Montemero Art Residency 2020 - An interdisciplinary Ecological Hub for Arts

Montemero Art Residency is an organization dedicated to sustainable ecology and alternative art production. We believe that the experience of living and creating in a different context has to be facilitated through exchange and collaboration. Thus, we opened our facilities to artists for them to network and collaborate with professionals from other fields. 

The Programme

Our programme offers open spaces, interdisciplinary connections that’ll expand our understanding of nature and recreation. This will be a time for you to work in your own development as well as building up your professional career through networking and collaborating. The residency is open to people of all ages and backgrounds, and we welcome all those who are looking for space and time to explore new forms of interdisciplinary and intercultural collaboration. Although, our long-term objective with this programme is to create an eco-art project, here some of our short-term goals:

- To create an environment and offer the facilities conducive to creative work, integrated with nature, a place to experience new perspectives and acquire new references.

- Promoting international collaboration and networking, to bring together people from different fields to share and promote ecological and cultural sustainability.

- Embrace and emphasize the experimental, the undefined and unexpected states of creativity.

Outcome

Throughout the programme participating artists will have a chance to incorporate new mediums and disciplines to their practice. Salvaged materials in the scrap yard will  be open to artists creation and interpretation. This process will be supported with weekly online feedback sessions, individual portfolio reviews, and brainstorming sessions with our curator. At the end of the stay, we ask participants to present a small talk about their work and practice. In order to increase community engagement and gain experience, we also encourage artists to create and hold both public and private workshops regarding their practice and/or to join other events that are organized by Finca Montemero. Other events can be organized by the residents, within the bounds of possibilities of the organizers. 

Living arrangements

Participants will have their own private room and there is plenty of space both indoor and outside to create and be inspired. All activities at the residency are arranged in community with the host and other professionals who are using the property in the time being. This also applies to living arrangements such as cooking meals and keeping tidy. Living in a collective means being able to have respectful and insightful discussions, having someone there to help you and be inspired to create something together. 

Studio Information 

Montemero was the former atelier of German artist Wolfgang Simon. Wolfgang Simon studied from 1957 to 1962 at the Berlin College of Fine Arts. Simon understood himself as a student of Friedrich Schröder Sonnenstern. Since the late 1960s to his last days, he lived in Andalusia and dedicate this life to conservation of this land. He equipped his studio for woodcut and linocut printmaking. During the residency, artists will have access to this studio and outside area that can be used for their creative practice. 

Technical Information/Facilities 

Montemero offers fully outfitted print studio and tool garage/workshop, a scrap yard where salvaged materials kept, kitchen, library, large covered patio, gardens, 1 indoor/ 1 outdoor shower, laundry machine, 2 toilets, 1 compost toilet, hot tub, caves, sunset spots, large rooftop. 

Location

The Montermero Art Residency is based at San Juan de los Terreros, 500 meters from the Mediterranean Sea and a 30-minute walk to a small nearby town. We are located in a rural area, where shops are limited and finding a taxi can be difficult. Please make sure you’re fine with being isolated before applying. 

Language: English

Duration: 1 to 3 months

Participation fee

€500 participation fee for one full month. This fee will go towards rent, utilities, upkeep of the facilities and administrative tasks. In return, the host offers bikes (limited), snorkeling and diving equipment, surfing gear. 

Provided by the host:

- Accommodation and utilities

- Pick-up and drop-up from Jaravia train station or San Juan de los Terreros bus station

Please note: If you are elected as one of our participants, you will be required to deposit 40% of the fee within the first week of your acceptance to secure your place.  

Paid by the artist:

- Participation fee 

- Travel

- Cost of production of personal works. We cannot provide specific materials for artwork. The residency is in a rural area, so we recommend artists to travel with their own materials. Depending on your practice we might be able to provide some materials with a small fee. Feel free to reach out to us to discuss your production process and needs.)

- Insurance. We do our best to ensure guests’ safety at all times, but we cannot take responsibility for personal illness, injuries or accidents. Nor can we take responsibility for lost, stolen or damaged personal belongings. Please make sure you have adequate travel and health insurance.