Call for Artistic Research Residences

Tabakalera is a centre for the creation of contemporary culture which is due to open its doors in summer 2015, and its purpose is to inspire critical thinking, reflection and debate. Its main goal is to promote the creation of contemporary culture in different fields and in all its stages (research, production, exhibition), as well to generate and share knowledge. Within its line of work that revolves around contemporary artistic practices, Tabakalera supports creation via workspaces and residency programmes in order to boost the region's local scene and promote the integration of non-local artists, as well as to find Tabakalera a place within international networks. It also seeks use artistic practices themselves to encourage thought on contemporary issues through an eclectic programme of activities. Another of its goals is to help build a critical community for both creators and the public through programmes that focus on creation, knowledge and exhibitions.

On 28 June 2011, the European Union chose Donostia/San Sebastian as the European Capital of Culture 2016. Since then, the Donostia/San Sebastian 2016 Foundation - which aims to promote and coordinate the strategy, planning and management of the European Capital of Culture project - has been designing and developing a series of programmes, events and projects that seek to reignite the social impact of culture and education, and boost the value of creativity as a means for strengthening social solidarity and coexistence throughout Europe. One of the defining points that structures and connects the projects within the Capital of Culture programme is Pagadi, which has been designed as a platform that aims to boost systems of symbolic invasion by using creation and contemporary art. It is a working methodology which serves artists and creators and seeks to promote the cultural scene and the relationship between local and non-local creators so that they can initiate their practices with an attitude that embodies the values of DSS2016EU.

Purpose of the call for applications

In light of this, both institutions are demonstrating their willingness to support research and work processes which offer new challenges and contribute to their lines of work. They have therefore decided to launch this residency programme which has been designed to support research processes, as investigation is a key factor in developing projects that get society and citizens involved in contemporary artistic practices.

The purpose of this support is to create a positive situation where various agents can find the best possible conditions to conceptualise and develop their projects, live together in a stimulating environment during their residency at Tabakalera, and find a suitable environment for presenting their research projects within the initiatives of the European Capital of Culture 2016 programme.

This support will therefore offer the space, time and conditions needed to start new research projects or to foster research processes which are already in progress and which aim to explore one or more areas of research in more detail.

The residency will begin in late 2015 and run throughout 2016, and it consists of two parts; the first is research, while the second is a programme of activities or open sessions generated from the research process. The research and programme of activities may be interspersed with each other if the resident believes this necessary for the project to take place, as research projects are open processes that continue over time.

The programme of activities will be included in both the Tabakalera and DSS2016 programmes over the course of 2016. Both institutions will set up a committee to choose the project and this group will work alongside the resident to agree on dates and the type of activities.

The programme of public activities may involve meetings between researchers, professionals and other agents, symposiums, conferences, talks, presentations or invitations for other agents to get involved with the residency.

Who it is aimed at

This call is open to national and international researchers, artists and theorists who use contemporary artistic practices to research issues related to culture and contemporary society in regions of Europe.

The programme is particularly interested in projects which:

• investigate the ability that contemporary artistic practices have to change society and show a willingness to inspire critical thinking.

• focus on collective and participatory processes that are activated via artistic projects.

• try to explore new ways of producing knowledge and culture, as well as new channels for citizens from different regions in Europe to communicate with each other.

• establish links with other spheres of thought and make connections with other contexts where are artistic practices are not usually found.

Committee and selection criteria
 

Tabakalera and DSS2016 will set up a joint committee to evaluate the projects based on the following criteria:

• Innovation and originality.

• Their level of contribution to the San Sebastian Capital of Culture project during 2016 and the Tabakalera cultural project's lines of work.

• The quality and creativity of the project and its ability to get the public involved in participatory processes.

• The coherence of both the project and the professional life of the candidate thus far.

• The feasibility of the project and how appropriate it is for the resources and workspaces that Tabakalera has available, as well as the resources offered by DSS2016.

• The willingness of the project and candidate to learn about the context and involve local agents and citizen groups.

