Source: ZK/U Berlin - Center for Art and Urbanistics

ZK/U hosts a multidisciplinary residency program, offering a living and working space for practitioners of all kinds (artists, researchers, activists, professionals of various fields) whose work or approach explores the dynamics and experiences of the city. The residency program welcomes applications with proposal framed as:

• a conceptual, contextual and interventionist contemporary artistic position,
• research or experimentation in the  fields of urbanism, geography, anthropology, architecture and the humanities.

The common theme and interests that link the work of ZK/U residents allow mutual learning, spontaneous collaborations, discussions and exchanges to emerge, enriched by the diversity of disciplines and profiles of the residents. The ZK/U building, a former train station building located in a dynamic public park, is a space for urban experimentation and cross-disciplinary collaborations. Hosting regular public events for a diverse audience, ZK/U is also a lively cultural venue. Residents are encouraged to involve themselves with ZK/U’s cultural program and to propose their own formats.

More information on the residency can be found here.

(If you are an artist or cultural practitioner with curatorial experience based on the African continent, please also see our current Open Call for the fully funded TURN2 Curatorial Research Residencies at ZK/U Berlin.)

Conceptual framework
Applicants are encouraged to formulate their project proposals with the conceptual discourses of ZK/U in mind. 

What we provide

• a studio-apartment for living and working
• access to communal spaces (kitchen, terrace, library)
• a special residency program of weekly dinners, monthly studio visits and bi-monthly open studio events (OPENHAUS)
• the possibility to take part or be part of ZK/U’s public events
• support to locate events, resources, and urban discourses relevant to the residency fellows’ research interests
• support to create self-initiated public events or formats (additional costs may apply)
• promotion of the residency fellows’ work online and locally

Costs
For individual residents or groups, depending on the type of studio-apartment and the length of stay (3-8 months), the residency fees are between €550 and €850 per month. The fees cover all utility costs, space usage and participation in the residency programming. The residency period can take place anytime within the next two years after the selected resident is notified.

COVID-19
Since spring 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has posed a world-wide challenge to all, including the cultural field. The ZK/U residency has stayed open throughout the pandemic and was able to constantly adapt to the changing situation and regulations, ensuring the safety of its community and a continuation of its programming in diverse forms when possible. However, bringing non-EU-based future residents into the EU has been quite difficult and will likely remain so as long as border restrictions are not relaxed or lifted. In all cases, the ZK/U team will do everything possible to ensure a safe stay at the residency.

Construction at ZK/U
From Summer 2021 to Autumn 2022 (planning status of Feb 2021) the public spaces of the ZK/U building will be expanded. The residency will still be open normally but the planned construction will likely  affect the working and living situation at ZK/U. We will try to offer alternative spaces for showcasing your work for our regular OPENHAUS. Please consider this when you apply for a residency within this time frame.

For updates please check: ZK/U Extension

Application Form:https://forms.gle/ZKewPMeEL9P8nrEfA

If you can’t find what you are looking for on our website, kindly send an email to: apply​@zku-berlin.org

APPLICANT REQUIREMENTS

• ZK/U welcomes artists, researchers, practitioners, activists that concern themselves with the phenomenon of 'the city'. (All disciplines and professions are welcome)
• The programme is open to a range of contemporary artistic positions that are conceptual, interventionist and contextual. 
• Artists are expected to have a broad record of projects and exhibitions. 
• Scholars and practitioners should have some years of professional experience. 
• One can apply individually or as a group. 
• Group applications consisting of artists working together with scholars or practitioners from other disciplines are especially welcome.
• There are no limitations concerning age or region of provenance of the applicant. 

SELECTION CRITERIA

• ZK/U seeks proactive practitioners with an open mind for divergent positions and for possible collaborations with fellow residents as well as ZK/U’s programme, infrastructure, and diverse audiences.
• ZK/U is interested in proposals that have a certain relevance either to ZK/U as an institution or to Berlin.

CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK

• The application proposal should be coherent with the Open Call’s ​conceptual framework​ ​and investigation leads. 

WHAT WE PROVIDE

• a studio-apartment for living and working
• access to communal spaces (kitchen, terrace, library)
• a special residency program of weekly dinners, monthly studio visits and bi-monthly open studio events (OPENHAUS)
• the possibility to take part or be part of ZK/U’s public events
• support to locate events, resources, and urban discourses relevant to the fellows’ research interests
• support to create self-initiated public events or formats
• promotion of the fellows’ work online and locally

RESIDENCY FEE & DURATION

For individual fellows, depending on the studio-apartment and length of stay, the residence fees are between €550 and €850 a month. The residency period varies from 3 to 8 months, and can take place within the next two years after the applicant receives a confirmation. After being selected, ZK/U will support the invited residential fellow in their efforts to secure funding through external grants by providing the fellow with an official invitation and a list of potential funders.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Please only submit your application within the Open Call period.

To apply, please:

• fill out the application form
• send your application documents via wetransfer

For questions, make sure to check our FAQ page.

APPLICATION MATERIAL (in German or English):

1. Application form
2. Curriculum vitae (PDF, max. 2 pages)
3. A selection of 2 to 3 projects representing a practice relevant to our conceptual framework (please include descriptions of those projects) (PDF, max. 10 pages)
4. A detailed working plan (only if you are applying for a residency that is longer than 6 months) (PDF, max. 2 pages)

Please send the PDF documents (max. 15mb and 14 pages combined) through wetransfer to apply​@zku-berlin.org

Additional material can be sent by post to: Zentrum für Kunst und Urbanistik - Residency Siemensstrasse 27, 10551 Berlin Germany
(Please note that we cannot send back application material and that ZK/U is not able to take any responsibility for the arrival and preservation of the material that is sent to us!)

CURATORIAL RESEARCH RESIDENCIES IN BERLIN, JOHANNESBURG, LAGOS AND NAIROBI. 

Application Deadline: 05.04.2021

As part of the programme TURN2 - Artistic Co-Creation between Germany and African Countries, the Federal Cultural Foundation has launched the TURN2 Residencies - Curatorial Research Residencies in Berlin, Johannesburg, Lagos and Nairobi. 

The TURN2 RESIDENCIES facilitate research for curators and cultural practitioners with curatorial experience (visual arts, cross-disciplinary) either from the African continent to come to Berlin, or from Germany to come to Johannesburg, Lagos or Nairobi. The programme thus supports the development of transcontinental working relationships and sustainable networks between emerging curators and established art and cultural institutions as well as the exchange between the different art scenes. The TURN2 RESIDENCIES are a cooperation of the Kulturstiftung des Bundes (German Federal Cultural Foundation), the ZK/U – Center for Arts and Urbanistics (ZK/U Berlin) and the Triangle Network and are carried out in collaboration with the Nairobi Contemporary Art Institute (NCAI), the G.A.S. Foundation in Lagos and the Bag Factory in Johannesburg.

To learn more about TURN2 RESIDENCIES, please click here.

Currently, there are no open calls from our partners to be shared here.

Additionally, our partners offer paid residency opportunities at ZK/U Berlin in irregular intervals. For updates, please subscribe to our monthly newsletter.