ARQUETOPIA PUEBLA - 2012 Emerging Artist Residency (Southern Mexico)

Arquetopia is a nonprofit foundation run entirely by artists. Arquetopia’s programs promote development and social transformation through contemporary art with a non-traditional, 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 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.

 

Puebla, known as the "City of Angels,” 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 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 guide book and digital media publisher, recently announced that Puebla, Mexico has made its Readers’ Choice Top 10 “Best in Travel” list for 2012. After hundreds of nominations for cities and countries and regions, we are proud that Puebla was voted by experienced travelers to the Top 10, alongside such destinations as Barcelona, Reykjavik, Berlin, Istanbul and Bangkok.

 

The San Francisco Chronicle recently named Puebla as one of the top five safest places in Mexico for travelers.

A large, unique three-story Mexican colonial-style house close to Puebla’s historic district and Zócalo accommodates Arquetopia’s office, residency space for up to six artists, and production spaces.

 

The Art Production Residency offers important professional opportunities for emerging and mid-career national and international contemporary artists age 25 and over. Our programs are oriented to promote social consciousness, and artists are strongly encouraged to address social themes as part of their artistic goals for their residency project. As Arquetopia’s mission is to promote social transformation, understanding Mexico’s context, and specifically Puebla’s cultural complexity, is key for a successful cultural exchange. Since our approach is contemporary, we welcome artists from diverse disciplines (painting, drawing, printmaking, sculpture, installation, performance & time based work, etc.) who are interested in creating work with elements, techniques or processes that are specific to Mexico and/or unique to Puebla.

All proposals are welcome. Projects addressing social issues involving the community in the process of creating cutting-edge work with a nontraditional approach on traditional techniques will be given priority. Each residency is unique, based on the type of residency and the artist’s proposal. Residents are chosen on the basis of artistic merit and evaluation of the proposed project.

 

Some examples of techniques offered (but not limited to):

RESIDENCY PROGRAM GUIDELINES
• Selection decisions are based on artistic work. Candidates at all stages of their careers (emerging and established) must display a demonstrated sense of potential. The residency is for artists who want to advance their work.
• The residency pool is diverse in all aspects.
• The residency program is an opportunity for artists to pursue their own work (especially work that in their particular circumstances would normally be difficult to produce.
• The creation of community among fellow artists and staff during the residency period is important.

 

ALL-INCLUDED IN ARQUETOPIA ARTIST RESIDENCIES
Comfortable Accommodation and Meals:
Residents enjoy comfortably furnished bedrooms and use of Arquetopia’s residency space including computer access, wireless Internet, lounge with TV/DVD, kitchen, dining room, outdoor terrace, and private bathrooms with modern fixtures, showers, and hydro-massage tub. Housekeeping, laundry services, and most meals are also included.
Studio and Materials:
Bright and roomy art studio is provided with personal work space, large tables, access to special facilities, tools, 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 is also provided depending on the chosen technique.

 

RESIDENCY TIME PERIOD/TERM OFFERED
This Art Production Residency term is for 3 to 8 weeks during 2012.

RESIDENCY FEE
The fee per person is USD $495 per week, with a minimum of 3 weeks.  Once accepted, applicants remit USD $200 deposit to reserve residency space.  Payment of total residency fee due by 30 days before residency start date.

 

APPLICATION DEADLINE FRIDAY, JULY 6, 2012.
Complete and submit together via e-mail to info@arquetopia.org all of the following:
1. The Arquetopia Artist-in-Residence Program Application (completed by hand and scanned)
2. Resume or curriculum vitae
3. Five sample images of your artistic works and a signed statement attesting that all works are your own
4. Contact info of two professional references
5. Non-refundable application fee of USD $35.00
Via PAYPAL to account address: “fguevara@arquetopia.org” or via international bank transfer (E-mail to request bank transfer account information)

 

ADDITIONALLY
• Independent jury comprised of three curators and/or practicing artists who reflect independence, diversity in artistic fields, gender, race, etc. and knowledge of Arquetopia's programs meets for in-person panel review and selection.
• Following selection, applicants are notified immediately via e-mail.

 

Arquetopia on the Web:  www.arquetopia.org

Arquetopia on Facebook:  www.facebook.com/Arquetopia

Arquetopia Oaxaca on Facebook:  www.facebook.com/ArquetopiaOaxaca

Arquetopia Blog:  www.arquetopia.com