Everyday Forms of Resistance is an exchange and public programme that has come about as a result of the collaboration between Ujazdowski Castle Centre for Contemporary Art in Warsaw (U–jazdowski); Helsinki International Artist Programme (HIAP); Antwerp Artists In Residence (AAIR) and Mamarat AIR programme by the Municipality of Ramallah.

This project offers annually residencies for six visual artists and looks at the role of artistic practice and mobility in the specific circumstances of Ramallah and Palestine and does this through the strategy of exchange.

The first part of the residencies (June–August 2020) is open to artists from Belgium, Finland, and Poland. One artist from each of these countries will be selected to spend three months living and working in the city of Ramallah.

The second part of the residencies is open to Palestinian artists and will enable them to spend a three-month residency in Warsaw (June–August 2020), Antwerp (July–September 2020) or Helsinki (September–November 2020). Each country will host one Palestinian artist.

The exchange program, modeled to encourage artists to engage in conversations among themselves and with their audiences, will culminate every two years in a series of talks and meetings hosted by one of the partners. Next edition will take place in fall 2021.

Conditions

This open call is for art practitioners working in the field of visual arts in its broadest sense. The residencies are an opportunity for art practitioners to engage with the local context to develop new artworks.

A professional committee will select artists based on the professional excellence of the applicant’s work. The committee members are Sally Abu Bakr, Director of the department Culture and Social Affairs at Ramallah Municipality; Yazid Anani, Director of the Public Program at Qattan Foundation; Khaldun Bshara, Director of Riwaq Centre in Ramallah; Juha Huuskonen, Director HIAP – Helsinki International Artist Programme; Ika Sienkiewicz-Nowacka, Head of Artistic Residencies Department at Ujazdowski Castle Centre for Contemporary Art, Warsaw; Bogna Świątkowska, Head of Bęc Zmiana Foundation and Alan Quireyns, Antwerp Artists In Residence.

Residency benefits include:
– A monthly per diem;
– Accomodation;
– Reimbursement of one return ticket to and from the place of residency;
– Material costs;
– The organisation of a public event during the residency;
– Organizing a customized program of study visits;
– Participation in the bi-annual meeting point;

Please note that visa fees or insurance costs connected to visa applications are not covered.

How to apply

• Please send an electronic version of your application indicating the name of city where would you like to apply in the email’s title in one document to the following e-mail address: mamaratresidency@gmail.com (preferred format: pdf in English).
• The application document should include:
  • professional work experience in form of a portfolio containing descriptions of up to five projects;
  • a cover letter;
  • a concept note (250 words max) of the project you would like to develop during residency;
  • your CV.
• Please label the portfolio as follows: chosen city (Warsaw, Antwerpen, Ramallah or Helsinki) your surname_your name_application.pdf.

The deadline for the open call is January 31, 2020. The committee will announce the results of their evaluation of the submitted applications by February 14, 2020.

For more info about the residency please visit the following websites:
www.ramallah.ps
www.u-jazdowski.pl/en/programme/residencies/open-calls
www.aair.be
www.hiap.fi

Residency at U–jazdowski will accompany an exhibition Everyday Forms of Resistance. This project investigates in its broadest sense the role of art within society and the daily use of forms of resistance in Palestine, as well as worldwide. How do we, as civilians, deal on a daily basis with the challenges of these times? What are the everyday gestures that allow us to resist, and how does art come into play? More info about the project may be found here.