Open call
Water tower art residency – Gradets 2024
20-25 September
Water Tower Art Residency #9 presents an exceptional opportunity for artists to join an esteemed community of creatives. Building upon the success of Water Tower Art Fest, a renowned festival featuring over 80 contemporary art proposals from across Europe, Brazil, Canada, USA, and Japan, the residency aims to foster artistic development, create impactful works, and engage audiences within a unique context.
This year, we are committed to effecting positive change within the community by exploring diverse themes. We invite artists of all ages and experience levels to join us in Roma village of Gradets , Region of Sliven located in the Eastern Balkan Mountains – 14 km. from Kotel, and nearby are also Medven, Zheravna, Katunishte.
In every situation and location, lies great potential. Our motivation for selecting Gradets as the residency site is to tap into this potential and redefine its future. Through research, immersion, and collaboration with local Roma community, participants will have the opportunity to interact with mentors, share knowledge, and exchange experiences, resulting in the creation of compelling artistic works in the spehere of socially engaged art practice.
Why Join?
Immerse yourself in the captivating ambiance of Roma culture in village of Gradets, an ancient town brimming with untapped artistic inspiration.
Expand access to cultural content by producing and disseminating adapted or new works, reaching diverse audiences through digital and physical platforms.
Engage and inspire young audiences, fostering a lasting presence of Bulgarian art and artists in international partner organizations.
Connect with the local Roma community, harnessing its inherent potential to shape a brighter future.
Collaborate with esteemed mentors from various parts of the world, drawing from their expertise and guidance.
Cultivate new skills, broaden your understanding of art and culture, and forge connections that transcend boundaries.
Embrace a new culture, exploring interconnections between people, environment, heritage, and technology, with a focus on coexistence and sustainable development.
Residency Details:
Artists working in digital art, sound art, painting, printmaking, photography, installation, performance, music, and socially engaged arts are encouraged to apply.
What We offer:
Accommodation during the residency period.
Shared spaces for communal cooking and interaction among participants.
Please note that the cost of food products is not covered by the organizers.
The residency accommodates up to 8 artists.
Participate in a mentorship program, receiving personalized guidance, workshops, and presentations from our esteemed mentors.
Access to a venue to realize your projects and ideas. Contact witj mediators and school teachers for organizing of workshops with kids and general communication with Roma community.
Accommodation in shared living arrangements.
Technical support for installation and artwork creation.
Exhibition of the residency results.
Extensive promotion of the residency outcomes through media and social networks, including individual presentations for each participant.
Mentors:
Johannah Herr https://www.johannahherr.com/?fbclid=IwY2xjawEVrQ9leHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHfZsl44NY0D7RH0fuyYv1sZ-kIz0-9ywWzcKI5br00WwXsUp0ojrvgtc3w_aem_bS0-MYpPfK4Q4SaiwYf_MA
is an interdisciplinary artist whose work uses subversive, colorfully patterned objects and maximalist installations to critique state-sanctioned violence in America. She holds an MFA from Cranbrook and a BFA from Parsons. She has had solo shows at Geary Contemporary, Untitled San Francisco, BRIC, Elijah Wheat Showroom, Envoy Enterprises, Red Ger Gallery (Mongolia) and Galeri Metropol (Estonia). She is a Fulbright Scholar (Mongolia) and attended residencies at SIM, Wassaic Project, IEA’s Experimental Projects Residency, Oxbow, Museum of Arts and Design, and Vermont Studio Center. She is also the Co-Founder of Daughters Rising, an anti-human trafficking NGO in Mae Wang, Thailand. She lives / works between Brooklyn and Mae Wang.
Boyan Avramov – musician, percussionist – workshop with musical instruments
To apply, please send an email to watertowerartfest@gmail.com accompanied by your CV and a cover letter before 30.08.2024. Please note that there may be restrictions on safety and other requirements imposed by municipal managers, which are beyond our control.
For further inquiries or to submit your application, please contact: watertowerartfest@gmail.com.
***This project receives support from the Ministry of Culture.