The aim of residency programme is to bring together artists from different spheres (film and photography, multimedia, dance, theatre, writing, design etc.) to create artworks that address important social and environmental issues.
Cesis is a small medieval town, an hour’s drive from Riga, the capital of Latvia, with a rich cultural heritage and numerous new creative initiatives. Cesis region has historically been known for its intellectual capacity as many writers, artists and politically and socially active people come from this area. The aim of the Rucka Artist Residency is to continue the well-established intellectual traditions and to create a space that serves as a meeting point for artists coming from various disciplines to create cross-disciplinary projects dealing with social and environmental issues and a place where new ideas and initiatives are born. From September to May Rucka Artist Residency is open to individual residents, while from June to August the building serves as a venue for different summer events.
The activities of Rucka Artist Residency are also firmly based on ideas of green living, community involvement and downshifting as a way of life. The food served at the residency is prepared using the locally grown produce, the residency is cooperating with the municipal Social Service to involve socially disadvantaged people as workers, residency centre is providing open lectures during the summer events and organising documentary film screenings, residents and summer school participants are working on projects that ensure interaction with local community.
Event informations
Duration of residency
6 artists will be accepted during this call and each will be staying at the residency for 2 (two) months with possibility of splitting the visit in two parts. We suggest that artists plan their visit in September-October 2016 and/or March-May 2017.
Disciplines supported
The aim of residency programme is to bring together artists from different spheres (film and photography, multimedia, dance, theatre, writing, design etc.) to create artworks that address important social and environmental issues.
Accommodation
Artists live in private bedrooms with shared bathroom. A fully-equipped kitchen and dining area is also available to the residents on a self-serve basis.
Workspace/technical information
The residents have access to video editing room, analogue photography laboratory, open space studios and library. Fast internet is available in the whole building. The residency founders work in the same building and can provide support to the residents. The residency centre is located in the middle of an old park providing inspiring atmosphere for work, while the historic town centre is within a walking distance. Cesis has a recently built modern concert hall where high quality music events, film screenings and exhibitions take place on a regular basis. The town is located in the middle of Gauja National Park with plenty of opportunities for active recreation depending on the season, a sports complex with a pool and gym is located within 10-minute drive.
Fees and support
Each artist will receive a monthly stipend of 500 EUR to cover their accommodation and access to studio space. In addition to that travel costs from the home country to Latvia (Riga airport and travel from Riga to Cesis). Production grants for working in the analogue photo laboratory (chemicals for developing photo films, photo paper and other supplies) and video editing room will also be provided.
Expectations towards the artist
At the end of the residency period, artists are expected to share the results of the work created with the local community in the form of exhibition, screening, artist talk or other performance.
Application information
Deadline for applications is 12 August 2016. The results will be available after 15 August 2016. For any inquiries concerning the residency program, please email us at rucka@rucka.lv.
Selection process
The application criteria will include importance of the topic proposed and its relevance to the aims of residency programme and Rucka Artist Residency, previous experience and artistic merit of the applicant, and interest/ability of the applicant to involve local community in development of his/her work.
To apply for residency please download the application form HERE