The Art for the Environment Residency Programme (AER) provides current UAL postgraduates and recent alumni (within 12 months) the opportunity to apply for a 2 to 4 week residency at one of our internationally renowned host institutions, to explore concerns that define the 21st century – biodiversity, environmental sustainability, social economy and human rights.
Founded in 2015, internationally acclaimed artist Professor Lucy Orta, UAL Chair of Art for the Environment – Centre for Sustainable Fashion, launched the programme in partnership with international residency programmes and UAL Post-Grad Community.
Thread, The Josef and Anni Albers Foundation, Senegal
Residency dates: 1 - 30 September 2020
Application deadline: 16 March 2020 (Midnight)
About the host: Thread is a residency program and cultural centre that allows local and international artists to live and work in Sinthian, a rural village in Tambacounda, the southeastern region of Senegal. The Albers Foundation constructed this remarkable building in 2015, in collaboration with Le Korsa and it houses two artists’ dwellings, as well as ample indoor and outdoor studio space.
Thread’s socio-cultural role is most pronounced in its function as an agricultural hub for Sinthian and the surrounding villages. Thread was designed to be a flexible and evolving public space, and the local population uses it in a variety of ways. It hosts celebrations, school performances, classes in language and health, village meetings, and an annual soccer tournament that draws thousands of people to Sinthian each fall.
AER Residency Programme overview: The local and international artists invited to Thread tend to work both indoors and outdoors, and even in the surrounding fields or the village itself, depending on the nature of their work. The artists we invite are able to focus on their own work while also interacting with the local community. The objectives of Thread are to afford artists an opportunity to work in exceptional conditions while giving people in the village and nearby region a chance to explore new forms of creativity. This is a project about connection and linkage between points, persons, places, or perspectives. Further details can be found here.
AER Residency opportunity with Thread, The Josef and Anni Albers Foundation includes:
- Four-week residency
- Curator mentoring and feedback
- The possibility of creating an open studio exhibition at Thread, at the end of the residency
- Accommodation and meals
- One return flight ticket London-Dakar, Senegal (cap of £700)
- Transfers within Senegal to and from the residency location
- UAL grant of £500 on completion of residency and final report
Criteria: Applications accepted from UAL postgraduates (MA and PhD) and recent alumni (within 12 months from graduation) only.
Please Note: Successful applicants will be responsible for (i) arranging and booking their own travel to and from the place of the AER Residency in accordance with guidance provided in the application call-outs or by AER administration team and (ii) arranging visas or other travel documentation as may be necessary as well as health and travel insurance. Successful applicants will be required to sign an appropriate UAL AER Residency Agreement which governs applicant’s participation on the Residency prior to the commencement of the Residency. All successful applicants shall receive a copy of the UAL AER Residency agreement following a formal confirmation on the grant of Residency.
Gallery
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Thread Studio
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Thread Workshop
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Sketchbook
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Studio Thread Sinthian
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Making Paper
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Annie looking through documents in the old Senegalese Archive, Dakar, Senegal
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Stitching with Cissé, Thread, Senegal
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Thread Collage Workshop
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Install at Thread with Cisse, Annie-Marie Akussah
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Et si la sécheresse arrive nous ne fuirons pas, Annie-Marie Akussah
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Making Paper - Annie-Marie Akussah
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Still from Work in progress film - Annie-Marie Akussah
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Making Paper - Annie-Marie Akussah
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''Untitled'' 2019 Film Still, Annie-Marie Akussah
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Still from work in progress (film), Annie-Marie Akussah
Useful Links
- For further Information on the programme, visit the Art for the Environment Residency page.
- Explore our partnering institutions from all over the world.
- Extend your knowledge of AER by exploring Stories by previous UAL residents reporting back from their trip.
- Thinking of applying? Take a look at previous winning applications that earned a place on the AER residency programme.
- Professor Lucy Orta: AER Founder, UAL Chair of Art and the Environment, Centre for Sustainable Fashion
- Camilla Palestra: AER Associate Curator, Centre for Sustainable Fashion
- Fiona McKay AER Coordinator, Centre for Sustainable Fashion
- Abigail Fletcher: UAL Post-Grad Community Coordinator
For enquiries, please email UAL Post-Grad Community