s drive from Yekaterinburg. It is an old industrial centre where metallurgy has been developing since the 18th century. Today, its key industrial employer is the Novotrubny Pipe Plant, one of Russia’s largest.
The project addressed the need to create opportunities for teenagers and young people to express themselves in the city and to broaden the ways in which the younger generation could explore their interests and realise their potential.
The project addressed the need to create opportunities for teenagers and young people to express themselves in the city and to broaden the ways in which the younger generation could explore their interests and realise their potential.
The lab became a creative adventure combining online and offline activities. Rather than simply attending lectures on Zoom, participants went out into the city and worked on engaging real-world challenges.
In essence, the lab was a summer camp for teenagers adapted to pandemic restrictions through a hybrid online and offline format.
In essence, the lab was a summer camp for teenagers adapted to pandemic restrictions through a hybrid online and offline format.
festival concept
Rayonnale provided a platform for teenagers to express themselves and make their presence felt in the city. Creative projects developed during the lab were integrated into the urban environment.
The festival had three main objectives:
- To create a platform where teenagers could express themselves and declare: “I am here!”
- To foster dialogue between the lab participants and city residents through artistic practices and digital tools.
- To strengthen connections among residents and local organisations and bring together people committed to the area's development.
The Pervouralsk edition of Rayonnale was a transmedia event combining digital and physical spaces. The city itself became a medium through which teenagers told their stories.
Audiovisual formats, digital resources, and city streets came together in the festival programme, carrying the stories of teenagers and residents of Pervouralsk.
Audiovisual formats, digital resources, and city streets came together in the festival programme, carrying the stories of teenagers and residents of Pervouralsk.
“I Am Here” became the recurring theme connecting the participants' research and creative expression.
“I am here!” was a statement by teenagers about themselves and their place in the city and the world.
“Am I here?” was a question inviting them to explore what “here” means: a physical space, a virtual one, or something else entirely.
“I am here…” I live, I see, I speak, I love, I am afraid, I think, I tell stories.
The festival presented the young creators' reflections on these and other themes.
“I am here!” was a statement by teenagers about themselves and their place in the city and the world.
“Am I here?” was a question inviting them to explore what “here” means: a physical space, a virtual one, or something else entirely.
“I am here…” I live, I see, I speak, I love, I am afraid, I think, I tell stories.
The festival presented the young creators' reflections on these and other themes.
the preparation process
Over three weeks, 65 teenagers worked in nine creative workshops exploring animation, illustration, photography, mobile filmmaking, storytelling and writing, contemporary theatre, music and sound, movement, architecture, and urban studies. Guided by curators, they also took part in creating the festival itself.
festival
Around 50 art projects formed the festival programme and transformed the urban environment.
The facades of cultural centres became screens for film and animation screenings. A stadium stand turned into an art gallery, while a forgotten dance floor in a park became a new community hub with exhibitions, outdoor furniture, and a concert stage.
The two-day festival demonstrated how art can influence a city and how much Pervouralsk needed and welcomed vibrant public events.
The facades of cultural centres became screens for film and animation screenings. A stadium stand turned into an art gallery, while a forgotten dance floor in a park became a new community hub with exhibitions, outdoor furniture, and a concert stage.
The two-day festival demonstrated how art can influence a city and how much Pervouralsk needed and welcomed vibrant public events.
Organising the festival during the pandemic presented a particular challenge. To prevent large crowds from gathering, activities were spread across ten locations and connected through a shared online broadcast on the festival day.
Many projects were also presented exclusively online, allowing people to explore the content independently. The result was a festival-walk where everyone could choose their own route. A special map of Pervouralsk helped visitors find their way.
Around 500 local residents attended the event, while nearly 1,000 more watched the online broadcast during the festival. The recording has since received more than 3,400 views.
Many projects were also presented exclusively online, allowing people to explore the content independently. The result was a festival-walk where everyone could choose their own route. A special map of Pervouralsk helped visitors find their way.
Around 500 local residents attended the event, while nearly 1,000 more watched the online broadcast during the festival. The recording has since received more than 3,400 views.
Importantly, teenagers did not simply prepare their work for exhibition. They helped create the event itself: designing venues, building installations, and running broadcasts.
For example, participants in the Architecture and Urban Studies workshop designed and built the festival’s welcome areas, which became entry points into the event.
For example, participants in the Architecture and Urban Studies workshop designed and built the festival’s welcome areas, which became entry points into the event.
The Pervouralsk edition of Rayonnale put the principle of learning by doing into practice.
Unlike traditional approaches, where theory comes first and practice follows, participants learned the language of different art forms by immediately using them to express their own ideas.
For instance, the Contemporary Theatre workshop did not stop at teaching theatrical techniques: participants were challenged to create a performance.
They ultimately produced an audio documentary play about Pervouralsk, published it on izi. TRAVEL, and personally distributed invitations to local residents. Around 200 people listened to the play in just two days — a real full house.
Unlike traditional approaches, where theory comes first and practice follows, participants learned the language of different art forms by immediately using them to express their own ideas.
For instance, the Contemporary Theatre workshop did not stop at teaching theatrical techniques: participants were challenged to create a performance.
They ultimately produced an audio documentary play about Pervouralsk, published it on izi. TRAVEL, and personally distributed invitations to local residents. Around 200 people listened to the play in just two days — a real full house.