UNIDEE Labs: Artwork as Toolkit & Tools for the Commons

Continuing the research arc around embedded arts practices curated by Andy Abbott*, UNIDEE Residency Programs (Cittadellarte-Fondazione Pistoletto’s educational ecology incepted in 1999) is pleased to invite applications for two Art Labs taking place in January 2022.

The labs are opportunities to share, unpack and apply your ongoing practice or action-research with a group of peers, the UNIDEE Residency Programs team and guests including researcher/curator Alessandra Saviotti (Italy/The Netherlands), art historian, independent researcher and curator Gemma Medina Estupiñán (Spain/The Netherlands), artist Owen Griffiths (UK), artist, researcher and activist Emanuele Braga (Italy), artist-choreographer, curator, activist and researcher Gabriella Riccio (Italy/Spain), writer, researcher, and political activist Keir Milburn (UK), and freelance cultural worker Gareth Brown (UK).

Through group critiques, facilitated workshops, collective trace-making, and informal and responsive activities we will make space in which you can gain multiple perspectives on the work you are undertaking in your locale, with a focus on identifying, testing and developing tools, technologies and methodologies that may be usefully applied in the situated contexts in which you are working.

Participants can choose to take part in week one lab “Artwork as Toolkit,” week two lab “Tools for The Commons,” or both. For more context and information about the concept for the labs see the “Curatorial Statement.”

How will it work?
Up to eight residents will take part in each lab at Cittadellarte Fondazione-Pistoletto using the UNIDEE Residency Program space as a shared studio for group discussions, sharing sessions and presentations, with the opportunity for exploration and engagement with the postindustrial and rural landscapes of Biella (Italy).

The methods we will draw upon include group critiques - at which you will be expected to give a short presentation of the practice or action research you are sharing as part of the lab - as well as group exercises, workshops and less formal activities (group meals, walks etc.). At the end of the lab you will be asked to leave a trace of your experience as a contribution to the creation of a toolkit for embedded arts practice.

Residents will stay in accommodation within Cittadellarte that includes basic cooking facilities.

Programme and practicalities
Participants of “Artwork as Toolkit” Lab will arrive on evening of Sunday January 9 and depart Sunday January 16, 2022. Alessandra Saviotti, Gemma Medina Estupiñán and Owen Griffiths will be the guests for this week. Participants of “Tools for the Commons” Lab will arrive Sunday January 16 and depart Sunday January 23, 2022. Emanuele Braga, Gabriella Riccio, Keir Milburn and Gareth Brown will be the guests for this week.

Residents can apply to either or both of the Labs but please be aware that there will be some repetition of activities for those that participate in both.

There is a 280 EUR fee for participation in the lab (or 420 EUR for both) and accommodation (cleaning and sanitation) whilst in Biella. Participants will be required to arrange and cover their own travel to/from Biella and food/living costs whilst in Cittadellarte.

The UNIDEE programme thanks to the support of its partners is capable of keeping costs low for participants as our mission is to provide participants with the inspiration, motivation and tools to activate, develop or improve artistic initiatives based on the involvement of local ecologies.

Who is it for and what is expected if me?
We aim to select a cohort of eight residents per lab through an invitation to participants of the 2020 and 2021 residency programmes (Embedded Arts Practice in a Postpandemic Future, 2021’s Groundwork for Embedded Arts Practice, and Tools and Technologies for Embedded Practice Arts Lab) and an open call.

For alumni of previous programmes the ongoing embedded practice you will share can be that which you developed during your residency, an extension of this or a related project. Selection will be based upon participants’ willingness and ability to share the practice they are engaged in, and collectively reflect upon this with peers. We will aim to select cohorts with a range of practices, location/perspective and experience.

How do I apply?
Application is by Expression of Interest by filling out the application form with the following requirements: Indicate which lab you would like to apply to participate in (“Artwork as Toolkit”, “Tools for the Commons” or both). Up to 150 words about yourself and your practice and/or experience, and your suitability for the programme. Up to 200 words about the ongoing project or research that you will share as part of the lab including details about the local context (place, communities, audiences) and what long-term change you could hope to facilitate. For alumni of the previous UNIDEE embedded arts residencies the ongoing embedded practice you will share can be that which you developed during your previous residency, an extension of this, or a related project. Up to 150 words about how you may share this practice with others and what you hope to gain and learn from the week and a CV/portfolio in PDF format (max seven MB).

Access the application form here. Applicants must submit their application by email to: unidee [​at​] cittadellarte.it with “UNIDEE Labs 2022 application (your name)” as a subject line. Deadline for submissions is Sunday, December 12, and we will let successful applicants know a decision by Wednesday, December 15, 2021.

*See 2020’s Embedded Arts Practice in a Postpandemic Future, 2021’s Groundwork for Embedded Arts Practice residencies and Tools and Technologies for Embedded Practice Arts Lab.

Partners
UNIDEE patrons are Regione Piemonte, Compagnia di San Paolo, CRT Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Torino, illycaffè S.p.A., Fondazione Zegna UNIDEE AIR partner is A.M. Qattan, Institut Français Italy