The Art History or Cultural Research Residency is a self-directed, non-production based, non-instructional residency designed for curators, art historians, and researchers as well as art history, visual culture, and cultural studies graduate students. Residents work independently in our spaces and special facilities. As part of Arquetopia’s mission, we promote international experiences in the field of culture by facilitating research addressing Mexico’s rich and diverse, cultural and artistic heritage. 

 

We acknowledge the role of serious academic study in enriching the foundation for all interpretations of art; therefore we encourage our curators-in-residence and art historians-in-residence to make a scholarly commitment to the investigation of identity in art and visual culture examining race, gender, sexuality, and class through visual expression.

 

Arquetopia’s programs are distinguished for their commitment to international diversity in the approach to art history subjects.  We are aware that understanding Mexico’s cultural context and complexity is key for a successful experience and cultural exchange; thus Arquetopia’s residency opportunities revolve around researching, learning and creating by addressing subjects that are specific and/or relevant to Mexico. 

 

Each residency is a unique research experience in which residents pursue their own projects free from academic obligations, make use of diverse collections, and participate in the intellectual life of the city. We welcome students and professionals from diverse backgrounds using different methodologies including but not limited to: formalism, social and cultural history, semiotics, and psychoanalysis, interested in immersing themselves in the research of Mexican culture and spending time in the magnificent and historic Spanish colonial cities of Puebla and Oaxaca.

We encourage all residents to develop interdisciplinary investigations for a richer understanding of the subject and artistic practice. Therefore, we provide research guidance and access to experts in the humanities, unique archives and resources such as:  

 

The libraries of the religious orders of Mexico were located in Puebla, Morelia and Oaxaca.  Palafoxiana in Puebla is the oldest library in the Americas, and is the only library of the three that remained intact and authentic, as it was continuously conserved. The origins of date to 1646 when a personal collection of approximately 5,000 volumes was contributed to the Colegio de San Juan y San Pedro by Bishop Juan de Palafox y Mendoza. In 1773, Bishop Don Francisco Fabián y Fuero ordered the construction of the Palafoxiana Library in the historic center of the city of Puebla to house Bishop Juan’s donation. The walls of the 43-meter-long library were fitted with two tiers of bookshelves made of ayacahuite pine, cedar, and coloyote wood. The western wall displays the mid-14th century retable of the Madonna of Trapana, painted by Nino Pisano. Throughout the colonial period large quantities of prints and manuscripts were donated by other bishops, other religious institutions, and private individuals, and the library grew to rival the finest libraries of 18th-century Europe. The library’s collection grew to over 41,000 volumes in the 19th century, requiring a third tier of bookshelves. The baroque cloistered building still has many architectural and decorative elements, including the original 18th-century wooden bookcases.

 

José María Lafragua is the main library of the Universidad Autonoma de Puebla BUAP.  This University has its origins in the late 16th century at the College of the Holy Spirit of the Society of Jesus, and it was opened in 1885 as the library of the College of the State of Puebla. This library gathers books from some local religious orders and 2300 volumes belonging to the personal collection of D. José María Lafragua and other historical documents.  Now, the ancient School is the Autonomous University of Puebla and its Historical Library contains about 90,000 volumes of which over 65% are Rare Books, very important printed books and a collection of newspaper from the 1800s, archival documents and many other heritage objects.

 

The Institute of Graphic Arts of Oaxaca (IAGO) is a museum‐library, created by the painter Francisco Toledo, jointly with the INBA (National Institute of Fine Arts), the Government of the State of Oaxaca and the Civil Association “José F. Gomez” It is situated in a beautiful 18th-century house in front of the Ex‐Convent of Santo Domingo and at one side of the Plazuela del Carmen, on Macedonio Alcalá St.  The principal subjects covered by the 12,000 volumes of the library of IAGO are painting, graphics, drawing, architecture, sculpture, archeology, design, bibliophile, textiles, ceramics, popular art, photography, cinematography and literature. It covers the most important geographic and historic spaces and its development is orientated toward modern art.  The collection of Mexican art is one of the largest, chronologically ordered, from rock to modern art, and including pre‐Hispanic, colonial and contemporary. The collection of almost thirty facsimiles of codices, which continues to grow, is very important. It covers an ample range of countries, artists, techniques, styles and artistic movements. The materials utilized are books, catalogs, magazines, brochures and films, principally in Spanish but also in English, French, German and Italian.

 

The Photo Archive Juan C Méndez belongs to the Government of the State of Puebla and hosts a public collection with 230,000 images grouped in 15 funds.  The collection includes part of the production of Juan Crisóstomo Méndez: negatives, positives, planners, albums and other objects.  The mission of the archive is to continue studying and researching visual culture and the visual heritage of the 15 funds, as well as contemporary photography.

 

The Museum of Religious Art is one of the largest collections of religious art with a special focus in femininity.  It has four main collections from the 1600’s to the 1800’s, originals from the Convents of Santa Monica (Augustinian Recollect), Santa Catalina (Dominican), Sts. Joachim and Anne (Capuchins) and Soledad (Discalced Carmelites).  The collection contains art work of important artists including: Juan Correa, Pascual Pérez, Juan de Villalobos, José Patricio Polo, Luis Berrueco, José de Marimón, Miguel Cabrera, Nicolás Rodríguez Juárez, Francisco Castillo, Miguel Jerónimo de Zendejas, Lorenzo Zendejas, Rafael Morante, as well as attributed to Juan Tinoco y Joseph Magón.  The collections also include gilded sculptures, paintings, books, documents (including recipes), textiles and objects.

 

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).

 

INCLUDED IN ARQUETOPIA RESEARCH RESIDENCIES
COMFORTABLE ACCOMMODATION AND MEALS
Puebla: Comfortably furnished bedrooms and use of Arquetopia’s residency space including wireless Internet, 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.

Oaxaca: Spacious, comfortably furnished bedrooms (rooms feature main level or loft accommodation) with full-size beds and use of Arquetopia Oaxaca’s well-equipped residency space including wireless Internet, kitchen, dining area, covered outdoor patio and lounge space, and shared bathrooms with modern fixtures and showers are provided. Meals, open access to the kitchen, and housekeeping are included.

Both Puebla and Oaxaca: Desk or table is provided for personal workspace.

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.

 

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.

 

Arquetopia Oaxaca is conveniently located right in the heart of Oaxaca’s central historic district. Only two blocks from the popular Calle de Alcalá (a picturesque street known for its restaurants, museums, shops, and nightlife), our beautiful and newly renovated adobe casona, hosting up to ten artists at a time, is also two blocks from the extraordinary Santo Domingo convent, museum, and ethnobotanical garden.

 

This program is offered at terms of 3 to 8 weeks. Term dates are not predetermined but are nominated by the applicant.

 

USD $529 per week in Puebla or in Oaxaca which includes accommodation; meals and open access to the kitchen; housekeeping; personal workspace; and access to special facilities pertaining to the project proposal.

 

Deposit of 10% of the Total Residency Fee (or USD $200, whichever is greater) due within 14 days of selection notification.

Residency Program Fee balance 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