The virtual residency
Together, separately.
Applications for this program are now closed. The information remains here for reference.
Our recent history
Prompted by the initial quarantine that was put in place as response to Covid-19 in March 2020, we realised that our organisation would not be hosting residents for at least the weeks to come.
We quickly put together a virtual program to see us through those weeks, which turned into months. The program was designed to meet the following needs:
Create a sense of structure and solidarity for artists during times of uncertainty.
Welcome artists from any country, with an open and flexible application process that valued practice and participation above all else.
Be non-prescriptive, allowing artists to create on their own terms.
Offer peer-to-peer, rather than top-down, support.
Cost nothing to run, so that participants were not required to pay anything to take part. We welcomed donations.
The simple format consisted of daily meetings, virtual ‘studio hours’, a sharing of resources between participants, presentations and feedback from colleagues and access to one-to-one guidance.
Between 29th March 2020 and when the last cohort ended on 24th July 2021, we welcomed artists in virtual residence from twenty-four countries.
It was an incredible experience.
We are actively pursuing funding so that the virtual residency can continue. The most important elements will remain the same:
Entirely virtual, great for those who cannot travel and for the environment.
Fair and transparent application process.
Mixed discipline.
Focus on peer-to-peer, rather than top down, engagement.
Moving forwards residents can expect a shift in focus from simply creating the space for togetherness, to working on a specific theme. The purpose of the theme is to promote the cross pollination of ideas across geographical borders and media. If we work around a common idea, it is easier to grow that single idea together, separately.
Feedback for the Virtual Residency
“It surpassed my expectations. I was beyond happy with the outcomes of the residency.”
“It was incredible connecting with other creatives! being assured of both my practice and journey and how I could proceed was such a touching experience.”
“Coming into the residency with an open mind put me in a great position to feel like I had something new to explore. I was really surprised by how special and important it became that the participants were from across the globe.”
How much does it cost?
Residents are asked to pay what they can from €0 - €100. All payments are considered income and we pay tax on them. The reason we use this model is because it means that we can attract a more diverse group of artists.
If every participant were to pay €75 we would cover our running costs. But we realise that this will not be possible for every artist and we encourage them to apply regardless.
Those living in countries with lower per-capita GDP, those who are unemployed or those affected by low-incomes should feel comfortable paying less. If the people that can afford to give more choose to do so they will help us continue this model of inclusion into the future.
We continue to work towards a funded model, but have so far struggled to find a resource that will fund a completely global project. If you know of one, please let us know!
Get more information by email: odette@celdelnord.com
Do you represent an organisation that could financially support our work?
We are looking for resources to continue important cross-cultural work supporting artists who cannot travel during a time when the staying at home is necessary for our health and better for the climate.
If you have a fund that could benefit this project we would love to hear from you!
Please email odette@celdelnord.com