
AADK Spain
*AADK Spain* is an artist-run platform that develops spaces for research and contemporary creation. With a focus set on experimental processes, its primary interest is to explore the notions of body, territory, and spatiality. The platform advocates the decentralization of culture and access to contemporary art in non-urban areas. It addresses local issues as means to understand global problems.
Currently based in Centro Negra (Blanca, Murcia) it holds several programs among which its Artist Residency Program and its Cruce Programs stand out. The organization fosters networks with other cultural and artistic enterprises, helping to promote their mobility on national and international circuits, believing that all the artists hosted are an active part of the platform.
The *Artist Residency Program* is an interdisciplinary and socially committed program that offers its attendants a space for analysis and artistic creation. It aims to facilitate research in rural environments, highlighting the value of local knowledge as a means to re-think how these locations can position themselves in an era of massive urbanization through a social, historical and geographical perspective.
*Cruce, Space for Transformation* is an initiative intended for professionals who need to disconnect from their daily rhythms, those who need a space to create, hold workshops, events or exhibitions, focus on analysis and dissemination of their work; or just make a temporary withdrawal. Cruce is a program designed to bring together resources, spaces and knowledge.
Both programs facilitate the encounter between people of different origins, trajectories and ideas. Throughout their stay, the participants of the Artist Residency and Cruce Programs create a temporary and caring community that shares experiences and knowledge. One of the main differences is that the *Residency Program* is a space for research/experimentation with a curatorial line that works on the themes of body, territory and spatiality. These are broad concepts, which can be approached from different disciplines but must be present in some way in the artist's work. In addition, the idea of this program is to prioritise work in context (that is to say, that the project to be carried out is related to Blanca's environment, which is the town where they are located). For the Residency Program, residents can come for a minimum period of one month - following the calendar month and from day 1 to day 30 - they have accommodation, a studio to work in, they receive feedback and mentoring from the team, they can use the coworking space, their work is documented in photo and/or video format and is disseminated on social networks, they have assistance in production and the possibility of showing what they have been working on at the monthly open studio's event. In addition, they become part of the digital archive and, if they have the opportunity, the organisers show their work at festivals or exhibitions where it fits.
*Cruce* has a different structure: it is more of a production residency, without a selection process and available to any creative person (artists, artisans, writers, designers) who wants to focus on their work. In the case of Cruce, applicants can choose different resources and services, and pay for each of them separately (e.g. you can rent accommodation only, or accommodation + studio, or accommodation + studio + mentoring, etc.). Please note that most of the resources offered at the Residency Program can be applied for at Cruce, but you have to select each of them separately and the costs are different. Cruce applicants can come for a minimum period of two weeks.
In case you are interested in getting involved with the context and you think that your work can address in some way any of the three mentioned themes (body, territory, or spatiality) the organisers recommend you send your application for the Residency Program. If you are interested, please read the respective terms and conditions and fill in the application form. You will find everything under the 'Residencies' menu on their website.
On the other hand, if you think that Cruce would be a better option for you, read the respective terms and conditions, check the List of Prices and fill in the Cruce application form which you can find under the 'Cruce Space' menu on their website.
It is not requested from the residents to present finalized projects in the end of their stay. In the case of the Artist Residency Program, a monthly Open Studios event is organized to show the artistic process of the participants.
Spaces are provided depending on the applicant's request and spatial needs.
There are interconnected studio spaces varying in size, they can be requested for individual use or shared with other artists/collectives.
Accommodation options: individual apartment, individual studio apartment, big or small room in a shared house. The housing facilities are divided into two areas, consisting of a group of four apartments bordering Centro Negra and an old house in the center of the town. The latter was the former Video Art Museum, EDOM. The apartments are equipped with private kitchens, toilets and showers. They have a terrace for common use and direct access to the main building.
The house has three bedrooms, two bathrooms and a kitchen with a living room. It is located in the heart of the village and has excellent access to all shops and stores. It is also ideal to immerse oneself in the daily life of Blanca. Both housing areas have access to washing machines and are equipped with bedding and towels.
Surrounded by nature, the rural environment of Blanca allows one to enter the traditions and customs of a town in southern Spain, as well as being in coexistence with an artistic community.