WATARASE Art Project 2011-2012 Artist Invited !!

Ordinary lives as we knew them have changed.

If art is a mirror that reflects the society, the world, what would you reflect when you stand on this ground “WATARASE” today?

 

WATARASE Art Project, which started in 2006, is a continuing art project located along Watarase Keikoku Railway running through Kiryu City and Midori City of Gunma Prefecture and Ashio Town/ Nikko City of Tochigi Prefecture in Japan.

The area once flourished with several tens of thousands of residents, centered around Ashio Copper Mine and a silk textile industry (Kiryu City) and played an important role in Japan’s modernization. Later on, Ashio Copper Mine closed down leaving behind several problems such as a pollution caused by mineral poisoning, a discrimination due to wide-spread negative public perceptions, and economic disparities between the affluent and working class; and a silk textile industry has deteriorated with changing times, casting a dark and heavy shadow onto the area as “negative legacy” and “remnants of the old times.”

Witnessing rise and fall of the times and falling victim of the economic development are no longer the area’s localized memory, but a universal story as well.

Perhaps, the area can be the epitome of the “world.”

Then, what will you reflect when you stand on this ground of Watarase today?

Art cannot change the world, but only art can change the view of the world.

 

Guidelines for applicants

WATARASE Art Project is seeking for artists/ projects to participate in the art festival planned for 2012.

The production will take place as an Artist-in-Residence Program for two years of 2011 and 2012.

WATARASE Art Project is an artist-led project.

Artists play a central role in the operation of the project and the exhibition, not mere participants to the exhibition.

We will select artists/ project teams who can proactively co-work with other artists and local residents to develop the project, and will provide a support in such process.

 

1. Eligible artists / project teams

Forms:

  Any form of the expression (fine arts, architecture, music, performing arts etc.)

   * In addition to applications as an individual artist, applications as a project of multiple members via a media such as

     food or communication are welcome

Age/ Nationality:

   18 and above, any nationality

    (for participants below 20, an approval of a guardian will be required separately for residence)

 

2. Period of the Project

Exhibition (subject to future change)

   Pre-Exhibition: September 11, 2011 (Sun) - September 25, 2011 (Sun) * Mainly open-studio workshops

   Main Exhibition: August 12, 2012 (Sun) - September 23, 2012 (Sun)

 

Artist-in-Residence / Production period:

  July 2011 - Late July 2012 * From 1 month to 1 year

   * Most of the residential facility and the exhibition sites will be closed during the winter

   * Residence period is flexible according to each participant’s production plan and schedule

   * Artists are free to leave the site during the residence period

   * Oversight of production and exhibition sites is under each artist’s responsibility

 

3. Compensation

  Production aid of JPY20,000 up to JPY100,000 depending on the production budget

  (Not a guarantee for the full compensation)

  Out-of-pocket expenses include travel, meals and accommodation (if staying at hotels etc.)

   * Travel costs can be partially reimbursed

   * Please consult the Secretariat if you are living in a remote location or overseas

   * Staying at the residential facility on site is free of charge for the entire period

 

4. Application

  Application period:

   April 25, 2011 - June 30, 2011 (as indicated by the postmark on the envelope)

    * As full exhibition by the residence is intended for 2012 (and exhibition in process for 2011), we are not

      accepting applications for exhibition only in 2011

  Forms:

   Please mail

   1) the application form  (or WEB application)

   2) a summary of the exhibition

      (artist statement or summary of the project, plan of the production, pictures of the main artworks etc. /

         less than three A4 papers / one-side printed)

        (WEB application: less than three JPEG image or PDF file * less than 3MB)

      * Following can be attached to the above application documents as a reference;

        - Portfolio / Files in A4 size (please do not send in the original materials)

        - electric recording (CD-R, DVD etc.) of portfolio or summary of past projects

      * If you require these materials to be returned, please indicate so upon submission

      * Schedule and plan for the production to be submitted do not need to be final and definite at application

 

  Address: (the application form and Portfolio/ Files)

    WATARASE Art Project Secretariat (Ashio),

    5-12 Akakura Ashio-Cho, Nikko-shi, Tochigi-ken ,

    Japan, 321-1502

 

5. Selection Process

1st Round: Application screening

          -> results will be notified within one-two weeks of the deadline

2nd Round: Hearing

          -> results will be notified within one-two weeks after the hearing

  * We will conduct hearing in conjunction with a site visit to be scheduled according to your availability

  * Travel cost of up to JPY5,000 will be reimbursed

  * Final participants will be determined after the hearing

  * We might ask for an additional presentation in order to determine the allocation of production aid and

    site location

 

Screening Committee:

   Shumpei Minagawa (WATARASE Art Project Representative 2010 - )

   Kazumi Uehara (WATARASE Art Project Representative 2008 - 2009)

   Kaori Takahashi (Sociologist/ Waseda University, Doctoral Course)

   Participating artists in 2006 - 2010

   External screening committee (local public authorities, etc.)

Studio / Exhibition Site / Residence