Short-term stays of 2 weeks in 2014 for art professionals and cultural researchers at Arquetopia, Mexico's premier artist residency, in either or both magnificent colonial kaleidoscopes of Puebla and Oaxaca.
Application Deadline Sunday, January 26, 2014.
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.
SHORT-TERM RESEARCH RESIDENCY – TERMS OF 2 WEEKS
The Short-Term Research Residency is an autonomous residency designed to explore the context, research specific topics and/or design new art projects. Through a short-term stay (terms of 2 weeks), it offers a flexible structure for art professionals and cultural researchers age 25 and over. The 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 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 Short-Term Research Residency 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 do).
• The Short-Term Research Residency is not for art production or projects requiring studio space, materials, or supplies. For these we offer a separate array of production residencies.
• The creation of community among fellow artists and staff during the residency period is important.
PUEBLA, MEXICO
A large, unique three-story Mexican colonial-style house close to Puebla’s Historic District and Zócalo accommodates the offices, residency space for up to seven artists, and production spaces of Arquetopia.
Known as the "City of Angels,” Puebla 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 five pre-Hispanic/indigenous cultures, Arabic, Jewish, French and Spanish influences. Accessible via two international airports in Puebla (PBC) and Mexico City (MEX), Puebla lies 45 km (28 mi) 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, announced that Puebla made its Readers’ Choice Top 10 “Best in Travel” list for 2012. 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.
OAXACA, MEXICO
Arquetopia Oaxaca is located right in the heart of Oaxaca’s 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.
The beautiful colonial city of Oaxaca is 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. At an elevation of 1555 m (5100 ft), Oaxaca features a subtropical climate, resulting in mild-to-warm temperatures year-round.
Rich in history and culture, Oaxaca is a fascinating destination where you can appreciate ancient civilizations, colonial art and architecture and vibrant cultural traditions. Oaxaca is one of the safest Mexican tourist destinations you could choose.
RESIDENCY PROGRAM FEE AND INCLUSIONS
USD $595 per week in Puebla and/or Oaxaca which covers accommodation, 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 10 days of selection notification.
Total Residency Program Fee due by 60 days prior to residency start date.
In contrast to vacation resorts and B&B's marketing themselves part-time as quasi art residencies, both Arquetopia and Arquetopia Oaxaca have always been professional spaces exclusively for artists and include structured programs; a network of collaborative workspaces, institutions, and studios; and project support. The residency program fee covers the costs of our facilities, a small staff, utilities, typical art materials and supplies, meals, and housekeeping. For the Special Instructional Residencies we offer, the instruction our residents receive from the master artists we contract –many of whom are local and indigenous artists from the poorest communities– is also funded directly from the residency program fee.
INITIATE YOUR APPLICATION
Visit the Arquetopia website at http://www.arquetopia.org">www.arquetopia.org
E-mail info@arquetopia.org for more information or to request a printable PDF application form to complete by hand.
Complete and submit the Arquetopia Artist-in-Residence http://www.arquetopia.org/index.php/programa-de-artistas-en-residencia-2/artist-in-residence-application-form">Online Application Form 2013-2014, following the instructions on the web page.
Following selection, applicants are notified immediately via e-mail.
Arquetopia is committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members of our diverse local and international community. Arquetopia's resident artist and staff backgrounds vary in all aspects. As part of Arquetopia’s mission is to promote diversity, Arquetopia actively fights discrimination by offering access to its programs, activities, and employment without regard to race, color, gender or gender expression, national origin, age, religion, creed, or sexual orientation.
Arquetopia Website: http://www.arquetopia.org">www.arquetopia.org
Arquetopia Blog: http://www.arquetopia.com">www.arquetopia.com
Arquetopia on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Arquetopia">www.facebook.com/Arquetopia
Arquetopia Oaxaca on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ArquetopiaOaxaca">www.facebook.com/ArquetopiaOaxaca