OPEN CALL FOR APPLICATIONS 2010
Description
Cittadellarte-Fondazione Pistoletto is a non-profit organisation founded in 1998, endorsed by the region of Piedmont, Northern Italy. Cittadellarte is located in Biella, in a former 19th century woollen mill, an historic building complex, registered with the Italian Ministry of Cultural Assets.
Since 1998, Cittadellarte-Fondazione Pistoletto has run the UNIDEE in Residence International Programme. UNIDEE is an interdisciplinary program, open to all creative professionals, from visual artists to cultural actors, designers to architects and all those whose practice centres around taking a responsible stance in society.
UNIDEE seeks to explore the relationship between Art and Society and fosters the role of artists and creative practitioners as activators of a responsible social change in society.
During UNIDEE in Residence International Programme there are weekly seminars and a series of workshops with experts from various fields, such as economics, sustainable architecture, sociology and general culture, as well as studio visits and meetings with art critics and curators. Trips and excursions will be organised according to the programme schedule. Moreover, the participants will have the opportunity to create close links and possible collaborations with other offices of Cittadellarte – Fondazione Pistoletto during their stay.
At the core of the program, there is the intention to strengthen and support the participants for the completion of their proposed project, using skills of project management, analysis and development, fund-raising and creative methods and approaches.
The participants will be working in a collective environment (no individual studios will be allocated) where, beyond the personal projects, collaborative practices are strongly encouraged, as well as exploring and engaging in initiatives and actions in the city of Biella and its surroundings.
Open Studio
The residency culminates in an open studio day, the UNIDEE in Progress, in which the participants show the work-in-progress that they have developed during the four month stay. The UNIDEE in Progress focuses on the process of feedback and encourages interaction and dialogue between the participants and the audience.
Education and Outreach
Depending on the experience, practice and interests of the participants, UNIDEE can encourage the design and conduct of educational and outreach projects with community groups.
Programme:
During the programme, residents attend lectures and project presentations from Tuesday through to Thursday, leaving Mondays, Fridays and the weekend free for individual project development. Beyond the regular program, Cittadellarte – Fondazione Pistoletto arranges opportunities to meet and collaborate with experts as well as local partners, including companies, neighbourhoods, schools, institutions and councils.
At the end of the course every resident will receive a certificate of participation. However, it is requested that the resident attends at least 80% of the activities. The certificate of participation will not be awarded if attendance is lower than this percentage.
The residency lasts 4 months, from 15th of June to 15th of October. In mid August the residency program will be suspended for ten days, during which the participants will be free from attendance.
Finances:
The overall cost for the residency is €12000, however, to support the residents, Cittadellarte receives funding from both public and private institutions, and from this partial and total grants are awarded. Due to this, no resident will ever have to pay the full amount.
The selected participants are encouraged to research their own financial support from a third party.
Working/living conditions:
Cittadellarte – Fondazione Pistoletto provides private, single room boarding and shared bathroom facilities. Available to UNIDEE residents is a common studio space (a 700 square meter loft), a simple woodwork shop, library, computer room, cafeteria and kitchen (who provide breakfast, lunch and dinner, inclusive in the price of the residency).
Paid by the host:
• Seminars and workshops
• Excursions
• Visits, lectures, tutorials and technical support
• Participation in Cittadellarte – Fondazione Pistoletto activities
• Board and lodging on the premises
Paid by artist:
Individual travelling expenses, personal needs, insurance costs and visa if required.
Eligibility
A maximum of 14 to 16 places are available each year.
Artists, designers, cultural actors, architects and researchers who fit the profile are welcome to apply.
The basic prerequisite is a degree at university level, or to be in the process of graduating. If the applicant does not have a university degree, proof of equivalent ability must be provided through his or her artistic career. The average participant age ranges from 24 to 40. The official language of the residency is English, and a good level of proficiency in the language is required.
How to apply
Applicants are invited to submit the UNIDEE in Residence application form together with the following material and any supplementary information they consider pertinent in an
assessment such as this:
• A completed and signed application form (download here: PDF format or RTF format);
• Curriculum vitae;
• Documentation of previous work;
• A proposal of the project intended for development during the months of the residency;
• A letter of personal motivation explaining the reasons behind the wish to participate in this residency programme. Please mention your objectives, needs and expectations in relation to
the residency and your project. (Max. 2 pages)
Selection criteria
Only complete applications will be taken into consideration.
Documentation would be prefered as a hard copy submission, however if it is sent by e-mail, only PDF is accepted.
Deadline for application: 15th January 2010. Postal stamp is taken into account.
The selected participants will be announced on the web site of Unidee (www.cittadellarte.it/unidee) by mid February.
The selection committee, chaired by the Cittadellarte – Fondazione Pistoletto Board of Directors and Michelangelo Pistoletto, will select the participants according to the aims and missions of Cittadellarte – Fondazione Pistoletto.
Applications must be submitted to:
UNIDEE in Residence
Cittadellarte – Fondazione Pistoletto
Via Serralunga, 27
13900 Biella – Italia
Or by email: