Artists’ Residency Call

Residency

April 5, 2023

Malta & Gozo

Artists’ Residency Call

05/04/2023 - 10/05/2023

Residency Visual Arts

Artists’ Residency Call

Joint call by Spazju Kreattiv in collaboration with the Valletta Design Cluster within the Valletta Cultural Agency and the Ministry for Gozo for the Artists’ Residency Programme 2024 – 2025

Spazju Kreattiv, Malta’s National Centre for Creativity, in collaboration with the Valletta Design Cluster within the Valletta Cultural Agency and the Ministry for Gozo invite internationally-based artists and creatives from all contemporary art forms to apply for an immersive and community-based artist-in-residence programme in 2024 and 2025. The duration of each residency may vary from three (3) to four (4) weeks for projects taking place between January 2024 and July 2025.

These residencies are linked to Spazju Kreattiv’s strategic vision of growing the cultural and creative scene in Malta, to the Valletta Cultural Agency’s mission to sustain and strengthen the capital city’s vibrant cultural life through the creation of creative events developed in collaboration with artists, creatives, communities and other Public Cultural Organisations, and to the Ministry for Gozo vision to promote community-led cultural activities in Gozo. The programme is developed in line with Spazju Kreattiv’s remit of being a catalyst of contemporary expression as Malta’s National Centre for Creativity, with the legacy of the Valletta 2018 European Capital of Culture and with Arts Council Malta’s strategy 2025.

In such a framework, our residency programme aims to enrich cultural diversity within the national creative scene by encouraging encounters and exchanges between international and Maltese artists, creative collaborators and local communities, as well as the physical and virtual environments. The residency framework will provide the time for project research and development, as well as opportunities to engage with communities in the presentation of work.

Those interested can apply for any of the following Artists’ Residency Programme strands:

1. Artists’ Residency in Valletta in collaboration with the Valletta Cultural Agency

Residency Duration: 3 – 4 weeks

Residency Location: Valletta Design Cluster, Malta

Number of Residencies: 2 (maximum)

Spazju Kreattiv, in collaboration with the Valletta Cultural Agency, is seeking proposals for residencies taking place at the Valletta Design Cluster, a community space for cultural and creative practice situated in the renovated Old Abattoir building (Il-Biċċerija l-Antika) in Valletta. The residencies are mainly but not exclusively targeted towards artists and creatives from the Global South, EuroMed and MENA countries[1]. Preference will be given to applications dealing with innovative creative arts, cultural diversity and inclusion, and international encounters and exchanges. The selected applicants will be expected to present at least one event/activity related to the residency theme at the Valletta Design Cluster.

These residencies will seek to provide selected artists-in-residence opportunities to collaborate with specific local communities in Valletta having a shared interest in long-standing traditions, social trends and contemporary creative practices. Artists and creatives will have the opportunity to use the Valletta Design Cluster facilities, including equipment at its Makerspace, co-working facilities, meeting/workshop rooms, and Foodspace, as well as engage with its community of members coming from a wide variety of creative disciplines. The Valletta Design Cluster also hosts a public courtyard and a roof garden. They will also have the possibility to engage with the programmes of Spazju Kreattiv and utilise the premises and resources available at St James Cavalier, Valletta.

Each residency can accommodate up to two (2) collaborating artists/practitioners and has to be centred around a clearly identified core project/theme. In the case of 2 individuals coming from the same organisation/collective, the respective roles within the proposed project need to be clarified at the application stage and a justification needs to be provided showing how the identified theme will be addressed in a multidisciplinary multi-perspectival manner.

2. Artists’ Residency in Gozo in collaboration with the Ministry for Gozo

Residency Duration: 3 – 4 weeks

Residency Location: Gozo

Number of Residencies: 2

Those residency projects situated in Gozo, the sister island of Malta, are to be developed within a close-knit community and are meant to maximise cultural immersion within the island and its communities. Selected projects should take into due account the island’s traditions and social fora, and in the process explore opportunities for cultural and creative discoveries.

Each residency can accommodate up to two (2) collaborating artists/practitioners, centred around a clearly identified core project/theme. In cases wherein the proposal includes more than a single artist/practitioner, a justification needs to be provided showing how the identified theme will be addressed in a multidisciplinary multi-perspectival manner.

3. Artists` Residency within other Maltese regions

Residency Duration: 3 – 4 weeks

Residency Location: Within one of the other regions of Malta, other than Gozo and Valletta and its vicinities (please refer to the below map for reference)

Number of Residencies: 2

Those residency projects targeting one of the other regions of Malta, as shown in the below map, are to be developed within local communities of the area. This residency strand is particularly aimed at directly involving local communities in creative projects through the use of community art methods, including but not limited to socially engaged, activistic, performative and craftsmanship activities. Selected applicants should take into due account regions’ socio-political elements, and seek to implement solutions in involving local communities in artistic practices.

Regions map of Malta

Artists’ Residency Programme Priorities

Applications will be considered in relation to the overarching strategic vision of Spazju Kreattiv centred around Artistic Excellence, Community Outreach and Internationalisation, and the Valletta Cultural Agency’s mission (in the case of the residency strand in Valletta) to sustain and strengthen the capital city’s vibrant cultural life through the creation of creative events developed in collaboration with artists, communities and other Public Cultural Organisations. Priority will be given to those applicants who seek to:

i) collaborate directly and actively with local communities and cultures;

ii) willing to interact and network productively with Maltese creatives and/or organisations;

iii) work within a context that relates directly to the programme/s of the organising partners;

iv) present creative forms that are currently emerging or underrepresented in Malta and Gozo.

The applications will be evaluated against various criteria, such as artistic excellence, creative portfolio, and project`s relevance to the current socio-political contexts; creative innovation, community outreach and audience engagement, with special attention on underrepresented audiences, and involvement of the local creatives; internationalisation and cross-collaboration with international counterparts; and overall clarity on the proposal (such as but not limited to, the project aims, themes, action plan, the case for support, budget breakdown, and means of funding).

Conditions

Spazju Kreattiv, in collaboration with the Valletta Cultural Agency and the Ministry for Gozo, will provide those selected with:

– Accommodation (exact location for the Gozo and regional residency to be determined at a later stage);

– Airport transfers;

– Daily subsistence;

– Project allowance;

– Professional assistance in the coordination, development and dissemination of the initiative;

– Promotion of the residency project on our online platforms.

Flight expenses are the responsibility of the selected applicants and need to be booked following consultation with Spazju Kreattiv.

Anything not mentioned above will have to be covered by the selected artists.

Timeframes

The call opens on Wednesday 5th April 2023