Open Workshops at the Zemstva House

Description

EN / Open Studios at Casa Zemstvei – a public programme of workshops, exhibitions, performances, discussions, parties
Thursday, June 19, 2025, time 3 pm – 9 pm
Friday, June 20, 2025, time 3 pm – 9:30 pm
Saturday, June 21, 2025, time 3 pm – 2 am
Sunday, June 22, 2025, time 12 pm – 6 pm
Casa Zemstvei (103, Al. Sciusev st., Chisinau)

Casa Zemstvei reopens its doors on June 19, 2025 starting at 3 pm, inviting to a 4-day programme of cultural events for the general public, hosted by Zpace / 3rd Space studio / coworking / Coridor / ciclOcultura / Queer Cafe / Art Studio / Stalker Garden / RedRum / Binefactory and other spaces within this architectural monument located in the heart of Chisinau.

Already traditionally, twice a year, Casa Zemstvei invites the public to meet its residents and members of the wider cultural community. The programme includes participation in artistic workshops, exhibitions, book launches, forum theater and audio podcasts, crowned by effervescent parties and vibrant discussions.

The Zpace project space in the Casa Zemstvei appeared on the cultural map of Chisinau in 2013, as a platform for supporting and presenting contemporary art practices and promoting civic activism, with the aim of building a community and providing open spaces for independent cultural initiatives in Moldova.

DAILY PROGRAMME

Thursday, June 19, 2025, 3 pm – 9 pm

Open studios programme:

3 pm – 6 pm / Art Studio / Patches workshop – a creative clothes personalisation workshop using embroidery and upcycling techniques, where participants will make shark-shaped bags by reusing textiles and clothing, with Ana Chiaburu, Veronica Molovata and Vitalina Scutelnic.

6 pm – 7:30 pm / Stalker Garden / A carpet in common – a participatory gathering facilitated by Tatiana Fiodorova-Lefter, where the public is invited to join in the creation of a round carpet – a symbol of unity and care for the other. In an age of instability and conflict, the gathering serves as an open space, providing room and possibility to come together to weave, talk and listen to each other.

6 pm – 9 pm / Coworking / The practice of collage in the 21st century – a presentation by Mihai Moldovanu, who will talk about the origin and evolution of collage, bringing historical and contemporary examples, and will guide us in creating a visual collage through a practical session. Those interested in this artistic process are kindly requested to bring magazines, photos, newspapers and other working materials, including personal laptop or tablet.

6 pm – 9 pm / 3rd Space studio / Cyanotype workshop – techniques of artistic work with plants, facilitated by Luiza Sim and Maxim Polyakov, with whom we will experiment with cyanotype and other methods of reflecting space by documenting plants or found objects. Research location and territory – Stalker Garden of 3rd Space studio.

Friday, June 20, 2025, 3 pm – 9:30 pm

Open studios and performance programme:

3 pm – 6 pm / Art Studio / Patches workshop – a creative clothes personalisation workshop using embroidery and upcycling techniques, where participants will make shark-shaped bags by reusing textiles and clothing, with Ana Chiaburu, Veronica Molovata and Vitalina Scutelnic.

6 pm – 7:30 pm / Queer Cafe / Brave Activism – forum theatre, a creative experience in which teenagers will become the main storytellers and the audience will try to change the course of events and help solve today’s social challenges. The script of the production was created by the participants of the forum theatre course, organised by the non-formal education centre Diversitate.

8 pm – 9:30 pm / Queer Cafe / Open rehearsal with Rhythms of Resistance Chisinau (RoR). If you’ve ever been curious about RoR Chisinau drums, we challenge you to come along to learn about the ROR concept and learn some basic rhythms. No experience necessary, anyone who wants to give it a try is welcome.

Saturday, June 21, 2025, 3 pm – 2 am

Open studios and book launch programme:

3 pm – 4:30 pm / Art Studio / The Enchanted Forest – an art workshop for children, facilitated by Iulia Pînzari. Initiated with the outbreak of full-scale war in Ukraine, the workshop was created to support refugee children through art and creative expression, and has now become a welcoming space for all children, regardless of their background.

3 pm – 10 pm / ciclOcultura community bikeshop – a bicycle maintenance space with Eugeniu Țurcan. A training and education workshop for users of alternative transport (bicycles, scooters, unicycles, etc.), open to all who wish to attend, regardless of age and gender, even to those who do not use alternative transport in their daily life but are interested in this topic.

5 pm – 6 pm / Art Studio / Tales of young Onan by Vadim Tristan – book launch. A provocative collection of stories exploring complex aspects of human nature such as sexuality, loneliness and the search for meaning in a suffocating society, offering a unique insight into intimate experiences and social taboos. The launch will be followed by a discussion on the topics addressed by the author.

6 pm – 7:30 pm / Stalker Garden / A carpet in common – a participatory gathering facilitated by Tatiana Fiodorova-Lefter, where the public is invited to join in the creation of a round carpet – a symbol of unity and care for the other. In an age of instability and conflict, the gathering serves as an open space, providing room and possibility to come together to weave, talk and listen to each other.

Exhibition programme:

3 pm – 10 pm / RedRum Radio: Reflecting Zemstvei – audio podcast, sequences of narratives on cultural initiatives active in Casa Zemstvei, comprising interviews with independent cultural sector workers and actors of the local art scene.

