Lidia Costa: “I’m interested in art as learning”

Ten years ago, Lidia Costa (Vigo, 1986) arrived in New York after various work experiences in her hometown and on her first international trips to London and Switzerland. Along with a degree in Fine Arts and Translation and Interpreting that he studied at the University of Vigo, he later added a Master’s in Education to teach in secondary schools and another in Art, museology and contemporary criticism in Santiago. He was employed in the education department in the Big AppleInternational Center of Photography and in brooklyn museum. It was less than a year ago Director of education and public programs of the Monira Foundation. The subject promotes cooperation between artists, public and cultural institutions, and it was just held at Jersey City Man Contemporary Cultural Center open house for which Vigo artists and educators Alberto «Ash» Santos and Laura Santos designed work-based educational resources urban artist Rammellzee.

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— New Jersey was not his first destination. What took her to the other side of the Hudson River?

—In the UK I had the opportunity to learn new perspectives on artistic creation and work in culture, creating a network of contacts from different countries and this somehow led me to New Jersey in 2013, after studying with another scholarship in Switzerland in 2011. I was always interested in the possibility creating learning opportunities and artistic experiences that are somewhat experimental and that allow the inclusion and listening of the voices of individuals and groups.

— How did you make your way in such a competitive country?

— My interest in being able to create educational activities with greater autonomy led me to obtain a teacher’s certificate for the state of New Jersey, where I worked for 8 years as a digital art teacher in secondary education and, at the same time, taught art subjects as an assistant professor in higher education.

— What is your job at the Monira Foundation?

—I work with artists and art professionals from different fields to create activities around public programs that we offer monthly, digitally and in person. In terms of educational activities, we create guides and resources related to exhibitions and art performances at Mana Contemporary for school tours and classroom use, and we work with the Jersey City Department of Education to create educational opportunities and experts for high school students interested in continuing their artistic education .

— Have you completely abandoned your artistic aspect?

—I continue to paint and create on my own, but in recent years I have decided to focus on continuing to create long-term projects without focusing on exhibiting my work. On the other hand, I consider my work in Monira to be a form of artistic creation.

—How did the collaboration with Alberto Santos and Laura Santos come about and what exactly does it consist of?

— It was from the search for a way to activate the space of permanent exhibitions of artists, but through the perspective of other artists. Knowledge of Albert’s artistic, educational and research trajectory in the field of graffiti and urban art Ash Santos, I decided to contact him to propose this collaboration. I was interested in his vision together with that of educator Laura Santos.

— The project that the two of them worked on, an educational resource, was used as part of the open door activity, but is there a longer-term one?

— Yes, it will be available to the public both in digital form (specifically designated as a free resource for art educators) and in person. The first demonstration of one of the activities designed at the open days at Mana Contemporary was realized. Our interest at Monira is to create digital resources for teachers that allow greater access to arts and cultural institutions from the classroom and can be used from anywhere.

— Do you notice a big difference in the way of working in cultural spaces and museums?

-Not. Despite the fact that the markets and some of the topics are different, because they are focused on the social and cultural needs of each country and community with which the institutions work, maintaining an active dialogue with the target audience. it is equally relevant in the world.