The Mexican Ceramics Special Artist Residency is a self-directed Art Production Residency that provides the unique opportunity to produce a variety of work at a prominent ceramics factory studio in the central historic district of Puebla (the majestic city most famous for Talavera ceramics).

 

Our Artist-in-Residence Programs offer competitive professional opportunities for emerging and mid-career, national and international artists, designers, curators, art historians, art educators, and cultural researchers age 25 and over.

Our programs are based on a non-exploitative model promoting social consciousness. Residents are strongly encouraged to explore various ways of cultural exchange as part of their artistic and/or research goals and to actively engage in critical discussions as part of their residency experience. As Arquetopia’s mission is to promote social transformation, understanding Mexico’s context, and specifically Puebla and Oaxaca’s cultural complexity, is key for a successful cultural exchange. We welcome artists, designers, curators and historians from diverse backgrounds and disciplines who are interested in creating work or inspired by art, elements, techniques or processes that are specific to Mexico and/or unique to Puebla or Oaxaca.

 

Selection decisions are based on artistic work and proposed project. Candidates at all stages of their careers (emerging and established) must demonstrate a clear sense of potential.

Our pool of applicants and residents is diverse in all aspects.

Our residency programs are competitive opportunities for artists and researchers to pursue their own work, free of pressure (especially work that in their particular circumstances would normally be difficult to produce).

 

Comfortably furnished bedrooms and use of Arquetopia’s residency space including wireless Internet, library, lounge areas, kitchen, dining room, outdoor terrace, and shared bathrooms with modern fixtures and showers are provided. Meals, open access to the kitchen, and housekeeping are included.

Large and bright, shared art studio is provided with personal workspace; large tables; some tools; and ceramics materials and supplies. In cases where a specific technique, space and/or materials are not available for a proposed project, our foundation will work with the artist and community on alternatives that will suit the work. Access to special facilities (such as our partnered ceramics factory studio) is also provided.

Founded in 2009, Arquetopia is an award-winning, Mexican official nonprofit foundation for visual arts and music, run entirely by artists. Arquetopia’s programs promote development and social transformation through contemporary art with a nontraditional, 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.

A large, spectacular 1939 Mexican colonial castle-style compound conveniently located in Puebla’s central historic district accommodates the offices, residency space for up to twelve artists,
 and numerous 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 guidebook and digital media publisher, announced that Puebla made its Readers’ Choice Top 10 “Best in Travel” list for 2012. A 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.

 

This program is offered at terms of 6 to 24 weeks. Term dates are not predetermined but are nominated by the applicant.

USD $595 per week which includes accommodation; meals and open access to the kitchen; housekeeping; studio space; some tools; and ceramics materials and supplies.

Deposit of 10% of the Total Program Fee due within 14 days of selection notification.

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

 

In contrast to vacation rentals, B&B’s, and sublets 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 accommodation in our facilities including meals, utilities and housekeeping; weekly meetings with guidance and assistance from our staff; studio space; and some tools. For the Instructional Residencies we offer, the instruction our residents receive from the Mexican local master artists we contract is also funded directly from the residency program fee.

 

Visit the Arquetopia website at http://www.arquetopia.org">www.arquetopia.org

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

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, 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 and activities without regard to race, color, gender or gender expression, national origin, age, religion, creed, or sexual orientation.

 

Arquetopia on the Web: 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