INTERNATIONAL RESIDENCY PROGRAMME

Please note the next submission deadline is 7th June 2013 - for residencies taking place from 1 August 2013 up to the 31st March 2014.

Overview

The Flax Art Studios International Residency programme provides artists based outside of the UK with the opportunity to work in Belfast for a period of up to three months.  Providing short term studio and living accommodation for artists visiting from abroad.  The International Residency Programme was established in 1994 and hosts a minimum of three residencies per year funding permitting. To date we have hosted artists from Australia, Canada, United States of America, Columbia, Finland, Germany, Poland, Iceland, India, Japan, Korea, Slovenia, Lithuania, Spain and Sweden. 

One of Flax Art’s Studios is dedicated to the residency programme, while the remaining seventeen spaces are rented to Belfast based artists.  Together with Flax Art’s programme of artist led talks, exhibitions and outreach activity, the residencies provide artists with an environment that encourages social engagement.  The residency programme has established itself firmly in the heart of Belfast as a result of particularly welcoming artists who are prepared to connect broadly with for example the debates emerging from the post-conflict aspect of the city. By its nature, the International Residency Programme has opened up a range of possibilities for artists and arts organisations in Belfast. Over the years, a number of partnerships have been developed and these have led to residencies, exchange programmes and an increased international awareness of Flaxart Studios as a challenging residential facility for emerging and established artists.

Exchange

Visiting artists spend up to three months alongside a group of Belfast based artists.  Visiting artists are encouraged to make links with other artists, organisations, students and arts professionals in Belfast as a means of establishing a mutual exchange of ideas.

Support

While we do not provide full time artistic assistance, the residency programme offers a strong level of administrative and creative support, Flax Art Studios Board members and Studio Manager are keen to discuss works in progress and assist in sourcing materials, offering local knowledge, contacts and creative input.

Development of Practice

Outside of the constraints such as commissions, day jobs and deadlines.  This residency will offer artists the time, space and resources to experiment with their work and try new approaches.  Through looking at Belfast’s art scene and being in a new context, artists can take away ideas and perspectives that will inform the development of their practice.

Talks and Seminars

Early in the residency, visiting artists are asked to make a presentation of their practice in an informal talk which will be attended by Flax artists/studio holders.  This event encourages discussion of the work and serves as an introduction with the potential for the visiting artists to make useful contacts. The visiting artist will also be asked to lead a talk in a more formal setting at the end of the residency, in order to share their residential experience and talk about the work carried out during their time on the residency.  Other activities such as visits to art schools and special events can also be organised on an individual artist’s basis.

FLAXART INTERNATIONAL RESIDENCY ARTISTS

2013
Justyna Gruszczyk
2012
Barak Reiser (Dec-Feb 12)	Kaspar Wimberly & Susanne Kudielka (March-April 2012)	Kim Bo Hyun (Nov-Dec 2012)
2010
Sawawut Chutiwongpeti	Aimee Lee	Summer Zickefoose
2009
Tricia Wasney & Richard Dyck	Sylvia Winkler & Stephan Koperl	Alenka Perman	Shiro Masuyama
2008
Nayla Dabaji and Ziad Bitar	Jože Barŝi	Kate Hollett	Sean Miller
Ram Bali Chauhan	Carlos Llavata Gascon
2007
N. Oblak and P. Novak
2006
Delcy Morelos	Ele Carpenter	Lesley Yendell	Stalker
2005
Edin Vejselovic	Hannas Larusson	Les Newman	Mark Pozlep
Redas Dirzys	Tony Mass
2004
Andrea Dzakusic	Raman Mundair
2003
Iratxe Jaio	Jon Brunberg
2002
Jaakko Rustanius	Rian Kerrane and Mark Guilbeau
2001
Chris Bell	Franc Purg	Helen Sharp	Regina Pimsel
2000
Richard Thomas	T. Yashihro
1999