Call for proposals: Samoa House Research Residency Programme 2023

Samoa House Library (SHL) is now accepting proposals from arts & arts-related practitioners for our Research Residency Programme 2023. There are 2 residencies available each including a stipend of $5,000, open to individuals, groups or collectives.

SHL’s research residencies offer practitioners from art or art-related fields the opportunity to focus on their research practices in ways that are less outcome-oriented. We want to encourage research without the pressure of project deadlines. We see research in an expansive sense, which could include anything from conversational to action research, project development, material explorations, scholarship and more.  During the research residency, recipients should engage with the library and work with its resources, and may contribute to its programming or organisation.


SHL is interested in supporting significant, urgent, and underrepresented areas of research; collectively oriented or situated projects; archival interventions and projects relevant to the context of SHL (e.g. relating to a history of place in Samoa House or Karangahape, to our collection, to library/archival studies, institutional critique, etc).


Applications for the Research Residency close on Thursday, 24 August 2023.

Residency recipients will receive:

  • A stipend totalling $5,000

  • A $700 materials budget

  • Residencies will be organised on a case-by-case basis with support from Bonni (Kaitiaki / Operations Manager), Grace (Research Librarian), our Board of Trustees and advisers

  • Allocated book buying budget to purchase specific texts relevant to your project

  • Mentorship from a practitioner(s) of your nomination (remunerated up to 10 hours)

  • Full access to SHL, our collection of 7500+ texts and other resources

Expectations

Residency recipients will be expected to:

  • Complete approximately 110 – 150 hours of research (equating to approximately $45.45 – $33.33 per hour). The majority of your research hours should be at SHL if possible, however arrangements can be made to work elsewhere on a case by case basis.

  • Nominate texts relevant to your research to be purchased by the Research Librarian for SHL’s collection

  • Make a shareable resource available at SHL i.e a reading list of texts / online sources / media that were key to your research throughout your residency

  • Communicate regularly with SHL staff 

  • Engage with library visitors in conversation about your research – this could take the form of casual conversations or hosting a public reading group session at the library 

  • Compile a brief report upon completion (written, oral, video, visual)

Duration

Your residency must start within 2023. The term of your residency will be organised in a way that is most beneficial to you. This could look like an intensive short period of research, or regular weekly research days over multiple months. Based on Arts Makers Aotearoa’s suggested fair artists’ fees we suggest the stipend covers approximately 110 – 150 hours of research over a period of your choice. This equates your hourly rate to between $33.33 – $45.45 per hour. You are able to self determine your hours and how your stipend is spent, this is only a suggestion. 

How to apply

Proposals will be accepted in any of the following formats:

  • A written outline of your research proposal (approx. 1000 words)

  • A video recording (max. 15 minutes)

  • A 30 minute Zoom call or presentation of your proposal in-person

Proposals should include:

  • Your name(s) & contact details

  • An introduction to your proposed research interest and trajectory, including how your project relates to SHL or Maota Samoa if relevant

  • A basic budget of your material costs and needs

  • Examples of previous work if relevant

  • A short personal bio(s) and a collective bio if relevant

  • Rough dates to start and end your residency including an indication of how you will allocate your time

Please send your written or video proposals by email to samoahouselibrary@gmail.com. If you would like to submit your proposal in-person please email us in advance to arrange a time. Calls/in-person proposals will be scheduled for 25/08/2023.

If you have any questions or would like to discuss the application process further, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Our residency programme is generously supported through funding from Creative New Zealand. 

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