Koumaria Residency 2014

http://www.medeaelectronique.com/2014/04/koumaria-open-call-2014/

Koumaria 2014 Open Call

By artist collective Medea Electronique

http://www.medeaelectronique.com/

Deadline June 15^th 2014

Residency Runs from Oct 19^th 2014 to Oct 31^st 2014

Residency

Since 2009 the artist collective Medea Electronique has organized an annual 10-day experimental artist residency, Koumaria, near Sparta in Greece (the village of Sellasia), focusing on improvisation and new media practices. New-media artists from all over the world, inspired by the Greek natural landscape, come together to create a multicultural and cross-media ‘dialogue’ culminating in a collective presentation both locally and in Athens at the end of the residency. Past residents have formed lasting friendships and new artistic partnerships. For us the residency serves as a model for future creative collaborations.

The residency is held at an organic olive oil farm at the foot of Mount Taigetos in Sparta. The base for the residency, a modern and comfortable house, features dormitory-style bedrooms, large and comfortable common rooms (featuring fireplaces and magnificent views of the surrounding mountains and fields), two primary spaces for project development and practice, terraces, rooftop overlooks, and a large and modern kitchen. The surrounding hills, mountains, villages and the not too distant sea, coupled with a vast expanse of sky, stars, and ever-changing mountain vistas, afford the residents amble space and opportunity for creative work. Meals are taken communally, with an emphasis on fresh and local produce and traditional recipes. In this environment artists not only have the chance to live and work together interacting with the Greek landscape, but also to trade their experiences concerning everyday life and culture. Chores are undertaken collectively, but there is ample time for residents to work, create, explore the surroundings and enter into new artistic partnerships.

The theme of the residency this year is the intersection of collaborative new media art and local politics/community. How can improvising artists, committed to community building and trans-cultural dialogue, manifest these tendencies in the larger community they work in? How can collective art help form healthy and inclusive larger communities? How can such art speak to and for such communities, give them a voice and an identity? For the past six year Koumaria has both shocked, puzzled, delighted and entertained the local village. This year we want to work closely with the village to create art-works both situated in and about the village, and, in some tangable sense, both for and of the village—its concerns, needs, history and practices. Perhaps a collecitve project that is both an improvement to some aspect of the village infrastructure and an art-object in its own right. Perhaps a series of installations that use the sounds, images and materials of the village. The possibilities are endless, and will be the result of our collective imaginations and the input of the villagers themselves. The residency will also result in performances in the village, taking advantage of the varied sites available, from pastorial olive groves to abandoned factory spaces, all against a magnificent back-drop of rugged moutains. The accent will be on D.I.Y, and working to integrate the village and willing villagers themselves into our art-works. In keeping with the theme of improvised art and local community activisim there will be an emphasis on art practices that have a strong element of self-creation of the materials and techniques used. We encourage applications from artists who design and create their own media, and/or are willing to assist others in doing so and learn new techniques. The residency will culminate in a day-long festival within he village, and in a presentation of the results in Athens at a major cultural institution. The residency therefore seeks artists open to collaborations across distinct artistic media, willing, indeed excited, by the prospect of working with the village and thinking creatively of ways to transcend the boundaries between “us” and “them”.

We invite applications from artists working across the spectrum of new media arts (musicians, dancers-performers, video artists, photographers, e.t.c.) to participate in the residency. We will select up to 10 participants from the applications received.

Medea Electronique, being an eclectic art collective, is interested in people from diverse cultural and artistic backgrounds. Past residents have come from a variety of artistic backgrounds, and from numerous countries. While assorted nationalities and ethnicities have been represented, the common language of the residency is English (athough fluency is not necessary, an ability to interact with other artists in English is necessary).

Note: This is a remote region of Greece, with limited ability to obtain tech/electronic materials while we are there. Residents will need to check in advance concerning what materials will be available, and what they will need to bring.

[TW1]

The residency provides:

A.In terms of hospitality

1) transportation from Athens to the residency and back.

2) housing and food supplies in Sellasia

3) Internet connection at the residency

4) housing in Athens during the presentations

While there are few expenses the residents need to consider while at the residency, it is worth having some funds for trips to local cafes and the like.

Notes:

• Rooms, Bathrooms at the residency are shared
• Cooking and cleaning the house during our stay is undertaken collectively
• The stay in Athens is arranged in a tidy hostel if other preferences exist, the amount (..) euro can be given to the resident and the booking should be their responsibility.

Notes:

• You ought to bring your own equipment/instrument and computers

We do not provide…

Unfortunately no artist fee is to be given for the presentations/performances. Residents are also responsible for their own transportation to and from Athens.

Paperwork to submit

1) A participation form

2) A personal statement saying why you want to participate. This statement should speak to this year’s theme.

3) A small sample of your individual work (site, demo, pictures e.t.c)

4) First draft ideas for projects related to this year’s theme

5) Your C.V.

Please submit all inquires preferable online at

http://www.medeaelectronique.com/koumaria-residency-2014-application/

or

[email protected]

or at (Please only regular Post)

Manolis Manousakis

Feidiou 11 Gerakas

15344

Greece