Res Artis Public Newsletter June 2020

Permanent closure of Res Artis MENASA office

Sadly, Res Artis and Kooshk Residency have ended our collaboration due to the impact of COVID-19, and the Res Artis MENASA office in Tehran is now permanently closed. Res Artis wishes to thank the Founder and Director of Kooshk, Ehsan Rasoulof, for his tremendous support over the past 4 years. As a not-for-profit foundation that is entirely reliant on member subscriptions, we simply could not have progressed our strategic priority of broadening our international status and reach in the MENASA region without Ehsan’s generous support.

What started with our dear friend and colleague Tooraj Khamenehzadeh representing Kooshk Residency on the Board of Directors of Res Artis from April 2016, quickly led to our first ever Res Artis conference in the Middle East in November 2016 – Roots and Routes: Challenges and Opportunities of Connectivity. The conference was such a resounding success that in August 2017 Kooshk Residency and Res Artis formed an ongoing collaboration through the establishment of a new MENASA office. The office was staffed by the talented Maryam Bagheri who went on to focus on Res Artis work and connectivity in the MENASA Region, as well as providing general assistance to our small team.

A huge thank you to our former MENASA Cluster Coordinator, Maryam Bagheri and our recent appointment Ferdos Soodani as Communications Officer. We wish them all the best in their future career path. It has been an incredible journey, and both Res Artis and Kooshk are very sorry to see it come to an end.

Round 1 now closed –
COVID-19: Impact Survey on the Arts Residencies Field

Arts residencies are at a global standstill. By our very nature of facilitating quality international and national arts and cultural exchange, the field of arts residencies is one of the hardest hit.

Res Artis is partnering with UCL (University College London) to conduct this survey to assess the true impact of COVID-19 specifically on the arts residencies field. This survey first examines the immediate impact; and then we will ask respondents to complete two further short surveys to analyse the medium-term; and long-term effects.

Thank you to everyone who took the time to contribute to the first step of this important research and data collection. The feedback from artists and arts residency organisations around the globe will assist Res Artis in partnership with UCL to advocate for support, much-needed resources and emergency funding on behalf of the sector. It will help us all, as a collective whole, gain a deeper understanding of the situation and how we might work together to rebuild and strengthen the field.

We will share our findings shortly, and please watch out for the invitation to contribute to the next survey round.

Save the Date – Res Artis Conference Thailand 2021

Res Artis Conference 2021 Bangkok: Defining the Next Decade

10 – 12 February 2021

In partnership with Subhashok The Arts Centre, Res Artis is excited to announce our next conference will be held in Bangkok, Thailand at Bangkok Arts and Cultural Centre (BACC) supported by the French Embassy in Bangkok and EUNIC.

Titled Defining the Next Decade, the conference will examine the tremendous impact of COVID-19 and future of the international arts residencies field.

The conference will present the results of Res Artis survey data and examine new models of arts residencies that have evolved in response to the pandemic. In particular, we will discuss the rise in local exchange, virtual residencies and digital residency activity that has occurred while physical exchange can’t take place.

Held in the buzzing metropolis of Bangkok, our conference will coincide with the Bangkok Art Biennale, and introduce participants to the rapidly growing Biennale, gallery and arts residency landscape to explore how a city has adapted their cultural dialogue during COVID-19.

Associate Member funding opportunity form live

Image from our member Waaw Senegal.

Are you an arts council, philanthropic trust, foundation or ministry that provides funding opportunities for artists to undertake residencies or support for arts residency operators? A brand new feature on the website has just been finalised. We have added a tool to be used by Associate Members who can post information about funding rounds relating to the arts residencies field.

Here is a sneak preview. If you are not already a Res Artis Member, please join now to access this new promotional tool and reach our diverse and impressive audience.

Stand with Res Artis!

Res Artis is a not-for-profit foundation run entirely on member subscriptions. Res Artis cannot continue to exist without the support of our members. Despite our global and sizable outreach, our team comprises 1.3 full time equivalent staff and the volunteer contributions of our board.

Please give back to the network who has promoted and supported global arts residencies for 27 years. Stand with Res Artis!

If you are interested in a Res Artis membership, you can find more information on our Membership page.

If you are in a position to further support, there has never been a better time to Donate to Res Artis.

Please email [email protected] for any membership or billing enquiries.

Advertise with Res Artis!

Are you looking to advertise a training opportunity, job advertisement or event that is interesting for the arts residencies field and in line with our vision, mission and values? Then take advantage of our extensive reach and reputation, and advertise your opportunity through our network!

As the leading institution in the arts residency sector, we pride ourselves on a huge follower base both on our website as well as on our social media platforms – with around 250,000 page views per month and over 125,000 followers on Facebook. Don’t miss out on reaching artists and cultural workers around the globe and advertise with us today!