FrOZen is an innovative public art project in Turkey and Armenia that’s focusing on bringing together Turkish, Armenian and Kurdish communities in the Caucasus region.

It’s one of 21 projects chosen for funding under ECF’s Collaboration Grants programme in 2011. Led by the Turkish organisation Koza Visual, the aim of FrOZen is to encourage the residents of three provincial cities to get involved in the artistic life of their communities. The other main project partner is 5th Floor Cultural Group  from Gyumri in Armenia.

The project’s first residency kicked off in Gyumri (Armenia), Kars and Diyarbakir (Turkey) on 15 October 2011, drawing community members into workshops that explore the mediums of photography, painting, installations, performance and video films.

The workshops draw on urban scenes and public spaces for their inspiration. The art works created by the artists and the community will be shown as an exhibition in each of the three partner cities. A catalogue of the art works will also be published, in cooperation with Gabi Schluttig and a project documentary will be made by Harald Schluttig.

Participating artists include:
Aleksey Manukyan , Visual Artist (Gyumri, Armenia)
Sargis Hovhannisyan , Visual Artist (Gyumri, Armenia)
Arman Tadevosyan , Visual Artist (Gyumri, Armenia)
Erhan Arik , Audiovisual Artist (Istanbul, Turkey)
Baris Seyitvan , Visual Artist (Diyarbakir, Turkey)
Serap Akbas , Visual Artist (Diyarbakir, Turkey)