Residence in Rhodes, Greece - Contemporary ceramics

The French Institute of Greece launches a call for applications for its research residency program on contemporary ceramics at the House of France in Rhodes. The House of France in Rhodes is located in the medieval heart of the city of Rhodes. It welcomed knights who were passing through the island. In 1912, the House was bought by a French ambassador in Turkey who offered it to the French state. Today it hosts the Consular Agency of France.

Ceramics has been present in Rhodes since antiquity but it was not until 1929 that the activity experienced its full development with the production of I.C.A.R.O (Industrie Ceramiche Artistiche Rodio - Orientali), which has generated a revival of a fine and qualitative ceramics industry. This model comes from a tradition of Faïenza and was established on the island when it was under Italian domination (inspired by Isnik known as Lindos plates). This ceramic activity continued after the Second World War and formed a community of ceramists, workers, connaisseurs and collectors on the island.

Today the local production disappears in favor of copies of ceramics from Iznik or Ikaros. The tradition remains but the renewal of generations and the transmission of know-how are threatened. Local authorities are invested to preserve and valorize this intangible heritage; The French Embassy brings its support. This program encourages the crossover between the existing cultural heritage and the contemporary issues of ceramic art.

The residency aims to offer to the artists a field of creation and experimentation in connection with the historical environment and the discovery of traditional know-how. The 2022 artists’ residency will host up to three laureates invited to Rhodes for a two-month residency. The artists are expected to establish working relationships between them, with the island's artistic circles as well as with local craftsmen. The elaboration of ceramic works will be punctuated by learning traditional techniques from masters and artists and by meetings with local craftsmen. This residency also aims to create links with contemporary artists from Rhodes. The invited artists will benefit from an artistic local network.

The French Institute of Greece is supported by the Region of South Aegean Sea, the Ministry of Culture and collaborates with the School of Fine Arts of Athens for the reception of the selected artists in the annex of Rhodes in the Palace of the Great Masters. The program is carried out with the logistical support of the French Consulate in Rhodes.

This residency program is addressed to Greek and French artists as well as artists of the Mediterranean countries who wish to develop an artistic research project on contemporary ceramics.

Eligibility requirements

The candidates should:

• have already worked with ceramic media;
• be engaged in a professional approach;
• speak English;
• justify previous work;
• be autonomous in the management of the residence;
• be free from professional activities during the whole period of the stay.

No age limit is imposed.

The French Institute of Greece provides artists with workshops in Rhodes:

• A work and study space in the House of France.
• Equipment: an oven (35x35x35 - 1300ºC), a wheel, 4 manual wheels, a clay mixor, a mural clay slicer, 4 work plans.
• A list of equipment available on site will be announced at a later date.

The residency is scheduled for 2 months - from the 19th of September until the 13th of November 2022 and it covers:

• A monthly lump-sum allowance is awarded to the selected artists.
• Thanks to the collaboration, the residency provides artists with rooms during their stay at the annex of the School of Fine Arts in Rhodes. The accommodation is limited to the selected artists. Selected artists wishing to host their relatives must provide accommodation outside the annex of the School of Fine Arts.
• The French Institute of Greece will pay for a two-way air ticket. The transport on the island is assured to visit artists or others local partners.

Applications should be submitted in French or in English to the Cultural Cooperation Department of the French Institute of Greece at the e-mail address [email protected], at the attention of the Cultural Attaché. The deadline is 3rd July 2022. Required documents:

• A detailed description of the project (maximum 3 pages) specifying the reasons for the application, the nature of the research project, the correlation with the place and duration of the stay, the evolution of the project.
• A cv including all the contact details of the artist (postal address, email and telephone)
• Two letters of recommendation from persons with a good knowledge of the artist’s work.
• An artistic portfolio eventually including video links
• A signed statement accompanied by the words "good for agreement", certifying that: You have read the general conditions; That you are the author of the works mentioned in your application form; That you will be exempted from your professional activities for the duration of your stay.

Only complete applications that meet the required conditions and the closing date will be considered.