2008 - Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden

MADONNA MEETS MAO – THE PARTY
in the Kunsthalle im Lipsiusbau (also page 36)
iN yOUR miD-20s?
OFF TO ThE mUsEUm!
DIE JUNGEN FREUNDE (Young Friends) invited young people to an Art Party featuring
the band Bodi Bill from Berlin.
Exploring exhibitions, interviewing artists, making contacts,
partying together, discussing art and culture … That
is what DIE JUNGEN FREUNDE (Young Friends) of the
Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden enjoy doing.
It began in the spring of 2008. The organisation MUSEIS
SAXONICIS USUI – Freunde der Staatlichen Kunstsammlungen
Dresden e. V. (Society of Friends of the Staatliche
Kunstsammlungen Dresden) reduced their membership
fee for people under 35. For just two Euro per month, young
people now have free admission to all eleven museums
and to their special exhibitions. They receive invitations to
exhibition openings, special guided tours, talks, discussions
and special Junge Freunde events. A fantastic offer.
The idea is to provide a programme of events organised
by young people for young people. Using unusual event
formats, DIE JUNGEN FREUNDE wish to arouse enthusiasm
for art and enable young people to get personally involved.
This gives rise to many questions. What aspects of art interest
young people? What do young people look to for
guidance today? Does this open new opportunities for the
“classics”? Are superstars like Raphael, Canaletto, Liotard,
Rembrandt and Titian about to experience a brilliant comeback?
Answers to these questions are being sought by
MUSEIS SAXONICIS USUI e. V. in association with students
from the Institute of Media and Communication at the
Technische Universität Dresden. In their practical training
sessions under the title “Nein, das Schokoladenmädchen
JUNGE FREUNDE in the Lipsiusbau
kommt nicht aus Afrika!” (No, the Chocolate Maid does not
come from Africa!), new ways of communicating are tried
out and ideas for campaigns developed.
In 2008 DIE JUNGEN FREUNDE also had a number of
special events on their programme, in addition to the
benefits offered by the traditional Society of Friends. These
ranged from a discussion with the artist Jana Morgenstern
via seminars about the exhibition “Troubled Waters. Twelve
Still-Lifes from the Siemens Photography Collection in the
Pinakothek der Moderne” to the “Madonna meets Mao”
party. This was the second party of the year, following the
performance of the jazz combo “Flaura und Phona” in the
“DruckStelle” exhibition in May 2008.
MADONNA MEETS MAO – THE PARTY opened up the exhibition
for this exclusive group and brought music into the
realm of art. MUSEIS SAXONICIS USUI e. V. had invited young
people to come and look at works by Warhol, Gursky, Baselitz
and co. in a party atmosphere. The response was huge and
the crowds exceeded the capacity of the building. About 100
young people had to stay outside. Indoors, around 500 guests
partied until late in the night. At the beginning of the evening
they were able to enjoy the art in a number of short guided
tours. Later, the band “Bodi Bill” got the place rocking and
created an electric atmosphere. Fourteen new Young Friends
signed up to MUSEIS SAXONICIS USUI e. V. that evening.
The aim is to get young people interested in the diverse
range of art in the collections, to develop a long-term relationship
with them and encourage them to become
friends and sponsors of the Staatliche Kunstsammlungen
Dresden as young members of MUSEIS SAXONICIS USUI e. V.
We intend to continue with this strategy and we would
appreciate any support! www.freunde-skd.de
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