Short-term stays for art professionals and cultural researchers in either or both magnificent colonial cities of Puebla and Oaxaca, in beautiful southern Mexico.

ARQUETOPIA
Arquetopia is a nonprofit foundation run entirely by artists. Arquetopia’s programs promote development and social transformation through contemporary art with a non-traditional, culturally diverse and multidisciplinary approach. Arquetopia offers artist residency programs of the highest quality, making its staff available and creating a community among staff and resident artists. Arquetopia's resident artist and staff backgrounds are diverse in all aspects. As part of Arquetopia’s mission is to promote diversity, artists from Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, Latin America and the Middle East are especially encouraged to apply.

PUEBLA
Puebla, known as the "City of Angels,” is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that lies 136 km (84 mi) from Mexico City and has approximately 5,000 colonial buildings. Puebla is famous for a deep cultural identity, delicious cuisine, Talavera ceramics, and traditions rooted in the 16th-century Baroque and enriched by a blend of pre-Hispanic, Arabic, Jewish, French and Spanish influences. Accessible via two international airports in Puebla (PBC) and Mexico City (MEX), Puebla lies east of the Popocatépetl and Iztaccíhuatl volcanoes, giving the residents a magnificent view of their snow-topped peaks. At an elevation of 2200 m (7200 ft), Puebla features a temperate subtropical highland climate, resulting in an average of only three days a year seeing temperatures rise above 29°C (84°F).

Lonely Planet, the world’s largest travel guide book and digital media publisher, recently announced that Puebla, Mexico has made its Readers’ Choice Top 10 “Best in Travel” list for 2012. After hundreds of nominations for cities and countries and regions, we are proud that Puebla was voted by experienced travelers to the Top 10, alongside such destinations as Barcelona, Reykjavik, Berlin, Istanbul and Bangkok.

A recent New York Times article named Puebla as #13 of the “45 Places to Go in 2012" and The San Francisco Chronicle recently named Puebla as one of the top five safest places in Mexico for travelers.

A large, unique three-story Mexican colonial-style house close to Puebla’s historic district and Zócalo accommodates Arquetopia’s office, residency space for up to seven artists, and production spaces.

OAXACA
Oaxaca is a beautiful colonial city nestled in a valley in the Sierra Madre mountain range of Southern Mexico. Oaxaca is located 450 km (280 miles) southeast of Mexico City and reachable via three international airports: Oaxaca (OAX), Puebla (PBC), and Mexico City (MEX). Oaxaca boasts magnificent colonial architecture, the most outstanding example being Santo Domingo church and its former convent, now home to an impressive museum. The unusually colorful city and its surrounding areas also feature a high concentration of native Zapotec and Mixtec cultures and archaeological sites. Oaxaca was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987 for its central Historic Monuments Zone and the archaeological site of Monte Alban. Getting around Oaxaca is easy and enjoyable; museums, studios, libraries and landmarks are all in walking distance. Oaxaca is also one of the safest cities in Mexico. At an elevation of 1555 m (5100 ft), Oaxaca features a subtropical climate, resulting in mild-to-warm temperatures year-round.

Arquetopia Oaxaca is located right in the heart of the Historic Monuments Zone. Only two blocks from the popular Calle de Alcalá (a picturesque street known for its restaurants, museums, shops, and nightlife), our spectacular and newly renovated adobe casona, hosting up to ten artists at a time, is also two blocks from the extraordinary Santo Domingo church and museum.

SHORT-TERM RESEARCH RESIDENCIES

The Short-Term Research Residencies are autonomous residencies designed to explore the context, research specific topics and/or design new art projects.  Through short-term stays (maximum of 2 weeks), they offer a flexible structure for art professionals and cultural researchers age 25 and over.  Their goal is to facilitate access to cultural resources through a series of exchanges, dialogues with other artists-in-residence, and the opportunity to research, and explore the social and cultural complexity of Mexico.

All proposals are welcome, and each residency is a unique research experience in which residents pursue their own projects free from other obligations. We welcome artists, students and professionals from diverse backgrounds interested in immersing themselves and exploring Mexican culture by spending time in the magnificent and historic Spanish colonial cities of Puebla or Oaxaca.

At Arquetopia, we understand the importance of exploring as a source of inspiration, therefore we offer a space and time away from the artist’s usual environment and obligations.  We know new projects are triggered by different aesthetic experiences, from art to language, including food, architecture, history, cities have a lot to offer as an open labs for the development of new ideas.

RESIDENCY PROGRAM GUIDELINES

• Selection decisions are based on purpose of the residency and availability.

• The residency pool is diverse in all aspects.

• The residency program is an opportunity for art professionals and cultural researchers to pursue new projects and ideas, free of pressure (especially work that in their particular circumstances would normally be difficult to produce.

• The creation of community among fellow artists and staff during the residency period is important.

RESIDENCY TIME PERIOD/TERM OFFERED

Maximum of 2 weeks.

RESIDENCY FEE

USD $85 per night in Puebla and/or Oaxaca which covers lodging, most meals and open access to the kitchen, housekeeping, and access to special facilities pertaining to the project proposal.

USD $200 Residency Deposit due within 1 week of selection notification.

Total Residency Fee due by 60 days prior to residency start date.

RESIDENCY APPLICATION PROCESS

Complete and submit together online/via e-mail to info@arquetopia.org all of the following:

1. The Arquetopia Artist-in-Residence Programs Application Form

2. Resume or curriculum vitae

3. Five samples (images or written) of your work and a signed statement attesting that all work is your own

4. Complete contact info (name/title/organization/address/phone/e-mail) of two professional references

5. Non-refundable Application Fee of USD $35.00 via PAYPAL to account address: fguevara@arquetopia.org

Following selection, applicants are notified immediately via e-mail.

E-mail info@arquetopia.org for more information.

Please also see our Res Artis profile pages for Arquetopia and Arquetopia Oaxaca.

Arquetopia Website:  www.arquetopia.org

Arquetopia on Facebook:  www.facebook.com/Arquetopia

Arquetopia Oaxaca on Facebook:  www.facebook.com/ArquetopiaOaxaca

Arquetopia Blog:  www.arquetopia.com