For We Need Space & Time:
A Residency for 4 Recent Fine Art Graduates from London & Helsinki.
The British Council, The Finnish Academy of Fine Arts, Goldsmiths College London, X Presents London, and HIAP – Helsinki International Artist Programme come together as partners offering this residency programme open to 4 recent fine art graduates from Finland (2) and Britain (2). The one-month residency in August 2011 will take place in Suomenlinna, the UNESCO World Heritage fortress island in Helsinki, in the residency studios administrated by HIAP.
Working and living together, the programme aims to enable genuine collaboration that will inform modes of working in both countries beyond the one-month period of the residency. Bringing together large institutions, artist run groups and individuals, the programme forms a varied working group and broad network within which to address debates and ideas surrounding the artist residency, art education and working conditions of recent graduates in fine art.
Artists will be expected to collaboratively interrogate the essence of an artist residency and its relationship to art education and role in art production in the context of Finland and the United Kingdom. As well as exploring what it means to be a newly graduated artist in each location, and the challenges and opportunities that face artists in the early stages of their often precarious working lives, the residency will culminate in an exhibition in both Helsinki (Finnish Academy of Fine Arts, Kaiku-Gallery) and London (location to be confirmed) and the opportunity to hold talks, events and open studios where appropriate.
The participating artists will be provided with travels costs to and from Helsinki, accommodation and a grant of 600€ for living expenses. There will be a 24h access to a large artists’ studio (100sqm/1080sqft) as a shared working space. A modest production budget will also be provided for realising the exhibitions in Helsinki and London.
The deadline for applications is: Friday July 8th at 5pm GMT and should be sent by email to: forweneedspaceandtime@gmail.com. Applications should include:
• CV (no more than 2 pages)
• 6 images of recent work, jpeg format no more than 100dpi each.
• List of images above with accompanying description of work if applicable
• 1 page statement saying (a) why you would like to participate in the residency and (b) how you would approach the residency period
Eligibility:
The programme is open to anyone who has graduated between 2009 and 2011 from The Finnish Academy of Fine Arts and the Department of Art, Goldsmiths College, University of London. Two artists will be selected from each institution.
Selection Panel:
Sarah Walters (X-Presents London, and recent Goldsmiths graduate); Marita Muukkonen (HIAP, Helsinki); Susan Kelly (Course Leader BA Fine Art & History of Art, Goldsmiths, London); Irmeli Kokko (Finnish Academy of Fine Arts)
Selection Criteria:
Appropriateness and relevance of applicants’ statement and practice.
Strength and quality of artwork submitted.
Evidence of engagement and involvement with cultural contexts of either city.
Documentation
Participants are requested to document some of the processes, discussions and debates that take place on the residency in any format so that this experience can be disseminated and used to inform future programmes.
