Artist Residency in Italy for CCNY Art Education Graduate students and Alumni
Application for 2023
Overview
The non-profit organizations RecuperARTI and Casa Nostra Signora, based in Pietrasanta, Italy, invite CCNY Art Education Graduate students and alumni who incorporate reusable materials into their practice for a Residency program.
Each residency will be 10 to 15 days long and will take place in Pietrasanta, a little town in Tuscany (Italy) known as the "little Athens" of Versilia for its strong art culture, in February or May (for any other period please write to info@recuperarti.org prior submitting the application - Residency are not available from June to August)
The Artist Residency is designed to support art educators giving them an opportunity to work in a new environment and with a local audience and to creatively explore new ideas away from the restrictions and pressures of everyday life.
The purpose of the Residency is beyond artistic development alone and aims to create new models of work that contribute to environmental sustainability, to provide networking opportunities for both visiting art educators and the host community, with opportunities for a community to be invigorated through an exchange of ideas and new ways of working.
The art educators participating in residency programs build bridges between countries and cultures contributing to cultural diversity. Artists residencies permit artists to develop a deeper understanding of their host societies and cultures. At the same time they create opportunities for giving insights into the cultural background of each participating artist’s own background. Consequently, artistic and cultural exchange and cooperation through residency programs can increase understanding between countries and cultures.
The hosting organizations:
RecuperARTI - Started on November 14, 2018 by seven women, mothers and professionals, RecuperARTI is a Non-Profit Organization that intends to act as an intermediary between companies and artists, schools, non-profit organizations and private individuals who wish to use surplus waste from the production processes, for educational purposes, for their works, projects and purposes, with benefit for all parties involved.
RecuperARTI promotes a process and a culture in which seemingly unusable materials are re- evaluated and brought to a new life through a creative, artistic and educational process. It also contributes to the development of the circular economy, giving a value to what is otherwise considered a residue of production.
Associates and volunteers of the non-profit organization RecuperARTI opened in July 2019 a small Creative Reuse Center in Pietrasanta. Items donated from individuals and local businesses are diverted from the waste stream and collected, selected and stored in the RecuperARTI Center; these are made available to schools, non-profit organizations, artists and individuals interested in creative reuse. The Center is also the location of many art workshops for children and adults. RecuperarARTI partner with local schools, libraries and museums providing materials and workshops. Moreover the Creative Reuse Center aims to be a meeting point for people who believe in the ideal of a sustainable world.
Casa Nostra Signora -
Residency Benefits include:
- Accommodation: The art educator will have a double bedroom with bathroom in the Casa Nostra Signora hotel, located in Marina di Pietrasanta, just one blocks from the seaside. The site has a large garden, a terrace with a view of the sea and the mountain. Bedding Sheets, pillows, blankets and towels are provided, but you will be responsible for your own cleaning. You are responsible for providing your own food, but discount codes in nearest places are provided.
- Studio facilities: a studio workspace and access to materials at the RecuperARTI Reuse Center are provided.
- Local transportation: a bicycle is available for use to the Residency participants and you will be provided for transportation from and to the Pisa airport or the Viareggio train station (if arriving at the airport in Rome or Milan and taking the train from there).
- Networking: Resident artists will be assisted in making connections with local peers, in organizing visits to art studios and workshop places as well as familiarizing with Italian culture.
- Support: On-site speaking English staff support is available.
- Guest artists are welcome to bring partners, children. The room has a queen size bed and children’s bedding may be provided. (If you may plan to bring someone with you, please write it down in the residency request, as well as let us know if you may need support in finding babysitting in loco).
Other benefits include having the possibility and the support to: work on an individual creative project - make work for exhibition – immerse yourself in a new environment and culture - travel and visit the nearby cities and locations (such as Florence, Pisa and Lucca, Cinque Terre, etc).
Unfortunately RecuperARTI doesn’t have the funding to pay for airplane fare. All travel to the residency will be paid by the art educator in residency. People can fly to Pisa (that is the closer airport) or to Milan, Rome or Bologna. We are willing to help you find the best transportation from your arrival city to Viareggio train station or Pietrasanta.
Requirements and Eligibility:
Candidates must be CCNY Art Education Graduate students or Alumni;
Resident art educators must incorporate reusable materials of concepts of Creative Reuse into their practice and need to have some experience working with the concept of sustainability;
Art Educators are required to facilitate one workshop for adults at Casa Nostra Signora and one for children or teenager at the RecuperARTI Reuse Center during the Residency;
Residency participants will be required to create a written report at the conclusion of the residency to send to RecuperARTI. This might include the applicant’s assessment of the residency and any outcomes. Participants are also required to write a blog post for the CCNY Art Education website that will be also translated in Italian for the RecuperARTI site
Application process
Art educators interested in the residency are welcome to complete the questionnaire at this link: https://forms.gle/NK8ehjiQ1vYYDmyGA or email the following informations to info@recuperarti.org (cc Marit Dewhurst at mdewhurst@ccny.cuny.edu):
your first/last name and contact information;
describe any proposed project(s) you will like to work on while in residency;
indicate the idea that you may propose for the workshops you will facilitate, the appropriate age group(s) and and which materials you will need;
indicate how you are equipped to implement this project and what experiences/skills you have that will enable you to complete it.
please indicate the ideal dates and duration of your residency and if you plan to bring any family member with you. Typical residency duration is between ten to fifteen days and takes place in February or May.
please attach artwork or students work samples or website link
Applications are accepted throughout the year, but the proposal have to be submitted at least 4 to 6 weeks prior to the residency ideal departure date. Selected applicants will be invited to interview for the residency with Marit Dewhurst and this will be followed up with a phone interview by some RecuperARTI staff.
Additional Information and questions
If you need any additional information or have any questions, you can contact Marina Massaro (CCNY Art Education alumna and one of the founders of RecuperARTI) at info@recuperarti.org or in whatsapp at (+39) 340 2212065.