Residency Programme
The main focus of Platform has been to present and produce contemporary art in Vaasa with emphasis on site specific art, community art, or art projects that have some local connection. Since an important part of Platform's activities are creating local interaction it gradually made sense to emphasize the residency program. It turned out that the projects and exhibitions made on site by artists who stayed a longer period in Vaasa seemed to work better – in the sense that they got more local attention and usually also were more interesting to us.
In recognition of a milestone year (2000–2010) of creating an open cultural platform for artist residencies, international networks, cultural interventions and contemporary art events, Platform responds to past experiences by initiating a theme “To have / To own” for future activity orientation.
In order to react on the present cultural situation, in which it is recognized that art as well as other cultural areas during the last years has gone through significant social, cultural, economic and ecological change, Platform calls for a reaction to conceptions of having and owning. The presumption is that paying close attention to interests that culture and individuals have when referring to having and owning will raise dialogues on issues such as: cultural heritage, aesthetic and ethic values, immaterial/material resources, networking, nomadic movements, communication, alienation, independence, sustainability, education etc.
Platform encourages art projects that take a self-directed orientation to the theme. The focal point for the initiative is to generate conditions for artists to engage in local and international contemporary art based interventions that perform interpretation zones in which past, present and future human conditions are examined.
We offer the artist a stay in Vaasa for a minimum of 6 weeks up to a maximum of 6 months. The regular period is 2 months, though. A studio space, accommodation, travel expenses (cheapest possible covered), and living expenses are provided. We also offer a small production budget, usually up to 800 euros, which the artist may reimburse by presenting original receipts of purchases.
The studio is located in an old military barrack in central Vaasa. The building hosts local artists as well. The accommodation is a loft located in an old soap factory, a 10-minute bike ride from the city centre. In addition, there is a bike, a set of tools and equipment available for the artist. There is wireless broadband access in the studio.
The artist has a contact person who is in charge of different arrangements, but note that this is voluntary work so if any additional assistance is needed it has to be agreed upon well in advance.
We ask the artist to realise a project, which can be presented either during the residency or at a later stage. After the project is finished the artist should submit documentation of it, as well as press release text etc. There is also a possibility for the artist to give a public talk about his/her work, which is normally done in the beginning of the stay, in order to get to know people.