Art Summer CSLU–Prilep 2020 – Physical Distance
Amid a global pandemic, CSLU–Prilep preserved its tradition through adaptation. “Art Summer 2020 – Physical Distance” reaffirmed the value of art as a form of resistance, resilience, and collective memory—reorganized to meet the needs of a changed world.
The year 2020 challenged cultural institutions worldwide—and the Center for Contemporary Art – Prilep was no exception. With borders closed, mobility restricted, and physical gatherings limited, Art Summer 2020 was transformed into a carefully tailored project entitled "Physical Distance", demonstrating the Center’s unwavering commitment to artistic continuity even under crisis.
Though international participants could not be welcomed due to COVID-19 restrictions, the program was redesigned around local and national artists, with over 15 creators participating in five workshops:
• International Painting Colony
• Sculpture Symposium “Marble”
• Studio for Plastics in Wood
• Metal Sculpture Atelier
• Digital Art Studio
Each workshop operated under strict health protocols, and the overall residency duration was extended to 60 days, ensuring safe spacing, rotation, and optional work-from-home setups for artists from other cities.
The name “Physical Distance” carried symbolic meaning: while physical space was respected, social and artistic closeness remained intact. Through painting, sculpture, digital media, and new hybrid forms, the project delivered a defiant reminder that art does not pause—it adapts.
Importantly, this edition also marked the inauguration of the Digital Art Studio, a response to the digital needs of isolated creators during the pandemic. Alongside it, all other disciplines continued to thrive in hybrid formats.
The artworks produced were exhibited in CSLU–Prilep’s gallery, with a parallel online exhibition offered for wider access. Although the exhibition’s official opening was canceled, visitors were welcomed with appropriate protective measures in place, emphasizing safety without sacrificing visibility.
Since 1957, the Center has sustained one of the most enduring art programs in Southeast Europe. Art Summer 2020 – Physical Distance became a milestone in that legacy—showcasing not only the Center’s flexibility but also the critical role of art in turbulent times. It was a declaration that art matters—even more—when the world comes to a halt.
