Nest. Maternar en Residencia / Resistencia
In recent years, motherhood has gained significant attention in the art world, particularly concerning the lack of opportunities that cater to the needs of artists who are also mothers. Balancing a creative practice with childcare responsibilities poses challenges, and mother artists often find themselves excluded or stigmatized, as the myth persists that art and motherhood don’t mix. In Germany, most awards, grants, and residencies offered to artists by public or private institutions are geared towards “emerging artists,” typically under 35, emphasizing independence and flexibility.
Nest. Maternar en Residencia / Resistencia is an artistic residency designed explicitly for artists who are also mothers alongside their children. Its primary goal is to provide a platform conspicuously absent from existing offerings, fostering solidarity among artists who often end up isolated and alienated from existing artistic structures due to having a family.
Through an open call, four mother artists’ proposals will be selected for the residency, allowing them to develop new works or advance existing projects, ideally involving themes of motherhood and/or their children. The focus here is on creating art that requires motherhood, not despite it.
The artistic residency is a month and will occur in July 2024 in a beautiful house in Coswig (Anhalt), about 100 kilometers from Berlin. This space offers a large garden, multiple workspaces, and proximity to the Elbe River within walking distance from the residency.
Interested artists will submit a proposal for an artistic project to be developed during the residency and an activity involving the other mothers and children (such as an open class, a dance session, a reading, an outdoor movement activity, a cooking class, etc.). As a result of the residency, a community open day will be held to showcase the participants’ results or processes.
The residency is organized by Karne Kunst, with the support of Sorora e.V, under the direction of Marcela Villanueva.
Full info about the residency here
New Deadline for submissions: 31.03.2024
ABOUT THE ARTISTIC RESIDENCY
Applications should be sent to the email address info@karnekunst.com. Email Subject: “NEST residency 2024”. Documentation may be submitted in either English or Spanish.
Attached to the email is a single PDF file with a maximum size of 10MB, including:
- Contact Information: Name, artistic name, age, place of origin, current residence, email, phone number, website, and social media usernames (Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter).
- Portfolio featuring five projects from the last few years, with a maximum of 5 pages.
- A summary of conceptual interests to be explored, limited to 500 words.
- Proposal for methodologies to be employed during the residency.
- A brief introduction about your motherhood, including details such as the number of children and their ages: please do not include photos of your children.
Will the Experience be Shared with Other Mother Artists? Yes, the proposal aims to bring together a maximum of 5 artists and their children to work together (and separately) and create a “tribal parenting” experience during this time. This offers collaboration, shared childcare, shared meals, shared experiences, and more.
Have Previous Residencies Been Conducted? Yes! We have already conducted two previous experiences in 2022 and 2023. They were days filled with intensity, love, and art. You can see some of the experiences here: NEST Residency Instagram
What is the Duration of the Residency? The residency has a duration of 1 month.
What is the Cost of the Residency? One month of residency costs 750 Euros (mother and one child). There is an additional 50 euros for each additional child. This fee includes using all workspace’s basic art materials, including a beamer, studio, woodworking workshop, and common accommodation on-site. We can also provide participation letters for you to apply for additional mobility funds. It includes an Open Studio event in Coswig Anhalt and a group exhibition in Berlin.
We Suggest Applying for Additional Funding Through:
We have a shared atelier-style studio, two exhibition spaces that can also be used for classes, dance sessions, or activities involving movement, a courtyard that connects the spaces, and a spacious 1000-square-meter garden. More info: Link
Is there on-site residency staff?
Yes, there is a coordinator available to assist with any logistical questions that may arise.
How do I get there?
The regional train station is just meters away from the house! You can also come with your transportation. It’s only 100 kilometers from Berlin.
What is the accommodation like at the residency?
Regarding accommodation, we have three dorm-style rooms, a bathroom, a kitchen, and shared spaces such as a living area, courtyard, garden, etc. All the spaces are to be shared with the other artists.
If you need more privacy, limited accommodation is available in the region (cost by the artist)
You are also welcome to bring your tent or caravan at no cost.
Do I need to participate in any official activities during the residency?
We understand that the pressure to showcase work can be an added stress for artist-mothers, and we want to avoid that! However, Casa Coswig aims to engage with the community. We recommend you consider hosting open classes or an exhibition for the community. Of course, our staff will provide support for these activities.
What is provided for the children?
Children will share the space with the other residents. We also have some foldable cribs and high chairs available. Basic stationery materials for their creations, toys, and board games exist. However, we recommend bringing your items for the comfort of the little ones. The residency program does not include child care.
Are there services nearby?
Yes, supermarkets, pharmacies, bookstores, toy stores, and even banks are within walking distance.
What is the situation with food?
Participants are responsible for their daily meals, including planning, preparation, or shopping. We recommend preparing meals together with the other participants. There are supermarkets within walking distance and a nice selection of local restaurants to explore in the region, including pizzerias, ice cream shops, and even local markets.
How might COVID-19 affect the residency?
Like everything else! We are vigilant and will follow all necessary health measures as required by the government at that time (certificates, testing, etc.). In the event of cancellation before the start of the residency, a refund will be issued.
What types of artists are eligible?
We welcome applications from all types of artists, national and international, including visual artists, performers, video artists, photographers, audio artists, writers, curators, journalists, architects, urban planners, and landscape architects.
For more information: info@karnekunst.com
About Karne Kunst
Karne Kunst is an art initiative based in Berlin to promote Latin American art in Berlin and Germany, with a gender perspective. It connects artists from various disciplines, exhibition spaces, collectors, and an eager audience looking to discover and explore Latin American art. Karne organizes, coordinates, and executes projects that showcase the diverse expressions of Latin American artists.
About Sorora e.V
Sorora e.V places gender equality at the heart of the creative process and the work of female artists who are often underrepresented in traditional art spaces to provide support and visibility. The word “Sorority” derives from sisterhood among women, perceiving themselves as equals who can ally, share, and, above all, change their reality because we have all experienced oppression in different ways.
About Marcela Villanueva
Marcela Villanueva is an art curator, mother, migrant, and feminist. She was born and raised during the military dictatorship in Argentina and has lived in different countries, such as Costa Rica, the United States, and Spain, before finally deciding to put down roots in Berlin. Her curatorial practice explores the fields of feminist and socio-political art at the intersection of new technologies, migration, and social movements.
