UNIDEE residency summer 2022: Sustaining Embedded Arts Practice

Concluding the research arc around embedded arts practices curated by Andy Abbott (1), UNIDEE and Cittadellarte-Fondazione Pistoletto are pleased to invite applications for the next UNIDEE Residency taking place June 2022 at Cittadellarte, Biella, Italy.

The residency is an opportunity to share and unpack your ongoing practice or action research with a group of peers and guest mentors including artist and co-leader of the Victoria Square Project Maria Papadimitriou (Greece), economic geographer and co-author of Take Back the Economy: An Ethical Guide for Transforming Our Communities Professor Katherine Gibson (Australia), artist, activist, and author of Art as Social Action and Dark Matter Gregory Sholette (USA), cultural producer and director of the creative regeneration practice Media and Arts Partnership (MAAP) Sue Ball (UK), and curator, writer, researcher and artistic director of the East Leeds Project Dr Kerry Harker (UK).

Over the course of two weeks two groups of up to eight residents will engage in a programme of seminars and presentations, group discussions and critiques, workshops, visits, and other responsive and informal activities through which you will gain multiple perspectives on the work you are undertaking in your locale. There will be a focus on practical methods for sustaining long-term and durational embedded arts practices.

For more context and information about the background and concept for the residency see Curatorial Statement.

How will it work?
The programme will be split into two sequential week-long residencies for up to eight residents each from the June 6 to the 17, 2022, with a seminar and handover session to link the two. The residency will take place at Cittadellarte Fondazione-Pistoletto using the UNIDEE Residency program space as a shared studio for group discussions, sharing sessions and presentations, with the opportunity for exploration and engagement with the postindustrial and rural landscapes of Biella. Participants will visit the exhibitions in Cittadellarte as an entry point to its practice.

The methods we will draw upon include group critiques—at which you will be expected to give a short presentation of the practice or action research you are sharing as part of the residency—as well as group exercises, workshops and less formal activities (group meals, walks etc.). At the end of the week you will be asked to leave a trace of your experience as a basis for a handover and a ‘toolkit for embedded practice’.

Residents will stay in accommodation within Cittadellarte that includes basic cooking facilities.

Programme and practicalities
Participants of week one will arrive on evening of Sunday, June 5 and depart Monday, June, 13. Maria Papadimitriou will be the guest mentor for this week.

Participants of week two will arrive Friday, June 10 and depart Saturday, June 18. Gregory Sholette, Katherine Gibson, Sue Ball and Kerry Harker will be the guest mentors for this week.

There will be a symposium and seminar on Saturday, June 11 with all guest mentors and a handover session on Sunday, June 12 for both groups.

There is a 280 EUR fee to cover participation in the residency and accommodation whilst in Biella. Participants will be required to arrange and cover their own travel to/from Biella and food/living costs whilst in Cittadellarte.

A limited number of part and full bursaries (including a contribution towards travel costs) are available to those that would not otherwise be able to participate; please state in your application if you would need to be considered for these in order to take part.

Who is it for and what is expected of me?
We hope to select a cohort of 8 participants per week from an open call that will include previous UNIDEE alumni. For alumni of previous programmes the ongoing embedded practice you will share can be that which you developed during your previous UNIDEE 2020–22 residencies, an extension of this or a related project. Selection will be based upon participants’ willingness and ability to share the practice they are engaged in, and collectively reflect upon this with peers. We will aim to select cohorts with a range of practices, location/perspective and experience.

How do I apply?
Application is by Expression of Interest by filling out the application form with the following requirement:
–Indicate the week of preference
–Up to 150 words about yourself and your practice and/or experience, and your suitability for the programme.
–Up to 200 words about the ongoing project or research that you will share as part of the residency including details about the local context (place, communities, audiences) and what long-term change you could hope to facilitate.
–Up to 150 words about how you may share this practice with others and what you hope to gain and learn from the residency.
–If you would like to apply for a bursary to go towards travel expenses and/or cover the residency fee up to 150 words explaining why you would like to be considered for a bursary and an outline of costs.
* and a CV / Portfolio in PDF format (max. 8mb).

Applicants must submit their application by email to unidee [​at​] cittadellarte.it stating: “UNIDEE 2022 Summer Residency application (your name)” as a subject line.

Deadline for submissions is April 7, 2022 and we will let successful applicants know a decision by April 15, 2022.

Note:
(1) See 2020’s Embedded Arts Practice in a Postpandemic Future, 2021’s Groundwork for Embedded Arts Practice residencies and Tools and Technologies for Embedded Practice Arts Labs, and 2022’s Tools for the Commons Arts Labs.

Partners
UNIDEE patrons are Regione Piemonte, Compagnia di San Paolo, CRT Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Torino, illycaffè S.p.A., Fondazione Zegna
UNIDEE AIR partner are A.M. Qattan, Institut Français Italy