[ISEA96] Institutional Presentation: Jose Ramon Alcala – Museo Internacional de Electrografía de Cuenca: The Museum for the Digital Arts of the XXIst Century

Institutional Presentation Statement

HISTORY In May 1990, the Rector of the University of Castilla-La Mancha inaugurated a center for research into new electronic media technologies located in a restored 18th century Carmelite Convent building. The center’s primary objective is to conserve, display and acquire an international collection of artists work who utilize machines and processes related to new technologies, for the generation, reproduction and printing of images. In January 1991, the Museum incorporated an electronic media technology laboratory into its working structure, to carry out theoretical and practical research into applications of the field of artistic creation. Some months later a documentation center, with a small specialized library; and the Center for Image Research was stablished, designed to provide additional support for the new media workshop in the field of graphic design, corporate image and creative advertising. Five years after its inauguration, the Museo Internacional de Electrografia is a dynamic museum; an art center with very specialized, unique lines of research, and though on a restricted budget, fulfills its five primary objectives:

  1. -research : by creating an international artist-in-residence program that invites artists from all over the world to collaborate with the MIDE on their current research projects, with technical support and guidance from the University of Castilla-La Mancha and the Ministry of Education and Science; “dissemination: by holding exhibitions, offering a documentation and media information centre, publishing…;
  2. -conservation: creating an active, dynamic collection of current works of art which are appropriate examples for displaying the latest national and international artistic applications of new image technologies;
  3. -education: for artists, students and the curious, offering specialized courses and seminars (including programs of awards and fellowships for researchers, technical assistants and workshop assistants); and
  4. -collaboration: by offering financial assistance for Research projects, providing MIDE equipment and in the broadest sense, making MIDE’s resources available to artists and researchers who wish to develop specific projects and activities. Some of the ways that this can happen is by MIDE contributing technical expertise, and offering financial assistance for research and interesting artistic proposals in diverse areas of Research which falls within the specific realm of the MIDE.

AREAS OF RESEARCH The Museo Internacional de Electrografía in Cuenca has the following, clearly defined, areas for research currently open:

  1. -Digital image techniques and processes using new electronic media technologies.
  2. -The contribution made by these digital technologies incorporating traditional processes ofprinting and reproduction.
  3. -Creative techniques and processes of graphic telecommunication technologies. (Fax- Art, Internet, real-time teletransmission etc.).
  4. -Interactive multimedia, Computer Art and Postproduction of the dynamic image on digital video.
  5. -Educational philosophies that the new image technologies can generate.
  6. -New museum models for contemporary art in the data transmission era. This would include possibilities of the virtual museum.
  • Jose Ramon Alcala, Spain, Director and Leader researcher, Museo Internacional de Electrografía de Cuenca

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