Rupert Residency Program Open Call

Rupert is inviting applications for residencies, calling local and international cultural practitioners and thinkers (artists, writers, curators, researchers, managers, and academics) willing to live and work in Vilnius from 1 to 3 months in 2025 (January–December) and develop individual or collaborative projects, reflections and research while immersing themselves in the region’s contemporary art field.

Rupert invites artists, writers, curators, researchers, academics, cultural managers, and other thinkers to join us in Vilnius to live and work for 1 to 3 months between January and December 2025.

Our residency programme is ideal for developing individual or collaborative projects, reflection, research, and immersion in Lithuania’s thriving contemporary art context. The ideal resident already has several years of independent professional experience.

ABOUT THE RESIDENCY AND CONDITIONS

Located in the picturesque area of Valakampiai in Vilnius and only a short distance from the lively city centre, Rupert sits by one of river Neris’ small beaches, surrounded by peaceful fields and a forest. Three residency studios are located in the ‘Tech Arts’ building designed by award-winning Lithuanian architect Audrius Ambrasas.

Each resident is provided with a studio space that has a mezzanine (approximately 52 m2) to be used as a space for production, research and living during the residency. The studio is fully furnished and equipped with WiFi. There are a number of other organisations and companies in the building and it also houses a reading room, gallery space, conference room and a kitchen, all of which are open for residents to use.

During the residency, residents are provided with curatorial assistance in their research process, with at least two studio visits from art professionals, as well as connections to the local art scene. Although this is certainly not a requirement, we welcome residents to engage with Rupert’s public and alternative education programmes, present their work in public events and organise discussions. Some of the residents are invited to take part in the Open Studio podcast series or Rupert’s Journal. Rupert seeks to establish long-standing relations with residents and if there are opportunities, they are often invited to participate in exhibitions and events presented as part of the centre’s programme.

All the residencies are FREE this application round thanks to support from the Lithuanian Council for Culture and the studios provided by the creative industries hub Tech Arts. Applicants are responsible for covering personal (daily and travel) expenses. Rupert’s team will issue acceptance letters for successful applicants and support their applications for external grants to cover travel, food, production, and other costs.

Artist collectives (up to 3 people) can apply for individual residency. In this case, the collective is provided with one residency studio. Applications can also be submitted by families, but note that the kitchen, bathroom and toilet are shared between the residents and other initiatives in the building.

RESIDENCY PROJECT

In the application, prospective residents are invited to present a project they will be working on during the residency. This does not have to be a project created specifically for Rupert. You may work on your selected subject using your preferred means or continue your creative practice. However, applicants are encouraged to specify whether their intended proposal is more research-based or oriented towards a production-based project, requiring particular materials.

RESIDENCY DURATION

Individual residencies can last from 1 to 3 months. Residents are asked to propose their preferred duration of stay and, if accepted, this can be negotiated according to studio availability and schedule.

APPLICATION GUIDELINES

Please fill in the online application form and submit the necessary documents via Rupert’s website:

Application Form

The deadline for applications is 14 JULY 2024, 23:59 EEST.

There is a 20€ application fee, to be paid via Stripe. You can use a credit or debit card, as well as Apple Pay or Google Pay. The application is only registered after submitting payment. Contact us if you have any questions or difficulties with the payment.

We receive an enormous volume of applications each year, and the application fee helps us cover the cost of external reviewers and additional hours to give all our applicants fair consideration.

Shortlisted applicants will be invited for online interviews with the residency admissions jury, including Rupert’s team and external reviewers, which will take place in late August 2024. We will notify applicants of the results by the first week of September 2024.