OPEN CALL FOR ARTISTS

En Español

OPEN CALL FOR ARTISTS
Deadline for proposals is October 31

The First Food Residency is seeking artists from Mexico to apply for a UK based research residency, concluding in a group exhibition.

The research should be based around the idea of British ‘first foods.’ As guidance we suggest artists start with the idea of MILK, WHEAT and HONEY. Please see ‘application guidelines’ for more information.

Five artists will be selected from a shortlist of 15. Selection will be made by founding members of the First Food Residency, supported by Lourdes Baez, director of Centro de las Artes, San Agustin (CaSa).
The residency will take place over a six/eight week period between April and June 2015.

We are offering accommodation and work space at The Owl Barn in Cirencester, with the option for artists to work and exhibit in Bristol. We can also help artists with creative contacts in the UK, including London.

This residency is in the final stages of consideration for the 2015 Dual Year between Mexico and the UK. Information about funding to cover flights and living costs will be available when this has been announced. If shortlisted, artists will need to give details of their funding. 
http://embamex.sre.gob.mx/reinounido/index.php/en/2015-year-of-mexico-in-the-united-kingdom

The First Food Artists Residency is a program bringing artists together to explore essential foods as part of a creative dialogue.

The First Food Residency completed its first research program with five British artists in Oaxaca, Mexico, in July/August 2014, producing work focused on the idea of first foods in the area. (See the work at www.facebook.com/firstfoodartistresidency). The returning residency, as before, will be focused on ‘first foods’ this time with loose working guideline of Milk, Wheat and Honey.

We are seeking Mexican artists from different areas of the arts to engage with the project. They would be encouraged to have some English and their proposal should reflect their interest and a commitment to exhibition with the First Food residency artists from this year. There will be a short and intense working schedule of just over month and then time for an exhibition at the end. This will ensure a rapid and immediate response in the work.

Artists from Mexico will have the opportunity to have access to private farms including organic and chemical farming processes. They will be able to visit and work on the site of a dairy farm and experience old feudal farm systems where they are still in operation.

There will be a driver/ facilitator provided by the First Food Residency. They will be working part time, but available to the artists to help with materials, food shopping and journeys to main public transport and places of personal interest for the work.

The Owl Barn was set up in 2012 to encourage young artists at the start of their careers. It has links with charitable foundations and has provided outreach art workshops for The Nelson Trust, involved in the rehabilitation of drug addicts. It is hosted by Vanessa Arbuthnott, a well known printed textile designer, and is situated in a rural setting on the outskirts of Cirencester, near to Bristol and Oxford. 

APPLICATION GUIDELINES

The UK residency is open to artists from all areas, from painting and sculpture to dance and performance. Please send your proposal to firstfoodresidency@gmail.com

In your proposal please include the answers to the following:

Name

Age


Address


A current photograph


Details of education and previous work. Details of any exhibited and/or published work. Biography relating to artistic practice.
(100-200 words)

Three examples of your previous artistic practice.


Please include images with date of production, and dimensions. If you are a performer, please include photographs or video links.

Creative intention. (300-500 words)

A 6/8 week itinerary
(how do you plan use the time to research and produce work?)

Details of what facilities/ materials you may need. Details of any funding you are applying for.

A letter of reference or introduction from a recognised artist or arts institution. (this can be from the UK or Mexico).

Level of English: (Fluent/Confident/Basic/None)