Below Zero

Exploration of Winter for adventurous Artists

Call for applications, deadline December 10th 2014

Below Zero is a residency for Canadian and international artists interested in experiencing the Canadian winter up close and personal. It will take place over a week in Quebec, Canada in February 2015. The residency will facilitate daily excursions into the outdoors for experimentation, exploration of and production within a wide range of Canadian winter contexts. Participants will have the chance to experience Canada’s picturesque deep snow and ice, wildd life, traditional seasonal activities, long dark nights and possible severe weather through daily expeditions like dog sledding, ice fishing, skiing and skating. Excuersions will be enriched by local naturalists and experts.

Ayatana workshops focus on experience, research and brainstorming by visual and conceptual artists. Writers, poets, musicians and dancers are also invited to apply. Preference will be given to artists working with natural materials, new media, performance, intervention, site specific installation, interactive or nomadic work and interdisciplinary research.  Although it is not necessary for a resident to produce work during the program, collaboration with each other and the non-artist community of experts is encouraged.  All participants will be invited to contribute to the residency catalogue.  We hope the residency will facilitate connection between participants and lead to collaborations or international shows.

We are looking for adventurous, inquisitive artists with enthusiasm for daily brainstorming and creation and a willingness to share the development of early-stage work with a small group.  Like-minded artists will be chosen to encourage collaboration and skill share. The workshop aims to instigate the experimentation and sharing of new materials and artistic ideas in a supportive, analytical and critical context.