Word-Up is a 5-week artist’s residency program for writers..
Description of residency program
Word-Up aims at bringing together writers and artists from a broad range of disciplines and cultures to reside in Sefrou, a market town in the Fez region of Morocco. It involves an intercultural and immersive program of orientation visits, academic presentations, cultural insights and local connections, to arouse an arts practice. See example program from AiR Textile ’16.
Culture Vultures is an artist-led initiative founded in 2009 by visual artist Jess Stephen and fired by a small team of pro-active locals. C.V. designs and hosts artist residency projects as well as the inter-culture and arts activities. The organizations nexus is in an old hotel complex in the center of an ancient Moroccan medina, with neighboring studios housing tailors, carpenters, thread spinners and belt makers.
The location and lodgings / Environment
Sefrou, is an ancient market town nestled at the base of the Middle Atlas Mountains. The closest city, some 25 kilometers west, Fez, the provincial capital boasts a significant impressive imperial medina.
Duration of residency
5th January – 11th February 2017
Disciplines, work equipment and assistance
Word-Up is a 5-week artist’s residency program for writers and artists whose work includes lyrics, stories, scripts, words or prose in their practice.
Accommodation
Dar Attamani – A Berber, Jewish house estimated to be some 400 years old, located in the heart of Sefrou’s medina, was once the house of a Rabbi. Four floors offer visiting artists several communal areas, 6 spacious bedrooms, basement working areas, a large working kitchen and a terrace with a 360 view looking our as far as the Middle Atlas Mountains. Together with the garden at the back of the house Dar Attamani compromises of various options of spaces for artists to work, contemplate or mingle.
Studio/ workspace
Working spaces at Dar Attamani, the residence, are available for artist working in ‘dry’ mediums. The house has many areas for contemplation and creation, including a roof terrace, a cool garden, salon areas and working tables. Temporary individual studios spaces are rented in the old medina for artists upon request. They are simple, light and in the heart of the medina. Equipment is limited and studios are basic. Resources, local connections and cultural immersion are strengths intangible and invaluable for this residency.
Assistants/ facilitators are available to assist artists in community engagement or execution of arts projects. Cultural facilitation, language and local knowledge are the facilitator’s assets.
Fees and support
950 euros. Includes – accommodation and residency program. (See example program from residency Textile AiR, January 2016) Does not include Insurance, execution of work, food, travel to and from residency.
Expectations towards the artist
Respect for the hosting community and culture. Community engagement is an intended outcome, for the benefit of all
Application information
Download word up 17 application form and submit by mail to cvairs@yahoo.com. Include 3 -4 documents . jpeg files or electronic links to portfolio work.
Artists are encouraged to unfold their skills, dip the quill, shake the hands of the local community and feed their creativity. The definition of artist is broad.