eBusiness Weekly
Arts Correspondent
Artists at times need to associate themselves with other artists to share ideas and improve their form of work. This can be done through programmes such as artist in resident or exchange programmes. These have been providing chances for artists from different parts of the world as they spend some time in a new setting. These programmes are in support of cultural and artistic exchange, the development of new ideas and new work.
Artist in residency can be defined as “an opportunity provided by a host organisation that enables a guest artist to work in a new environment, often away from the restrictions and pressures of their everyday lives. Artist residencies are about providing the time and space for a guest artist to develop work and creatively explore new ideas.”
They are also dedicated towards professional development and interactive opportunities for guest artists and the host community.
The programmes do not present themselves as a great breakthrough towards artists, they are also accommodative of researchers, curators, and creative people for a certain period of time.
They offer space away from their usual daily setup and requirements and make available a time of reflection, examination, exhibition and production.
These programmes are beneficial to the as the community ensure that it is revitalised through an interchange of ideas and new ways of working.
There is never a fixed period of time of attendance. Speaking to Wallen Mapondera, one of the Zimbabwean artists who has managed to create a big name for himself in the art industry, he stated that these programmes can last for weeks or even years.
Wallen Mapondera has managed to attend a number of these programmes with the latest being in 2016, Kenya, which lasted for 3 months. He is yet to attend the Pro Helvetia Studio Residency in November this year till January the following year.
Countless benefits are presented to anyone who gets the opportunity to attend the programme. To note, is how one gets to share and receive more ideas from other artists. They also get to understand a different cultural backgrounds. After attending the program, artists gain a lot of experience which cannot always be immediately noticed.
Wallen stated that attending a lot of the residency programmes makes one keep up with the latest trends and they have influenced him more leaning towards the conceptual side than the technical aspect.
European Agenda For Culture (2014) states that artists in residency have developed into important elements in the contemporary art scene joining the local with the global art world.
The participating artists construct bonds between countries and cultures contributing to cultural diversity. Most of the time, artists are required to provide a tangible outcome which could be an art production, exhibition or a project.
Mapondera stated that “depending on the nature of the residency and one’s goal, some residency may request that an artist provides a body of work, an exhibition or a presentation after a certain period of time.
European Agenda For Culture (2014) also highlights on how artists often combine they artistic practices with other things. This is often done to financially sustain themselves through their working processes. The main purpose of the residency programme is to allow artists to focus on their artistic development by creating a distance from their tributary activities.
“Doing this in a physical way is an effective way to shift the focus back to creation. Some residencies can also offer a stipend on top of the working and living space which helps artists to cover their costs.”
Exchange programmes also offer artists countless opportunities to artists. With exchange programmes artist from a certain country visit another country and work in their studio and after the programme, they exhibit their works. At some point, Village Unhu facilitated them.
Applications are open to artists from around the world who are interested in the programme.
They can include a curriculum vitae, a report demarcating the artist’s enthusiasm or any support material demonstrating the artist’s practice.
These exchange programmes and artists in residence have presented a great opportunity for Zimbabwean artists to better their works while associating with other well established artists. It is a great platform for emerging artists to associate themselves with well experienced artists.
