CoCa

Founded in 2008, the Centre of Contemporary Art is one of the newest institutions solely dedicated to contemporary art in Poland.

The building, designed by Edward Lach, architect from Wroclaw, is the first venue dedicated to contemporary art in Poland since 1939. The structure was erected by Torun Municipality thanks to subsidies granted by the European Union (as part of the Integrated Operational Program of Regional Development) and the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage. Architectural barrier-free, the building is accessible to people with disabilities.

With its inter-media and interdisciplinary formula, a multi-format program and international cooperation, CoCA presents the most interesting facets of contemporary art and related discourse. Through exhibitions, artist talks, seminars, artist-in-residence, publications, education programs, as well as establishing a permanent collection, CoCA has committed itself to supporting contemporary art in Poland.

Between 2008 and 2010, CoCA’s programme was largely focused on the concept of “glocality”, putting a global perspective on regional phenomena.

Collection: Building a permanent collection, together with exhibiting and educational activities, are CoCA’s main aims. In accordance with the Znaki Czasu Programme formed by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage of the Republic of Poland, which is to propagate and promote Polish art, CoCA began acquiring works in 2007, in cooperation with the CoCA’s Advisory Board, Znaki Czasu Friends of Fine Arts Association in Torun, and local artistic circles.

During the first stages of building CoCA’s permanent collection in 2007, thanks to the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage subsidy, coordinated by the National Culture Centre, CoCA bought 52 works of artists who worked in the Kuyavian-Pomeranian region between 1990 and 2007, such as; Tomasz Barczyk, Marek Basiul, Wojciech Kapela_ski, Anna Kola and Anna Drejas. The same financial resources were used to purchase a painting by Jaros_aw Modzelewski and two videos by Izabella Gustowska. Other artists represented in the collection include; Stanislaw Borysowski, Tomasz Ciecierski, W_odzimierz J. Zakrzewski, and Jan Lebenstein.

CoCA’s collection, which represents main trends in 20th and 21st century art, produced by local and those from outside the region, provides the basis for the educational and promotional activities of CoCA. Collection exhibitions and reflections on these provide the possibility to work with local artists, critics, and the public to instigate contemporary art discourse. CoCA also intended its first presentation of the collection to initiate critical debate that would inform its future acquisitions.

Most outstanding projects in recent years:

“The past is a foreign country” 2010: Johanna Billing, Persijn Broersen & Margit Luk‡cs, Banu Cennetollu, ejla Kameril, Deimantas Narkevi_ius, Agnieszka Polska, Jasper Rigole, Slavs and Tatars, Jutta Strohmaier, Levi van Veluw, Ingrid Wildi, Krzysztof Zielilski, Edwin Zwakman.

“More is More” 2010: Yomar Augusto, John Bock, Monica Bonvicini, Jordi Colomer, Oskar Dawicki, Merzbow, Hans Schabus, Gregor Schneider, Costa Vece. Curated by Daniel Muzyczuk, Agnieszka Pindera, and Joanna Zielilska.

“The Yellow Spot, Tilman Wendland” 2009. Curated by Kasha Bittner.

“Gone to Croatan” 2009. Jan Bas Ader, Sebastian Buczek, Hubert Czerepok, Fischli & Weiss, Kolektywne Dzia_ania, Jacek Koprowicz, Jiri Kovanda, Jacek Kryszkowski, Zbigniew Libera, Leszek Przyjemski, Robert Rumas, Daniel Rumiancew, Syreny TV: Aleksandra Polisiewicz and Ewa Majewska, Adam Witkowski, Julita W—jcik, Zak_ad Produkcji D_wi_ku: Wojciech Marzec and Patryk Zakrocki and Kasia Krakowiak, Ziemia Mindel WŸrm: Marek Rogulski and Piotr Wyrzykowski, Pawe_ Freisler. Initiators, Robert Rumas and Daniel Muzyczuk. Exhibiton design, Robert Rumas.

CoCA presents numerous public events in line with its exhibition program, including; seminars, lectures, discussions.

Studio + Kitchen (S&K); feasting together is an aesthetic experience comparable to visiting a museum. Studio & Kitchen (S&K) has been established to serve as a place for the celebration of social rituals, including meals together, afternoon naps, reading books or playing chessÉ The new place to hang around is open and casual, devoted to small pleasures. The unique interior designed by Tomek Rygalik Studio is dedicated to workshop meetings and creative relaxation. It is, at the same time, the first exhibition of contemporary design in Toru_ that can be put to practical use according to individual visitorsÕ needs. S&K is also fitted with Ela Jab_o_skaÕs Kitchen.

Cinema Centrum; the cinema programme includes the latest international films. Apart from daily repertoire, Cinema Centrum presents thematic reviews of feature, art and documentary films as well as video art; authorial meetings and special screenings are organized. The cinema belongs to the Polish network of studio cinemas.

Art Bookshop: this is the only bookshop in Toru_ specializing the humanities, and offering CoCAÕs publications and gadgets. Apart from albums, books and magazines dedicated to art or reflection on art, the bookshop stocks books from such subjects as cultural studies, philosophy and ethnology, as well as dictionaries, encyclopedia’s, science books, academy books for the general public and childrenÕs books. The Art Bookshop sells books from prestigious publishing houses, including; MIT Press, Routledge, Yale University Press, Thames and Hudson LTD, Chicago Press, daab Publishing, Phaidon Press, Assouline, and Taschen.

All CoCAÕs exhibitions are accompanied by educational guides, available as PDFÕs and free of charge on their website under the Creative Commons License. Each guide contains discussions of questions concerning current exhibitions to help viewers make the most of their visit to the Centre of Contemporary Art.

CoCAÕs educational programme includes workshops to make video clips, create ready-mades, learn about field-recording, and the recording of radio plays, short films, and beat-boxing. CoCA has produced workshops for the younger public to learn about camera obscura and obscure musical instruments. Organized groups, kindergartens and schools, as well as individuals and families can participate in the educational programmes.

The Sšmmerings’ Reading Room is a modern space that distributes knowledge on visual culture; a research and archive space. The collection is developed by organisational categories, that include visual culture and art, catalogues, and monographic studies. The reading room also offers international magazines and journal titles, dictionaries, terminals with internet access, an online e-book collection, wi-fi, as well as thematic exhibitions and literature events.

CoCA publishes catalogues in connection with its exhibition program.

Surface area, 8,236.59 m2. Exhibition space, 4,146 m2; usable floor area at the observation deck, 552.27 m2; 13 office rooms, 7.26 metres high in largest room.