Research residency at CAIRN

The CAIRN (Informal Art Centre for Nature Research) art centre residency aims to support the artistic research that will be conceived and developed following site-specific approach, connected to the Alpes de Haute Provence territory. As a part of the Haute-Provence Geopark, the place is known for its significant geological sites, as well for its changing and rugged landscapes, resulting from the geological uprising of the Alps. These lands are sparsely populated and reveal marks of an agricultural and pastoral life, strongly vivid in the past. The region’s history has been influenced by the surrounding mountains and the geological heritage is one of the most notable in Europe.
The changing character of this land in between the plain and the mountain could represent a fruitful field of enquiry and artistic researches. The close collaboration with Gassendi Museum, hosting a surprising collection of natural history, ethnology and art, will offer a great opportunity to go deep in the research through a specific interdisciplinary approach.

The residency program is directed towards professional artists who wish develop their research in resonance with the multiple aspects of the context around Digne; its geological and natural heritage as well as its history and current situation. The residency program will be the time and place for an outdoor exploration but also to work starting from the art and science collection of the Gassendi Museum and the archive of the Alexandra David Neel’s house. There is no obligation of producing artworks but the artist is requested to present in public his/her research during or at the end of the residency (conference, performance, lecture) and a workshop with school or students from the Digne-les-Bains art academy.

The residency will take place between November 2018 and May 2019, during 6 weeks, that could be split in two or more periods. Once set, according to the artist and the Cairn art centre, the planned dates have to be respected. During the period of residency the artist will have a house located in Saint Benoit park, in the heart of the Geopark. Immersed in the woods, but not too far from the town, the environment is perfect for concentration, working and discovering all the natural sites around. An equipped studio is available for the artist in Gassendi museum spaces. The artist can use a E-bike for local displacement. The artist in residence is supported by the art centre team and will have the possibility to meet scientists and specialists of many fields to increase their research.

The selected artist will receive a grant of 5000 euros including the fees, travel costs, per diem, and the cost of research. The apartment is available for free. The organisation of events, workshops and the communication charges will be assumed by the art centre.

This program is open to French and foreigner professional artists who wish to develop their research and experimentation in the framework offered by the residency. There is no limits of age and nationality. All practices and art fields are accepted. Good communications skills in french or english is requested. Artist selection will be based on these criteria :

• Artistic quality and originality of the project in relation to contemporary art practices
• Site specific structure: coherence between the project’s purpose and the territorial context
• Originality and innovation of artistic approach
• Clear and structured work methodology
• Future prospectives and development of the project

The selection committee will made up by contemporary art professionals and it will include the participation of an artist in residence in CAIRN art centre.

All applications must be sent to the following email address [email protected] or as paper submission to : Musée Gassendi, 15 rue de la Grande Fontaine, 04000, Digne-les-Bains, with deadline 15th September 2018. Please include in your application the following elements (in English of French):

• Curriculum and short biography
• A presentation of your artistic approach/process (max 3000 signs)
• A portfolio showing a selection of previous work (max 10 images, 3 texts, 3 sounds files lenght10 minutes maximum, 3 videos via we transfer)
• A note explaining your intentions

All material must be labelled with surname (family) name, followed by an underscore in the file name, as Smith_(title of image).jpg.