WHY: Together we are working to revitalize a historic building in the center of Athens, both physically (painting, sanding, construction, cleaning) and culturally (collective processes, experiments, events, and gatherings). As we spiral upwards we are looking for collaborators, for socially engaged synergies. We want to share best practices with others in a process that is mutually beneficial. We are especially interested in working with those who are building community through projects, revitalizing spaces, and have developed strategies for new ways of collaborating. We wish to support and learn from artists producing a different kind of art: those discovering a way to access whatever may be possible outside of traditional structures and methodologies, even if it does not resemble art as we currently understand it. We​ ​are​ looking​ for​ an​ osmosis​ of disciplines, ​converging​ ​lines​ ​of​​ thought, ​and​ ​the​ ​sharing​ ​of​ ​knowledge, ​​theory​ ​and practice. In​ ​the​ ​week ​of 21–28​ ​April​ ​2018, ​we​ ​will​ ​experience ​a​ ​week​ of​ ​exhibitions, screenings, ​workshops, ​​concerts, ​​and​ ​social​ ​activities​ ​showcasing​ ​our​ ​common​ ​work.

WHO: We are looking for individuals and collectives based outside of Athens, ready to integrate and participate in our collaborative structure. Suitable for self-directed and/or research based projects in any field (including renovation, design, architecture, fashion, reuse, circular economy, hairdressing, cooking, gardening, visual art, writing, video, movement, performance, social practice, game designers, musicians, sound designers, scholars, and anyone else we have not thought of yet.) We are especially interested in enthusiasm, energy, experience and creativity to share as we recreate our building and grow a community of innovators.

WHAT: We are seeking proposals for an informal, artist-run, and collective residency program within a changing community of creative collaborators. We value communication, co-creation, accountability, experimentation, and safe space. Residents are invited to develop projects that integrate their practice with our development and maintenance of a new cultural space, to foster a sense of cooperation as we renovate the building. A constantly changing physical and social environment, Communitism is always a work-in-progress, and there are many opportunities to participate. We are especially keen to engage with those who have a generative, socially collaborative practice, and have experience working collectively. We are not looking for exhibitions of readymade art, we are interested in projects that involve people in a process that can range from a few hours to a few days. Creative ideas for a makerspace, café, free shop, gallery, social space, kitchen, bathroom, furniture, doorbell, stairwells, and cinema space welcome!

WHERE: ​ Kerameikou 28​, ​deep in​ ​the​ ​heart​ of ​Metaxourgeio,​ ​one​ ​of​ ​the​ most​ diverse neighborhoods in​ Athens. ​We​ ​ coexist​ ​ with heavy substance users, a ​red​ ​light​ ​district, refugee accommodation, and​ ​ Asian​ ​and African​ immigrants. ​We are offering working space in our building in various stages of renovation and disrepair. Housing, travel, living expenses​ are currently​ ​not​ ​offered​ ​as​ ​a​ ​part​ ​of​ ​the​ ​residency.

We are working on a solutions package, ranging from hosting in the building or our houses, to affordable spaces in the neighborhood and even to some pretty fancy ones around the block, depending on your budget. We are also eager to provide you with necessary documents on retrieving funds and information on relevant funding options. Additional attention is being given to ensure our own funds for people that can apply for a granted residency.

WHEN: ​ Deadline extended to January 15. We​ ​invite​ ​artists, ​theoreticians​ ​and​ ​practitioners​ of creative commons to​ submit proposals​ ​for​ a​ ​residency​ ​project, ​for​ ​a​ ​minimum​ ​of​ ​1​ ​week​ ​to​ ​a​ ​maximum​ ​2​ months, between​ March​ ​2018​ ​and​ ​our​ ​culminating​ ​event​ ​in​ ​ 21–28 of​ ​April​ ​2018. Please let us know your preferred dates.

Application​:

1. Proposal: ​ ​ How you will interact, the ideas behind your project, and why you would like to be a part of our building project. ​ ​ (max.​ ​ 500​ ​ words).

2. Portfolio​ or description of​ previous​ ​ related​ ​ projects. ​ (max.​ ​ 500​ ​ words).

3. Dates: please specify weeks you would like to be with us.

4. Contact information: email, phone and skype.

5. Granted residency: please enlist an estimation of the necessary expenses along with a brief statement of your motivation.

SUBMISSION DEADLINE: 15​ January​ ​ 2018

Email applications and any questions to submissions.communitism@gmail.com