International residency opportunities for visual a

Date: 4 May 2005

International residency opportunities for visual artists

New Zealand visual artists currently working or exhibiting in New Zealand are invited to apply to Creative New Zealand for two international residencies to be undertaken in 2006 – one at Künstlerhaus Bethanien in Berlin, the other at the International Studio and Curatorial Program in New York.

Established by Creative New Zealand’s Arts Board in 2000, the biennial residencies provide an opportunity for visual artists to work on their approved projects, gain professional development, build international networks and generally increase awareness of New Zealand visual arts.

The 12-month Creative New Zealand Berlin Visual Artists’ Residency at Künstlerhaus Bethanien begins in August 2006. Founded in 1974, Künstlerhaus Bethanien has hosted more than 400 artists from 30 countries since that time. New Zealand artists who have undertaken the Creative New Zealand residency at Künstlerhaus Bethanien are Peter Robinson (2000), Michael Stevenson (2002) and Ronnie van Hout (2004).

With his residency drawing to a close in July, van Hout says that one of the residency’s benefits is that it places the artist within the context of the international art community.

“Berlin is a very good place for artists,” he says. “It’s a very artistic community and it’s been that way historically. Artists and writers, in particular, tend to come here because there’s a community and a certain atmosphere of producing art.”

Creative New Zealand will provide the selected artist with a stipend of $36,000, return airfares and accommodation in a central Berlin apartment. It will also cover studio expenses. Künstlerhaus Bethanien will provide administrative, curatorial, exhibition and publication support. The closing date for applications is 5pm, Friday 26 August 2005.

Creative New Zealand is also offering a four-month residency at New York’s International Studio and Curatorial Program (ISCP), beginning in February 2006. Artists are given 24-hour access to a private studio and will receive visits by at least six guest critics. A field trip outside of New York City will be organised and the artist will be asked to participate in an open-studio exhibition. Previous recipients of this Creative New Zealand residency are Ronnie van Hout (2000), Lisa Crowley (2002) and Christopher Braddock (2004).

Creative New Zealand will offer the selected artist a stipend of US$12,000, plus accommodation and travel costs. It will also cover studio rent and administration fees. The closing date for applications to the International Studio and Curatorial Program is 5pm, Friday 24 June 2005.

For more information and guidelines for both residencies, please contact either Elizabeth Caldwell (Email: elizabethc@creativenz.govt.nz Tel: 04-498 0737) or Danielle Tolson (Email: daniellet@creativenz.govt.nz Tel: 04-473 0184). You can also download the guidelines from the Resources section of Creative New Zealand’s website (www.creativenz.govt.nz).

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