Here is an exciting opportunity to create fabulous art for an urban audience in Haiti:
The Grand Rue Sculptors are a community of artists living in a down town popular neighbourhood of Port-au-Prince, Haiti. In December 2009 the ‘Sculptors of Grand Rue’ hosted the 1st Ghetto Biennale 2009. Over forty artists, film-makers, academics, photographers, musicians, architects and writers came to the Grand Rue area of Port-Au-Prince to make or witness work, that was shown or happened in the neighbourhood.
The 2nd Ghetto Biennale 2011 will take place from the end of November until the middle of December 2011. All works must be made and exhibited in Haiti. Artists will be invited to pass one to three weeks in Haiti before presenting their work in the neighbourhood to an audience of local people, Port au Prince neighbourhood communities, arts collectives and arts organisations. The 2nd Ghetto Biennale will be co-curated by Andre Eugene, Celeur Jean Herard and Leah Gordon.
We will be privileging applications from artists that attended the inaugural event as we wish to encourage and strengthen the connections, collaborations and relationships that were established during the 1st Ghetto Biennale 2009. But there will be also be at least twenty new artists accepted too. Please check the archive section for the 1st Ghetto Biennale to get a feel for the previous projects. http://www.yoonsoo.com/ghetto/2009/archive/artists/archive.html
The deadline for proposal applications is midnight Monday 25th April and our decisions will be made and announced by mid-June. The primary criteria will be based on practical issues of the viability of the production in the Grand Rue locality.
Applicants for the 2nd Ghetto Biennale 2011 must provide a written synopsis of their project proposal covering methodology, conceptual background and the production and exhibition strategy for the proposed new work on two sides of A4, including illustrations, and a one page CV, all formatted as pdfs. (If you are unable to create a pdf and then we will be happy to accept a word document). We will not accept any proposal longer than two sides and neither will we accept website links as a proposal component. Please keep in mind that we are looking for works that will be created and produced during the three week period in Port au Prince, Haiti. We are not looking for work that is already finished.
There is no funding for this event and you will be expected to cover the cost of your flight, accommodation and materials. We will supply a reading list, there is a film about the Grand Rue sculptors on-line and we will be more than happy to help (via email) with any research and information needed, both before your application and leading up to the event. Advice can be given about the practicalities for the production of specific projects and budgeting for the trip. Translators will be on site in Haiti through the production period, but if your work involves intensive interviews we will advise you to budget for your own translator. Artists should be aware that Haiti has only a 50% literacy rate and text heavy projects could be problematic for the local audience. We can help organise all hotel bookings, airport pick-ups and internal transport. All the visiting artists will be staying at the Oloffson Hotel.
Find more information about Atis-Rezistans visit http://www.atis-rezistans.com
Enquiries, questions and submissions contact: Leah Gordon at Leahgordon@aol.com
Here is a video of Atis-Rezistans, the creators of this event:
Atis-Rezistans: the Sculptors of Grand Rue from Leah Gordon on Vimeo.
