When artists approach a place as an archive, they draw out a deeper, more complex understanding of that place that enriches our understanding of our communities, helps us be better citizens, and empowers us to take better care of our neighbors. Collage Artist Residency: Scotland is a week-long artist residency designed for artists working in collage who seek to engage with place in their practice in community with other artists. Using the rural community of Sanquhar, Scotland as a laboratory, artists will spend a week making artwork; learning about the place, its people, and its history; and discussing how art can capture, share, reflect, comment, and otherwise engage with a sense of place. The goal of the residency is to develop an individual methodology for responding to place in one’s art practice and to make a work of art about Sanquhar that speaks to and about the people and land. Our hope is that artists will return to their home communities with fresh eyes and be prepared to see their communities in a unique way.
The residency will unfold over the course of a week. Each day the group will meet in the morning for a presentation or workshop. We will hear from guest artists and local historians about Sanquhar and faculty will make presentations about place in art and strategies for incorporating place into one’s practice. Designed for collage artists, professional development sessions focus on artist practice: topics include Collage Theory; Sourcing Materials, Copyright, Appropriation; Developing Materials; Collaboration; and Collage in Presentation.
In the afternoons, artists may choose to make art or take up an afternoon activity such as a walk to the River Nith and castle or a visit to the Tolbooth Museum or Saint Bride’s church or an afternoon trip via rail to Dumfries or Glasgow. Artists will have the opportunity to work one-on-one with faculty. In the evenings, we will convene at the Nithsdale Pub to informally share the experience of our days.
During the residency, residents will make a series of collages which will be shown in exhibition at MERZ for World Collage Day 2023 and at Kolaj Fest New Orleans 2023. Artists will also participate in a collaborative project during the Residency. After the residency, artists will be invited to submit 3-5 collages and a statement for inclusion in a book of collage about Sanquhar that will be published by Kolaj Institute in 2024.
WHO IS THIS FOR?
Collage Artist Residency: Scotland is an in-person residency at MERZ Gallery in Sanquhar, Scotland centered on collage artists who want to develop their artist practice. Residencies are intended for self-motivated artists, regardless of the stage in their career, who want to develop their practice by exploring a topic or working method and collaborating with others to produce a final product and who want to develop a practice of working with historic sites or history associations to create and present art that embeds itself in non-traditional spaces and speaks to a general community about contemporary issues.
Residencies are open to any artist over the age of 21 from anywhere in the world. We look for artists who have a developed sense of practice (even if it is an emerging one) and those who have a strong connection to a community. People of color, indigenous people, and members of queer communities are encouraged to apply.
COST
The cost of the residency is $975 USD (£800). This includes accommodations for six nights at MERZ and one meal per day. Artists are responsible for their own travel to and from Sanquhar, additional artist materials, and additional meals. No artist will be turned away for lack of funds and the organizers will work with artists to build a financial aid package.
