AIR_Frankfurt: Open Call for visual artists for the international project „Staat van de Stad / Zustand der Stadt / State of the City“

“State of the City” focuses on the complex relationship between trade and the socio-cultural context of the cities of Antwerp, Rotterdam and Frankfurt am Main. These three cities have in common that they are not the capitals of their country, but international nucleuses where trade plays an important role (in Antwerp and Rotterdam through the existence of a world harbour; in Frankfurt am Main through the presence of the European Central Bank and the airport). Trade follows a path that is not institutional, but grown out of business transactions, parallel to the financial curves of the trading market and not always in line with government or society. During their residencies, the visual artists research the psycho geographic realities (1) of these cities, react on them and/or use this material to create a new project for the final group exhibition.

(1) The study of the precise laws and specific effects of the geographical environment, consciously organized or not, on the emotions and behaviour of individuals (Guy Debord, 1955).

Project structure
Six visual artists from the participating partners obtain grants. From Frankfurt, one artist goes to Rotterdam (January-March 2016), one to Antwerp (April-June 2016), for three months. In this period, they conceptualise and produce a site-specific work of art. An action, event, performance – a materializing project or a project which only exists as urban rumours – visible or less visible. These projects will be presented in the final group exhibition in basis, Frankfurt (13.10.-18.12.2016; during the Frankfurt Book Fair with the Guest of Honour Netherlands and Flanders). The project will be documented by a publication.

The grant includes
- a monthly per diem of 1.000 Euro
- reimbursement of one return ticket to and from the residency
- studio and accommodation
- the organisation of a public event during the residency

How to apply
The program is intended for visual artists who predominantly live and work in Frankfurt. The artists should be highly qualified and be successful graduates of an art college, academy or university. Fluent English is a further requirement. Applicants are selected by a jury appointed by the relevant city.

Frankfurt artists may apply for “state of the city” by submitting a detailed application with CV and application form (download see below) with work samples to Kulturamt Frankfurt am Main along with a motivation letter and the answer to the following question “How does your artistic practice manifests itself in the city?”. Applications need to be handed in by postal service in hardcopy as well as digital data via e-mail. Foreign artists from Belgium and the Netherlands apply in their respective cities and institutions for a residency in Frankfurt am Main.

Deadline: August 31st 2015

application form

For further information please contact:
Kulturamt Frankfurt am Main Referat Bildende Kunst
Artist in Residence-Program
Dr. Jessica Beebone Kulturamt Frankfurt am Main, Referat Bildende Kunst
Brückenstr. 3 – 7
60594 Frankfurt am Main
Tel. ++49 (0) 69 / 212 – 740 68
jessica.beebone@stadt-frankfurt.de

“State of the city” is an initiative by AIR Antwerpen in collaboration with AIR_Frankfurt, Stichting NAC Rotterdam and basis-frankfurt and is supported by Frankfurter Buchmesse 2016, Mondriaan Fonds, Vlaamse Gemeenschap and Stad Antwerpen.