Museu de Arte Moderna do Rio de Janeiro: AniMAM
Created in 2020, AniMAM is a project that aims to increase access to art and its history by bringing together music and animation artists to collaboratively create animated audiovisual works inspired by pieces that have marked the history of Brazilian art. The aim is to make modern and contemporary art accessible to young children (0 to 6 years old) and kids.
In its first year, invited artists commissioned by the institution produced 6 animations, available on YouTube and the MAM Rio website, and screened at the museum’s Cinemateca. The animations were themed around key works of Brazilian art.
Following this initial experience, we recognised the pedagogical nature of the creative process. In 2022, a residency programme was launched, where 4 music professionals and 4 animation artists were selected through an open call for a 4-month residency, which secured a grant for the participants as well as a mentorship and regular meetings. The residence resulted in 4 additional animations, with the theme being the Centenary of the 1922 Modern Art Week.
In 2024, the second edition of the residency took place, expanding the project to include 10 artists and the development of 5 animations focused on the work of artists who explore the relationship between art and nature. The animated films are regularly used in workshops and educational proposals.
Explain in one sentence why you think the project you nominate is outstanding and could serve as an example for the entire community of modern and contemporary art museums.
ANIMAM is an experimental artistic creation project focused on a young audience, which implements pedagogical processes to increase access to artworks from the past, from museum’s collection and beyond.
Explain why this practice or program is relevant and sustainable in creating meaningful and lasting connections with people, communities, and the museum context with a medium to long-term vision.
Technology and social media can enable museums to reach more places, requiring only a mobile phone. At the same time, we know that children are increasingly consuming audiovisual content, not always of high quality, as a form of entertainment. AniMAM initially emerged as the creation of a high-quality audiovisual product for early childhood, while also aiming to make the institution's collection and modern and contemporary art accessible through more approachable languages. Our goal is to provide high-quality content for young audiences through the playfulness of animations, as well as a rich and engaging educational material that can be used by educators nationwide, extending beyond the museum walls. As it evolves into an artistic residency, AniMAM also becomes an artistic pedagogical methodology, an area still underexplored in the cultural market, with potential for replication as a methodology.