Marseilles has experienced a boom in recent years, particularly due to the strong migration of young graduates from art schools, from the major European capitals. Indeed, Marseilles has always known many talents, local and multinational. There are some world famous architects such as Le Corbusier, Jean Nouvel, Jules Cantini or Rudy Ricciotti. Artists like César, who have completely upset the representations in contemporary art, have given birth to places and art centers, which are now experiencing a strong influx by welcoming artists from around the world. So there is the MAC  (Museum of Contemporary Art) renovated by the architect Maxime Repaux or the MuCEM designed by Riccioti. These museums concentrate a large part of the culture of the Southern Region, and Aix-en-Provence hosts’ important collections, such as the Tate (David Hockney at the Granet Museum). Art-o-rama is an international contemporary art fair, which takes place in Marseilles at the end of August. Produced by Fraeme, around thirty gallery owners and publishers are invited each year.

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In collaboration with their local partners, the French Institute of Nigeria and the Marseilles-based organization Versant Sud are offering a cross-residency grant to artists and creative people from Lagos (Nigeria) and the Marseilles region (France), working in the following fields Architecture / Fashion / Design / Crafts.

This program entitledCrossings; aims to accompany the artistic emergence in Africa, and in particular in Nigeria, through residencies in mainland France to develop a project of creation or research, and the strengthening of exchanges with France with the simultaneous hosting of a French artist / creator in Nigeria.

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Objectives of residency in Marseilles for a Nigerian artist

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Research, experimentation, creation

 

The candidates must submit a proposal for artistic work they would like to accomplish in full during their residency. This project, whose theme is free, must be in one of the following fields: fashion, design, architecture or crafts.

The residency project allows the laureate to create one or more pieces never before experienced with in his/her practice. The professional candidate, whose research and approach are firmly rooted in the field of contemporary creation, must already have a significant body of work to his or her credit and must be able to commit fully and exclusively to the singular exercise of a residency. The selected laureate will reside in Marseilles (France) for two months. He/she will be flexible, caring and adaptable to a foreign culture. He/she will experiment artistically and culturally with a variety of local partners, soliciting meetings and collaborations with partners.

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Exchanges and networksing

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One member of the Versant Sud team will accompany the laureate in the discovery of the ecosystem of the sector concerned, will encourage meetings with professionals evolving in the fields of expertise relevant to the laureate's work, and opportunities to attend artistic and cultural events, meetings, etc The laureate commits to proposing and leading a complementary activity for the local artistic community (e.g. workshop with students).

 

During the residency, weekly meetings are organized so that the laureate has the opportunity to present the progress of his/her work to the mentor and local partners. The laureate will also propose a presentation in collaboration with the Citadelle de Marseilles, his/her place of residence, at the end of the residency (between December 13 and 18).

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Conditions of the residency and obligations of the laureate

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The laureate will reside and work exclusively in Marseilles (delimited area), for a continuous period of 60 days. The time of the residency must be entirely devoted to the artistic project presented. The laureate must be physically present during the entire period of the residency.

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The resident undertakes to:

- complete the residency around the initial project and participate in the weekly
follow-up of the residency;
- work regularly in a production workshop;
- participate in an exchange activity with the local community;
- accompany his/her finished project with a detailed note;
- organize a restitution intended for the local cultural ecosystem, and ensure the
assembly and disassembly of the installation, if necessary;
- participate in a restitution in Lagos upon return from the residency;
- fill out the residency exit questionnaire.

 

The laureate must be autonomous in the management of his/her residency and travel.

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The works created during the residency are the property of the author.

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Duration and conditions of residency

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Residency period

 

The artistic residency program lasts 8 weeks. The dates for 2023 are: from October 20 to December 20, 2023 for the Nigerian laureate going to Marseilles.

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Conditions of residency

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The French Institute of Nigeria and Versant Sud, with the support of their
partners, provide:
- a stipend of €1,200 per month (fees, catering and local travel expenses);
- economy class transportation from Lagos to Marseilles (including an additional
baggage for the return of the production created);
- the French visa (with the support of the French Embassy in Nigeria);
- a production grant of €1,000 for the conduct of the project (production material,
fees for the services of an artisan if the project requires, restitution in Lagos);
- €250 worth of equipment at the Giant of Fine Arts
- accommodation, the apartment is located in the Belsunce district, a 20-minute walk
from the workshop location;

- a workspace provided by La Citadelle de Marseilles and located on the Vieux-
port of Marseilles. The Citadel of Marseilles (also known as Fort Saint
Nicolas/Entrecasteaux) is a classified Heritage site since 1969, under
restoration and soon open to the public.

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The laureate is responsible for:
- mandatory vaccinations;
- PCR tests required, in the event that the laureate does not present official proof
of full vaccination against Covid19;
- mandatory liability and repatriation insurance for the duration of the stay (a
certificate must be attached to the residency agreement);
- tools, computer equipment and materials necessary for his/her work.

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How to apply

Deadline

 

Applications must be submitted no later than Wednesday, July 12, 2023, before
11:59 p.m. Late and/or incomplete applications will not be considered.

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Apps

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Multiple applications will be disqualified.

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The French Embassy in Nigeria and Versant Sud will pre-select eligible applications by residence and oversee their deliberations as non-voting members.

 

To select the winners, the organizers work with independent jurors in Lagos (Institut Français du Nigeria, Alliance Française de Lagos, A White Space Creative Agency, 16x16, Agence Française de Développement au Nigeria) and Marseilles (Région Sud, independent curator, private player in the cultural sector, the Citaof Marseilles).
NB: the composition of the jury may be subject to change.

English is the main language of the application and selection process.

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Applications must include the following:

▪ Myndatory:

- A statement that describes the purpose of the residency:
the title of the project, a brief presentation of the project specific to the residency,
the objectives and expected results, and how this residency fits into your
artistic career (2 pages maximum)
- An updated curriculum vitae (2 pages maximum)
- A portfolio (20 pages maximum)

- A text describing the artist's artistic approach (2 pages maximum)

▪Optional: 

- Letters oflike againndation (2 letters maximum)

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Selection Criteria and Agreement

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During the review process, eligible applications are reviewed and evaluated
based on four criteria:
- quality of the proposal;
- quality and significance of the applicant's professional accomplishments;
- appropriateness of the proposal to the territory of Marseilles and/or France;
- suitability of a residency at the applicant's career stage.

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Shortlisted candidates will be informed by return e-mail. The name of the winner will be made public on the websites of the organizing partners. Prior to the residency, the artist will be invited to discuss with the host team the technical feasibility and timetable of the residency project, as well as the specificities of coming in France, before formalizing the residency contract. A residency agreement specifying the commitems of the organizers and the resident will be signed before the beginning of the stay.

Shortlisted applicants will be interviewed by the jury via video conference.

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Communication

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Making-of photos and videos will be produced throughout the duration of the residency. The approval of the project will imply the acceptance by the resident of the use of his/her images by the partners for media purposes, in particular on the social networks of the organizers and their partners. Specific communication modalities are set out in the agreement.

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time table

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Apps: until Wednesday 12 July 2023 inclusive;

video interviewwith the pre-selected candidates: end of July;

Results: August 2023;

Residencies: from 20 October to 20 December 2023 (in Marseilles) and restitution in Lagos before January 2024.

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Contact us

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For any questionns concerning this call, please contact: operatorversantsud@gmail.com

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