Gib and Berlin Art Residency project

In the first of its kind, an art residency project in Berlin was officially launched last Thursday evening where a local artist will spend a month abroad developing their work.

The successful applicant will travel to Lichtenberg Studios in Berlin next July, with applications coming to a close on May 2. The residency is supported and financed by the Gibraltar Government’s Ministry of Culture through the Gibraltar Cultural Services.

Gibraltarian Francis Gomila in collaboration with artist director of Lichtenberg Studios, Uwe Jonas, has helped bring this residency to Gibraltar.

“Every artist in Gibraltar including all creatives whether they are painters, sculptors, writers or architects who are interested in developing their work in a social, urban context in a public way are welcome to apply,” Mr Gomila said.

As part of the residency, a German artist will be spending a month in Gibraltar between September and October this year. The exchange programme is open to all artists working in any medium interested in developing their work in urban public spaces.

Artists are expected to submit a CV, an artist statement detailing recent projects, exhibitions and workshops, a portfolio with samples of work and projects or links to website showcasing their art, a brief description of their interest of art in public spaces, and what they aim to create doing their residency.

People attending the residency will be funded travel and accommodation expenses as well as a stipend.

At the official launch where some of the Rock’s artists were present the residency programme was presented and Mr Jonas showed artworks from previous residency artists. The programme Mr Jonas took over in 2011 has housed a variety of artists, who focused their work to changes to the urban area. Examples included small interventions to public areas like creating shadows where they were none and moving around items in the streets.

“It is very nice for me to open this experiment for other countries,” Mr Jonas said.

“Gibraltar is very interesting for me. The residency is not a question of learning, succeeding or failing. It is about an extended experience. Every time you go out of your comfort zone and to a different environment your perspective changes.”

Mr Gomila also showed the audience the work he undertook while in Berlin which had a particular emphasis on bins. He said he became “obsessed” with the idea of bins which heavily influenced his art.

Applications should be sent on email to: gibraltar@lichenberg-studios.de