Raghurajpur International Art/Culture Exchange (RIA/CE)
Deadline for Application: 1st August 2015
The Raghurajpur International Art/Culture Exchange (RIA/CE) is an opportunity for contemporary, conceptual and craft artists to exchange ideas and skills with the traditional craftspeople of Orissa, India.
During the 5-week exchange, artists from around the world will have the opportunity to study with master craftsmen and learn traditional skills such as palm leaf carving, stone and wood carving, pata chitra and tassar painting, dhokra (metal casting), coir (coconut straw) toy making, paper maché mask making, ganjapa playing card making, and cow dung toy making. Performing artists as well can revel in classical dance forms such as as gotipua, odishi, and folk forms like naga, durga, horse (chaiti ghoda) dancing, fire dancing (paika akhada) is also covered.
This vast knowledge and these traditional skills can be incorporated into an individual's practice producing contemporary artwork that addresses concerns with deconstructed forms of traditional craft. It is transformative. In exchange, the international artists will share their ideas about art with the villagers, who can also benefit from this exchange and have it inform their traditional art.
There are many spaces where various art forms will be taught. Artists will have 5 day studio access a week.
Participation in weekly workshops. Artists can attend any of the offered workshops as long as it's for the one-week period (in other words, don't "workshop hop" during the week). Artists can attend the same workshop for the entire 5 weeks if they want concentrated work in that area or they can choose a different workshop each week. Artists are welcomed to work on their personal artwork in lieu of attending workshops if desired for some or all of the time.
Duration
5 weeks (Jan. 10th-Feb.14th 2016 / Oct.11th-Nov.17th 2016 )
Accomodation Information
Artists will share accommodations and all meals and bottled water are provided. Room: Artists are housed in a building that was built to be the village library. Sleeping areas range from double rooms to spacious open rooms that can sleep up to eight artists. Per local custom, beds are mattresses on the floor with pillow and sheet.
Local food: 3 meals are provided each day. Tea and coffee are available throughout the day. Filtered water will be available for artist's to use to fill their water bottles. (The spring water in the village is also potable.) Food will be real Oriyan vegetarian dishes, typical of the food the villagers eat. Chicken or fish may be offered on special occasions.
Studio Information
Artists will be given studio space to make work using the new processes acquired. Use of grounds for installations and performances. Grounds include numerous interesting spaces: river, ponds, palm groves, ancient tree forests, surrounding tribal villages, wide streets, culture center, open fields.
Paid by artist
RIA/CE is a not for profit enterprise. To cover expenses of housing, food and workshops, artists will be charged $300 US per week (approximately 18,000 rs per week). Additionally, artists will have to cover their travel and transportation costs (+ visa costs).
A non-refundable deposit of $300 US (per week) is required by Aug 25 ,2015 in order to hold selected artist's spots in the Exchange. Can be submitted via Western Union Money Exchange, PayPal or post. If not received, another artist will be selected and your spot will be forfeited.
Application guidelines
Applications for Raghurajpur International Art/Culture Exchange 2016 are being accepted and reviewed on an ongoing basis. There are still several openings left for RIA/CE 2016, so if you are interested in attending, please submit your application as soon as possible.
How to apply: Submit the following information via email at [email protected]
Application form filled out in full (can be downloaded from our website )
Current resume/Curriculum Vitae
Six digital images representative of your current artwork (include the materials/medium, year of work)
Artist's statement (200 words or less) describing your art practice
Short write-up (200 words or less) detailing why you would like to attend RIA/CE 2016
Deadline for Application: 1st August 2015
