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Opportunity: 2023 AER Residency at NAHR, Narture, Art and Habitat Residency, Italy

  • Written byPost-Grad Community
  • Published date 07 February 2023
Image: Brian Ng

Applications accepted from UAL postgraduates (MA and PhD) and recent alumni (within 24 months from graduation) only. Unless stated otherwise, only individuals can apply.

Applications deadline: Monday 20 March 2023 (midnight GMT)

Apply at: Ual-residencies.slideroom.com

Nature, Art & Habitat Residency, An ECO-Laboratory of Multidisciplinary Practice, located in Taleggio Valley, Bergamo, Italy, is a summer programme that aims to unfold and display a sensitive type of culture that relates to nature as a source of inspiration and a measure of available resources. The ultimate goal of NAHR is to unveil intimate links among all living organisms for more resilient development in which humans and nature are shown to coexist.

With the onset of the Anthropocene and considering current pressing climatic threats, the NAHR programme supports deep investigations into this environment and its functions, by challenging creative and critical minds to produce innovative interpretations of nature as a resilient, but fragile, resource and setting.

By looking macroscopically at the Earth’s ecosystems – climate, geology, soil, water, air, sun – and then reading microscopically the Valley’s natural characteristics, including flowers, ferns, bees, pebbles, barns, villagers, shops, and more, NAHR intends to invite participants to investigate different natural components each year: their felt presence and integrated coexistence in the Taleggio Valley.

Programme overview:

AIR: Commons, Chaotic Fluid, Inspiration is 2023 NAHR’s focus. Fellows will explore the function, mechanism, importance and state of air from a range of natural, ecological, social, political and ecological perspectives, and reflect on the impacts of air pollution and air quality degradation. As part of a European Union project, selected participants are invited to contribute to the themes of the project EMPACT - Empathy and Sustainability: The Art of Thinking Like a Mountain and explore how these broad topics can be interconnected.

Further details about the programme can be found here

The residency package includes:

  • 2-week residency from 1 to 14  August 2023
  • Accommodation in a single apartment with fully functioning kitchen
  • Living expenses (cap £250)
  • Shared studio areas
  • Curator mentoring and feedback
  • Resident's NAHR membership (Euro 50)
  • Rail travel to Bergamo, Italy (cap £400)*
  • UAL grant of £500 on completion of residency and final report

    • * We strongly encourage rail travel to reduce carbon emission when possible.

Residency dates

2-week residency from 1 to 14 August 2023

How to apply

Apply at: ual-residencies.slideroom.com

  • Curriculum Vitae (up to 1 page)
  • Letter of Motivation (up to 1000 word)
  • Digital Portfolio (up to 5MB)

Deadline is Monday 20 March 2023 (midnight GMT)

Applicant Criteria

Applications accepted from UAL postgraduates (MA and PhD) and recent alumni (within 24 months from graduation) only. Unless stated otherwise, only individuals can apply.

Important Information

Please Note: Successful applicants will be responsible for (i) arranging and booking their own travel to and from the place of 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 responsible for arranging and paying (if applicable) for any Covid-19 testing and/or complying with other travel and non-travel requirements as might be imposed by the local government at the Location or in the UK from time to time. 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.

Related Links

AER Team:

  • Professor Lucy Orta: AER Founder, UAL Chair of Art and the Environment, Centre for Sustainable Fashion
  • Camilla Palestra: AER Curator, Centre for Sustainable Fashion
  • UAL Post-Grad Community
  • International jury comprised of representatives from each of the hosting partners.

About the Art for the Environment Residency Programme (AER)

The Art for the Environment Residency Programme (AER) provides UAL graduates with the opportunity to apply for a 2 to 4 week fully funded 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. Find out more about AER

About UAL Post-Grad Community

UAL is home to more than 2,400 postgraduate students working across the fields of art, design, screen, communication, fashion, media and performance.  Within our six world-renowned colleges, we aim to form a creative network of artists, designers and innovators.

Post-Grad Community is an inclusive platform for UAL postgraduate students to share work, find opportunities and connect with other creatives within the University and beyond.