• The capacity for networking and promoting collaborative work.

• The relationship that the programme of activities has with the object of research and its contribution to the work process.

Support/Grants

Support includes the following:

• A fully equipped apartment for individual use during the period(s) of residency (kitchen, bathroom and bedroom with a small area for working and wifi internet access). In the case of groups, the apartment will have capacity for upto a maximum of 4 people. The apartment will have the same characteristics.

• A workspace which has basic lighting, a power supply and is equipped with the basic furniture required for each project.

• The infrastructure needed to carry out the programme of activities.

• Access to the office and communal areas.

• Access to the archives of Tabakalera's specialist creation library, technical resources and assistance from the team depending on need and availability.

• Conceptual guidance when developing the project, as well as assistance and support when implementing it among different agents and other projects if the resident so requires.

• Daily allowance of upto €35 for the duration of the residency period. (*)

• A return ticket to the residency location. (*)
  Medical insurance.

• €6,000 of funding for research (this amount will be subject to the relevant withholding tax being applied, as appropriate).

• Financial support for producing the activities, for which the maximum budget is €48,400 (including tax).

The chosen person/group must sign a document to confirm their acceptance of the funding after being informed of the decision. Both institutions will manage the overall amount set aside for the programme of activities.

(*) For groups, a total amount will be set to cover their stay and travel expenses.

Duration

The grant will apply from 1 November 2015 on the premises that Tabakalera has provided and will last until 31 December 2016. The residency period(s) spent on Tabakalera premises during this time may not exceed three months in total; one of the requirements for this grant is that the first period of residency takes place before the end of 2015.

The programme of activities and/or open sessions must take place during 2016, after they have been agreed with both Tabakalera and DSS2016. This programme may be spread out throughout the year in different stages, provided that these are in line with the interests of the research project.

Terms of participation

By responding to this call for applications, candidates agree to abide by the following:

- In the event that a successful application has to be withdrawn, the candidate must notify the organisers sufficiently in advance.

- Failure to attend the workspace during the agreed period without any just cause may result in the stay and any financial support being terminated.

- Once the residency period has finished, each resident must present the organising institutions with a report on their stay.

- Any material produced as a result of the research residency must include the following statement in any correspondence: “This project has been undertaken as part of the research residency programme organised by Tabakalera and DSS2016”.

Registration

Applicants must fill in the registration form and prepare a document in either PDF (maximum 10MB) which includes the following:

1. Contact details: name, surname(s), address, e-mail, contact telephone number, age.

2. An explanation of the project and the reason why the candidate wants to undertake the stage of the project that they intend to work on during their residency and the residency programme.

3. An outline of the research plan, along with a timeframe that details when this work will be carried out.

4. An indicative programme that states the type of activity that the applicant intends to undertake during or outside of the residency, explaining the objectives and/or requirements that are met as part of the research project.

5. A production budget detailing the estimated cost of each activity included in the programme of activities.

6. CV and short biography.

The deadline for applications to be submitted is 14:00 on 5 October 2015. Proposals received after this date will not be accepted.

Evaluation committee

The evaluation committee will comprise members from both the organising institutions, and the successful candidates will be informed after 13 October 2015 via the address that they have provided. The decision will also be published on both the www.dss2016.eu and www.tabakalera.eu website.

Payment terms

Financial support for research

The grant will be awarded in 2 stages:

• The first 50% will be paid once the letter of acceptance has been received.

• The second 50% will be paid at the end of the project, after the explanatory report has been presented and the request for the relevant amount has been submitted.

In both cases, the candidate must provide proof that they are up to date with regards to any fiscal and social security obligations if necessary.

Managing the final support for the programme of activities

The chosen person/group will be awarded upto €48,400 to cover the costs incurred due to carrying out the programme of activities. The person/group can choose the items and suppliers that feature on these invoices. They must then be forwarded to the applications manager so that they can approve the invoices and make a payment on behalf of the organising institutions within the relevant timeframe.