6 pm – 10 pm / Zpace / Brave To Be – an exhibition about the experience, difficulties and strength of teenage and young activist girls from all over the country, who implement their social projects. The courage to be yourself and the courage to be different – what is it like to be a girl in Moldova? The exhibition is a result of the BRAVE mentoring programme, organised by the Diversitate non-formal education center.

6 pm – 10 pm / Coworking / Ways of Organisation – video archive of the Oberliht Association.

6 pm – 10 pm / Coworking / An Open Page: the Taiwanese Library – installation with publications on contemporary Taiwanese art, in the frame of the Embassy of Culture programme, with its first edition underway in Taipei (Taiwan), where the Sense of Autonomy (In Search Of) exhibition, curated by Vladimir Us, is open to the public.

6 pm – 10 pm / Art Studio / Soviet men in the Moldovan art – a photo exhibition coordinated by Vadim Tristan. A selection of photographs demonstrating the full palette of male beauty present in the fields of film, theatre, ballet and music during the Soviet period.

6 pm – 10 pm / Corridor / Territory of Trade – exhibition by Sandu Harabagiu.

6 pm – 10 pm / Corridor / Peace Street with Maxim Polyakov and Luiza Sim – a wall newspaper within the Corridor project, curated by Tatiana Fiodorova-Lefter, which presents the cycling route of Maxim, originally from Tiraspol, and Luiza, from Karaganda. The young people met in Chisinau and cycled 110 kilometres from one bank of the Dniester to the other, drawing their own map of the world made of toponyms, observations and personal memories.

6 pm – 10 pm / Corridor / Ruchs Pflaster – Ошеломляющие Мозаики (Stunning Mosaics) – an art installation by Ruben Hollinger. Street patches and joints appear like unintentional mosaics on a gray gaffa tape that stretches over the hills. The joint, liquid poured into asphalt and solidified into small islands, makes one wonder how the foreign blends into the existing.

8 pm – 9 pm / Casa Zemstvei / Guided tour of the exhibition programme.

Socializing and party programme:

3 pm – 10 pm / Stalker Garden / Economic models for the independent cultural sector – socialising with snacks in the garden, with Ruben Hollinger.

3 pm – 10 pm / Corridor / Binefactory – a community space for people who want to donate their used items for the benefit of someone else, and can take clothing articles (clothes, shoes, bags) and still-functional goods (books, accessories, etc.) for their own possession. It’s also an open place for learning and experimentation, promoting the idea of REuse, REpair, REcycle and last but not least waste REduction – an essential action for a sustainable future.

10 pm – 02 am / Queer Cafe / MEGAPOP: Summer Edition – an incendiary night party, dedicated to the vibrant universe of pop music in all its forms: from K-pop to pop rock, europop, art pop and hyperpop. DJs of the local scene will create a mix of sound, energy, free-spiritedness, community, fun and diversity.

Sunday, June 22, 2025, 12 pm – 6 pm

Socialising programme:

12 pm – 6 pm / Stalker Garden / Economic models for the independent cultural sector – a brunch followed by discussions and music in the garden.

3 pm – 10 pm / Corridor / Binefactory – a community space for people who want to donate their used items for the benefit of someone else, and can take clothing articles (clothes, shoes, bags) and still-functional goods (books, accessories, etc.) for their own possession. It’s also an open place for learning and experimentation, promoting the idea of REuse, REpair, REcycle and last but not least waste REduction – an essential action for a sustainable future.

Exhibition programme:

3 pm – 6 pm / RedRum Radio: Reflecting Zemstvei – audio podcast, sequences of narratives on cultural initiatives active in Casa Zemstvei, comprising interviews with independent cultural sector workers and actors of the local art scene.

3 pm – 6 pm / Zpace / Brave To Be – an exhibition about the experience, difficulties and strength of teenage and young activist girls from all over the country, who implement their social projects. The courage to be yourself and the courage to be different – what is it like to be a girl in Moldova? The exhibition is a result of the BRAVE mentoring programme, organised by the Diversitate non-formal education center.

3 pm – 6 pm / Coworking / Ways of Organisation – video archive of the Oberliht Association.

3 pm – 6 pm / Coworking / An Open Page: the Taiwanese Library – installation with publications on contemporary Taiwanese art, in the frame of the Embassy of Culture programme, with its first edition underway in Taipei (Taiwan), where the Sense of Autonomy (In Search Of) exhibition, curated by Vladimir Us, is open to the public.

3 pm – 6 pm / Art Studio / Soviet men in the Moldovan art – a photo exhibition coordinated by Vadim Tristan. A selection of photographs demonstrating the full palette of male beauty present in the fields of film, theatre, ballet and music during the Soviet period.

3 pm – 6 pm / Corridor / Territory of Trade – exhibition by Sandu Harabagiu.

3 pm – 6 pm / Corridor / Peace Street with Maxim Polyakov and Luiza Sim – a wall newspaper within the Corridor project, curated by Tatiana Fiodorova-Lefter, which presents the cycling route of Maxim, originally from Tiraspol, and Luiza, from Karaganda. The young people met in Chisinau and cycled 110 kilometres from one bank of the Dniester to the other, drawing their own map of the world made of toponyms, observations and personal memories.

3 pm – 6 pm / Corridor / Ruchs Pflaster – Ошеломляющие Мозаики (Stunning Mosaics) – an art installation by Ruben Hollinger. Street patches and joints appear like unintentional mosaics on a gray gaffa tape that stretches over the hills. The joint, liquid poured into asphalt and solidified into small islands, makes one wonder how the foreign blends into the existing.