[artinfo] Open Call - Nest Residency(Yerevan, Armenia)

[Anna Kamay]

<https://www.nestresidency.am/en> "Nest" Artist Residency and 
Community Center is now accepting residency applications for 
Spring-Fall 2019 period.


"Nest" is a a community center and residency cluster of 
<https://www.ica.am/en/news>ICA Yerevan for arts and cultural workers 
with a special emphasis on supporting the combination of artistic and 
surviving strategies in a shaping community of colleagues with 
similar lifestyle and political position. It is devoted to 
establishing close cooperation between artists, thinkers, 
researchers, and other cultural actors through interdisciplinary 
programs and residencies. As a part of knowledge-based platform for 
innovative creative production, "Nest" integrates with the social and 
cultural framework of Yerevan while simultaneously supporting a 
strong international focus.


"Nest" Artists Residency and Community Center of ICA Yerevan is 
suited for artists, writers, curators, cultural managers, academics 
and other practitioners providing,  the opportunity to live and work 
in the very heart of Yerevan while developing individual projects and 
immersing themselves in Armenia's creative sphere. Run alongside ICA 
Yerevan's Curatorial School, Theory and Project Labs, it also enables 
residents to benefit from collaboration with these departments that 
draw participants and mentors from a wide range of complementary 
artistic and critical backgrounds, as well as attend talks, lectures 
and workshops by local and international prominent curators, artists 
and thinkers.


Our residency program provides TIME, SPACE and GUIDANCE to explore 
expanded as well as traditional print media, new media, video-art, 
installation, performance, photography, research, painting, drawing, 
etc. while it connects the artists with the art scene of Yerevan, the 
capital of Armenia.


Located in the picturesque area of Aygestan in Yerevan and only a 
short distance from the city's flourishing cultural center, Nest is 
set in a peaceful district, surrounded by university campuses and 
parks. Each resident is provided with a room and production and 
research space during the residency. The residency is fully furnished 
and equipped with WiFi. The building also houses a reading room, 
library, classrooms, and a fully equipped kitchen, all of which are 
open for residents' use. ICA Yerevan also has a beautiful wild garden 
where most of our talks, discussions, presentations and screenings 
are held from Spring to Autumn.


PROGRAM DESCRIPTION


We offer a welcome dinner with presentation, study/studio visits and 
extensive networking with local art scene and the experts in specific 
cultural and/or research fields of the resident, a final showcase of 
resident's research/project results (the format is open and upon the 
resident's choice - from small presentation to exposition. 
Large-scale projects demanding wider production are to be discussed 
in advance). While in its development stage the physical domain of 
the center is itself part of the 'problematic' framework and context 
where the artist/researcher is offered to operate.


DURATION


Individual residencies can last from blitz visits to 5 months, with 
longer periods strongly encouraged. Residents are asked to propose 
their preferred duration of stay and if accepted this can be 
negotiated according to studio availability and schedule. Residencies 
will take place between 21 March - 15 November, 2019.


EXPECTATIONS


The resident is expected to share the results of one's observations. 
The decision on format (presentation, exhibition, performance, 
screening, demonstration, manifesto, dinner, etc) is up to the 
resident. Also an optional contribution for the Nest Reader, a 
publication with selected texts from long or short-term residents as 
well as colleagues and partners is greatly appreciated. We will 
further inform about the terms and conditions of the publishing upon 
the development of the project.


FUNDING


Applicants are responsible for covering the residency fee that 
includes the studio rent, utilities and administrative support. 
Nest's team will issue acceptance letters for successful residents 
and support their applications for external grants to cover the fee, 
travel, food, production and other costs.


APPLICATION GUIDELINES


Please send your letter of intent or project proposal (max. 700 
words) alongside with your CV and portfolio (no more than 5 works) to 
<mailto:anna at ica.am>anna at ica.am. The application process is ongoing 
but we recommend applying early to ensure availability for the 
desired period.


Anna Kamay