ARTHENA FOUNDATION and Kunststiftung NRW Launch New Cooperation in Istanbul
Application Deadline: September 30, 2024
The ARTHENA FOUNDATION is delighted to announce a new partnership with the Kunststiftung NRW. With immediate effect, the ARTHENA FOUNDATION is awarding two of the six residency grants for visual artists from NRW at the Galata Studio in Istanbul.
The Kunststiftung NRW has been running the Galata Studio in Istanbul since 2009. The residency offers artists the opportunity to work in an inspiring environment and to network with the local art scene. The cooperation with the ARTHENA FOUNDATION further consolidates and expands the established programme.
The Artist-in-Residence Grant:
The residency at Atelier Galata is open to artists working in the fields of literature, music, performing arts and visual arts. A new focus is announced each year. The current focus for the grants is on the category of drawing.
The grant provides a stay of up to three months in an apartment and studio house in the Galata Beyoglu district of Istanbul. It includes a studio apartment, a monthly living allowance of 1,200 euros and a one-off travel allowance of up to 600 euros. By prior arrangement, additional visa fees, transport or material allowances and costs for excess baggage (artists' materials) can be covered.
Interested artists are invited to apply online by September 30, 2024.
Award guidelines and requirements:
A set of defined quality criteria is used to select grantees. Students are excluded from applying. An acceptance or rejection is made in writing, without justification. A rejected application may be resubmitted once, but former scholarship holders are not eligible to reapply. Residency is compulsory and English language skills are required.
To apply, the following documents must be submitted via the Kunststiftung NRW application portal in order to be considered for funding:
- Fully completed application form (to be completed via the Kunststiftung NRW application portal)
- Informal letter of motivation
- Exposé of the planned project (maximum of 10 pages)
- Evidence of previous work (video and/or audio links, work samples, etc.)
Applications must be submitted exclusively via the Kunststiftung NRW portal only. Click here to access the application portal.
Contact: Should you have any queries, please contact Katharina Proksch. For further information, please refer to the FAQ section on the Kunststiftung NRW website.
The 2025 grant winners
In her artistic practice Galina Dimitrova (*1985 in Sofia, Bulgaria; lives and works in Cologne) explores the interjunction of drawing, textile art and installation. This gives rise to expansive spatial works with textiles that lure viewers into a surreal world. Her use of semi-transparent fabrics such as chiffon allows her to foster a dialogue between reality and dream. The black lines of her drawings flow over from her extensive installations into long panels of material hanging on the walls. This shift from three- to two-dimensionality reveals the mutability of drawing and erases the boundaries between various media. During her stay in Istanbul the artist intends to further develop her work in the city’s rich cultural and historical environment.
Jury statement:
“What ultimately convinced the jury about Galina Dimitrova’s work was the original combination of drawing and textile art with which the artist extends the medium of drawing into spatial installations. Her exploration of the traditions of crafts and design in Turkey, which she is also expected to pursue in dialogue with local artists, promises to generate exciting developments in her work.”
Janis Löhrer (*1991 in Aachen; lives and works in Düsseldorf) creates drawings, tiled wall pieces and ceramic objects. In his compositions he explores figural forms and bodies that speak of queer desires and investigates shame and masculinity. He is constantly working on new figures, which he captures in sketches. During his stay in Istanbul, Löhrer is planning a new artist's book consisting of drawings made there. In addition, he intends to conduct research into Ottoman tile-making and Ottoman miniature painting. He aims to use the time outside the studio to immerse himself more deeply in the life and the unique atmosphere of Istanbul, and to develop a basic knowledge of the Turkish language, both spoken and written.
Jury statement:
“The jury was impressed above all by the variety of Janis Löhrer’s work, in both its thematic and formal range. As co-founder of the AURA art space in Düsseldorf, he will be seeking contact with the vibrant art scene in Istanbul. His plans to explore Ottoman miniature painting and queer culture in Istanbul promise an exciting artistic and aesthetic combination, offering wide-ranging insights into a modern, dynamic city.”