The WCCE Creative Exchange Residency programme responds to the need to build a sustainable European infrastructure for transmitting craft knowledge and practice while fostering networking among craftspeople across Europe. WCCE’s previous analysis of needs highlights the concern about the reduced ability to pass craftsmanship – which is in the heads and hands of the masters – on to future generations because of a lack of education and meeting possibilities. Craft knowledge is part of our intangible heritage. Transfer of knowledge is not only possible through books or videos; it passes from person to person, embodied in action.
In light of this, the opportunity to participate in the Creative Exchange Residency will create a much-needed European infrastructure for the transfer of knowledge and skills in which participants learn directly from one another, in a variety of ways, across disciplines; localities and concepts.
The programme is an exchange between partnerships of craftspeople of different or similar skill levels, through which ideas, knowledge and expertise can be shared. It also reinforces European arts and crafts’ capacity to be active at the international level strengthening transnational cooperation for the creation, circulation, promotion, and visibility of European works and ensuring the mobility and exchange of ideas.
OPPORTUNITY
WCCE invites applications from professional craft practitioners around Europe who are interested in having a ‘Creative Exchange’ with another studio in the form of a two week residency during Spring 2023. Each successful applicant will be paired up with another applicant to take turns hosting one another in their studios in an exchange of knowledge, skills and ideas.
This could range from heritage craft techniques; digital skills; finding inspiration and working with local tools and materials. The idea is to share and exchange information which can then be carried forward. In total, the residency is comprised of two parts:
- 2 weeks of being a host in your own studio
- 2 weeks of being a visiting resident at another studio
Applicants are expected to provide a welcoming learning experience for their fellow visiting participant and in exchange, be hosted themselves in the second part of the residency. This way, each applicant has the opportunity to both host and travel.
A stipend of 400€ per applicant will be provided to cover basic travel and contribute toward accommodation expenses. Applicants are also advised to apply for an EU mobility grant if further funds are required.
The experience is intended to open up new learning opportunities and exchanges of knowledge at a trans-national or trans-regional level as well as at an inter-generational level.
With this in mind, we strongly encourage participants to develop a common project together. This could take the form of a collaborative craft object; a concept or a digital collaboration. The purpose is to produce something new which can help to structure the residency exchange and potentially spark further collaboration into the future.
APPLICATION PROCESS
Applicants should state the kind of exchange they would prefer, as well as a particular fellow applicant they would like to collaborate with if they have one in mind; but the fellow applicant must be located in a different region or country. If you do not have a specific person in mind, you can still apply and our team will find an appropriate exchange partner.
Applications are open from 8 December 2022 – 30 January 2023
Successful applicants will be informed between the end of January and first week of February 2023.
The residency period will run between February 2023 and mid April 2023.
Participants are required to submit a written and photographic report of the experience and their learnings within one month of completing the residency (20th April, the latest).
50 Applicants (25 pairs) will be selected for this first edition in Spring 2023 and the programme will be repeated later in the year as well as in 2024.
Interested applicants for the Spring edition are invited to fill out the application form here.
RESIDENCY
Once selected, participants will be matched with another applicant by the WCCE selection committee. The pairs will be announced and each pair will then have to connect and arrange the time periods when they would like to host one another.
The individual stipends of 400€ per participant, will be paid once these dates are confirmed and applicants will then arrange their own travel and accommodation.
Please note that WCCE will not be present at the studios or during the residency; this is an open and collaborative, interpersonal exchange. WCCE will provide guidelines on how to organise the time together; but a creative approach to learning and sharing knowledge is encouraged in order for participants to find synergies that suit their style of working.
Participants will have one month after the completion of the residency, in which to submit a report on their experience, using written and photographic material.