2020-21 Call for authors

Introduction

Est-Nord-Est (ENE) is an artist-run centre whose mission is to provide an international community of artists and authors in contemporary art with support by offering space and time for research and experimentation, as well as privileged access to local resources and knowhow.

The centre is situated in Saint-Jean-Port-Joli, a village on the south shore of the St. Lawrence River, in a unique geographic and historical locale. The predominant aspects of the landscapes are farms, forests, and the river. Saint-Jean-Port-Joli is situated 115 km from Quebec City and 350 km from Montreal.

Originally based on the idea of encounters between sculptors with contemporary practices and those using regional traditional skills, ENE now welcomes contemporary visual-arts artists from all disciplines.

Because it is convinced of the important bond between artworks and words, the centre encourages writing about contemporary art by offering a residency to authors. More specifically, these residencies are reserved for authors whose research and writing focuses on notions, practices or issues related to contemporary and current visual and media arts.

In 2020–21, ENE opens its call for applications to international authors for the first time.

The work and living spaces are common to all residents, and so the authors may immerse themselves in the art that is being made. Residents have an opportunity to explore their research more deeply, to experiment, and to create in a cultural space that is unique, lively, and stimulating. ENE is a member of Res Artis, Pépinières européennes de création and of the Regroupement des centres d’artistes autogérés du Québec.

The eight-week residency periods, which bring together four artists and one author in the field of contemporary art, are offered in spring, summer, fall, and, in 2020 for the first time, winter. In summer 2019, ENE moved into its new building created and designed specifically for artist and author residencies. The centre’s expertise in hosting residencies oriented the choices made when its premises were built. This new architectural concept places exchanges, friendly relations, and technical and logistical assistance at the heart of the experience offered to residents. Through these choices, the centre once again reaffirms its innovative position with regard to art residencies.

Duration of the residency

8 weeks

Residency periods

Spring: April 20 to June 12, 2020

Summer: July 6 to August 28, 2020

Fall: September 14 to November 6, 2020

Winter: February 1 to March 26, 2021

Conditions

The eight-week residency includes:

• Residency honorarium of CAD $1,530
• Access to an individual studio-workshop to be used for work and lodging
• Access to a documentation centre (books, magazines)
• Access to local resources
• Technical and logistical support
• Access to a bicycle in summer/local transportation organized by ENE in winter

* Materials, travel fees and other living charges are at the residents' expense.

ENE offers authors:

• Time and a place to devote themselves to research and experimentation
• Privileged access to local resources and diverse areas of knowhow
• An international art community

Expectations towards the author:

• To make full use of the residency period offered for his/her research
• To be present during the entire residency period 
• To present his/her approach and research interests at the beginning of the residency at a public event organized by ENE
• To present his/her research and experiments carried out during the residence stay at a public event organized by ENE at the end of the residency period

Authors are selected with the following criteria in mind:

• The theoretical, analytical or critical quality of the proposal
• The potential impact of the residency on the resident’s career
• A constructive mix of art practices
• A mix of genders and generations
• Representation by residents from Quebec, Canada, and around the world

A jury of peers evaluates the applications. For each residency, ENE selects artists and authors whose practices are complementary in nature or in dialogue with each other and comply with its mandate.

Submit an application – Deadline: January 10, 2020