Looking back at 'Hospitality in Times of Crisis'

Since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, or better said, during any time of war, many artists-in-residencies have been motivated to start hosting and helping refugee artists. Designated structures like Artists at Risk expanded their capacity in response to the increased demand for shelter. Artist initiatives organised benefits and exhibitions or responded by instigating local actions. Amongst them, TransArtists AiR NL paired several AiR organisations in the Netherlands with Ukrainian makers.

Looking back at this turbulent year and an ongoing crisis, TransArtists invited Vincent Gonzalvez and Souraya Kessaria from Cité internationale des Arts, and Theresa Lekberg and Power Ekroth from SWAN, to share their stories. What were their expectations and insights, the pitfalls, and surprising outcomes while providing accommodation and support for artists in times of crisis? How is this experience affecting them as hosts? And finally, where do we go now from here?

The online discussion took place on Monday 7 November 2022 between 16.00-17.00 CET, moderated by Bojana Panevska, our advisor on artist residencies. You can (re)watch the programme online via YouTube.

Vincent Gonzalvez is Head of the Residencies at Cité internationale des arts, artist residency that brings together artists in the heart of Paris and allows them to implement a creative or research project in all disciplines. Since its creation in 1965, Cité internationale des arts has been hosting artists from all over the world and all generations in residence on two complementary sites: Le Marais and Montmartre districts.  

Souraya Kessaria is the residency program and partnerships manager at Cité des Arts. She is committed to developing tools, sharing resources and expertise, and fostering a community-minded network, enabling resident artists of all disciplines and backgrounds to benefit from an anchored residency experience in Paris while developing their practice in depth.

Theresa Lekberg is a performance artist, artistic director, and founder of two international artist residencies. Art See Ocean Gallery & Air, on the east coast, and Art See Temple in the North of Sweden. Theresa is a council member of the SWAN Advisory board for 2022 and initiated SWAN Emergency residencies when Russia invaded Ukraine on 24 February 2022.

Power Ekroth is an independent curator and critic. She is a founding editor of the publication SITE Zones. She works as an Art Consultant/Curator for KORO, Public Art Norway and for the Stockholm City Council in Sweden. She is the Artistic Director of the low-residency and MA program of the Arts and Culture at NOVIA University of Applied Sciences in Finland. Since March 2022, she has been coordinating for Artists at Risk, as well as for SWAN. She is the initiator of a forthcoming Curator Exhibition Residency in Sweden (CurExReS).