CUMEDIAE had the pleasure of taking part in the third and final instalment of the ECHO Academies Online Forum on October 31, 2024.
The forum, titled “Legitimacy of Art Nouveau Today: Cross-Disciplinary Dialogues in the Arts and Crafts,” marked the conclusion of the ECHO Academies artistic residency program, which brought together 40 artists from across Europe. Twelve talented artists were selected from the four residencies, each focused on a specific discipline: Music, Comics, Fashion Design and Photography & Architecture. Within each residency, three outstanding artists were awarded financial support to continue developing their pilot projects, a testament to their potential impact on their respective fields.
The event featured two main segments. The first segment concerned an interdisciplinary panel discussion, following an interesting discussion on the intersections between art forms and the potential opportunities for cross-sectoral collaboration. The discussion benefitted from the insights of experienced artists and cultural leaders, among the speakers were Francisco Afonso, founder and mentor of New Hand Lab in Portugal, JP (Jorge Pedro) Narciso Lucian, cultural consultant and mediator, Aristaios Tsousis, professional tattooist, graffiti writer, and street artist, Saso Povoski, jazz guitarist and composer, and Anastazia, fashion entrepreneur, image consultant, and content creator.
The panellists delved into the relevant topic of sustainability, addressing the role of arts as educational platforms for social awareness. Art Nouveau—characterised by the lack of hierarchical distinctions between art forms and the application of aesthetic principles to practical objects—has been tackled as a key example of artistic innovation. The panel considered how this historical art movement is still relevant, in regards to today’s creative responses to current global challenges.
The second segment gave the floor to 12 selected artists who were invited to showcase the final outputs of their pilot projects. Moderated by ECHO’s partner organisations—InterAlia (Greece), Open Space Foundation (Bulgaria), Sfera International (North Macedonia), and Pro Progressione (Hungary)—this session provided artists with a unique platform to present their work and share insights from their residencies.
The third ECHO Online Forum closed the chapter on a successful series of events that have fostered international dialogue and creative exchange. CUMEDIAE is proud to have taken part in this inspiring event, supporting the ongoing dialogues that connect Europe’s artistic community.
We look forward to seeing how these artists’ future projects will shape the evolving landscape of European arts and culture.