Call for Applications: Artist Residency (Graphic Design)
Since 2009, the University of Montpellier has hosted an artist or artistic team in residence at its laboratories and academic departments. Since 2013, these residencies have been co-funded by the DRAC and are now part of the agreement between the University of Montpellier and the DRAC Languedoc-Roussillon-Midi-Pyrénées.
Initially, the artists developed Art/Science projects and explored the relationship between artistic creation and the scientific disciplines.
The 2014–2015 academic year marked a turning point for the University of Montpellier’s artist-in-residence programs. The Microclimax collective was hosted against the backdrop of the merger between the Universities of Montpellier 1 and Montpellier 2, which took effect on January 1, 2015. The work of artistic exploration and production was therefore conceived as much in relation to the living environment and in response to the University’s policies as it was to the research and teaching provided. The University’s new scope allowed for an expansion into “non-scientific” components. Choreographer Leonardo Montecchia, in residence this year, addressed the theme of the (useless) gesture at the University, drawing on this new richness.
The 2016–2017 residency invites reflection on the theme of “graphics.” Once again, its aim is to foster points of contact and intersection between the fields of art and the disciplines taught at the University of Montpellier. The artist will work in collaboration with faculty members, Professors students, particularly in connection with the Faculty of Sciences (specifically the departments of mathematics and computer science), ISEM, the Faculty of Economics, and the Faculty of Education in Montpellier…
The University of Montpellier
Formed from the merger of Montpellier 1 and Montpellier 2 Universities in January 2015, the University of Montpellier is currently the largest university in Languedoc-Roussillon and the sixth largest in France.
It has 45,000 students spread across 17 academic units, including:
- 9 schools: Economics and Social Administration (AES), Law and Political Science, Economics, Education, Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Sciences (biology and ecology, evolution and the environment, chemistry, earth and water, mathematics and computer science…), Science and Techniques of Physical and Sports Activities (STAPS)
- 6 institutions: Institute of Business Administration (IAE), Institute for General Management Studies (IPAG), Institute of Business and Management Sciences (ISEM), Béziers University Institute of Technology (IUT), Montpellier-Sète University Institute of Technology (IUT), Nîmes University Institute of Technology (IUT)
- Two institutions: the Research Environmental Research Observatory (OREME) and Polytech’ Montpellier.
Beyond its educational activities, the University of Montpellier also comprises 76 research units organized around nine scientific themes. More than 4,500 staff members (instructors, Professors administrative staff) work there.
The University of Montpellier manages and promotes major collections in botany, paleontology, zoology, mineralogy, anatomy, and documentation.
The Arts & Culture Department
The Art & Culture Office is a department of the University of Marseille (UM) under the Campus Life Division. Its mission is to organize initiatives that encourage and promote students’ and staff members’ engagement with the world of culture and various forms of artistic expression.
The department’s activities focus on several key areas: artistic workshops, organizing cultural events on campus, outreach initiatives with local cultural organizations, and supporting cultural initiatives led by various university stakeholders (students, Professors, cultural associations, academic units, and research laboratories). Hosting artists-in-residence is one of the highlights of the department’s cultural and artistic activities.
Artistic fields: visual arts – drawing
; Theme : Graphic design
The term "graphical" has multiple meanings. As an adjective, it refers to drawing techniques as well as to the representation of language through symbols. As a noun, it refers to diagrams illustrating the progression of a phenomenon, to techniques for representing information using drawings and diagrams, and to the tracings produced by a recording device.
From graphics cards in computer science, to graphs describing economic conditions, to graph theory in mathematics, many academic disciplines directly refer to this term. Teachers, Professors, students, and administrative staff—we all use graphs in classes, PowerPoint presentations, posters, and reports. Their educational value is widely leveraged in all forms of communication, and to paraphrase Napoleon I: a good graph is worth more than a long speech!
The artist-in-residence must integrate their artistic research with the wealth of activities and the semantic range evoked by the terms “graph” and “graphic” at our institution.
Their proposal should play with our mental representations, offering an offbeat perspective on disciplines that utilize graphs and graphic design.
Pencil, pen, marker, engraving, digital drawing—all techniques are welcome.
Special attention will be given to the format of the presentation in order to specifically engage student audiences (publications, screenings, exhibitions, performances, installations, etc.).
The visiting artist immerses themselves in the various disciplines and engages with students, instructors, Professors administrative and technical staff.
The artist gains insights that will inform the artistic production phase
Phase 1: Exploration and Research // Fall 2016 (between September and December – depending on the academic calendar):
- connecting with partners and students and immersing oneself in the coursework to develop an artistic project;
- exploration of research areas;
- an in-depth exploration of the issues at play and the spaces for creating artistic work.
Step 2: Creation // Spring 2017 (between February and April):
- the design and creation of the artwork;
- submission of work;
- meetings and outreach activities targeting the university community and the residents of Montpellier;
- facilitating an artistic workshop on the artist’s approach, or even their specific project for the University.
A suitable workspace will be provided based on the project's needs.
Financial Terms
A total budget of 8,000 euros* has been allocated to cover the costs of research, creation, and outreach activities, the facilitation of a 20-hour workshop, and the artist’s travel and accommodation expenses.
*This amount is subject to the approval of funding from the various partners.
Recruitment Process
Applications must be submitted by July 4, 2016.
Please submit via email in PDF format or by mail:
Attn: Éléonore Szturemski / Marta Cases Bobadilla
Email
University of Montpellier
Art & Culture Department
Attention: Éléonore Szturemski / Marta Cases Bobadilla
Place Eugène Bataillon, P.O. Box 438
34095 Montpellier Cedex 5
Please include the following with your application:
- a resume;
- images of the artwork;
- a note on the artistic approach;
- a statement of intent explaining how the residency project addresses the issues related to your practice, and possibly a preliminary proposal.
Applications will be reviewed on July 13, 2016, by a selection committee composed of members of the Art & Culture Department, key figures in the cultural life of the University of Montpellier, and representatives of the DRAC Languedoc-Roussillon-Midi-Pyrénées. Candidates will be notified as soon as the committee reaches a decision.