Șona Artist in Residence

Șona AIR is a program of individual residencies that helps artists and other people working in the field of culture to research and finalize their own projects, by providing them with the necessary space and time during their stay at the Blue House in the village of Șona.

The residency is a space of alternative knowledge that encourages reflection and experimentation, while supporting artistic production in a sustainable way. Learn more about the residency program, team and location.

Șona AIR is launching an open call for its 2025 international residency program aimed at artists and researchers from the field of culture and beyond with an interest in visual culture, contemporary issues, experimentation and interdisciplinarity.

APPLICATION DEADLINE

30 OCTOBER 2024

00:00 EET (BUCHAREST)

The Șona AIR program of individual residencies coordinated by the Ștefan Câlția Foundation provides participants with the opportunity to live and work in the Blue House in the village of Șona (Brașov County), Romania, for a period of between 8 and 11 weeks.

The residencies will take place in two different periods during 2025, one in the spring, the other in the autumn, each hosting two participants/artistic duos.

The purpose of the Șona AIR residency program is to support participants in researching and finalizing their own projects, providing them with space, time and financial resources and an opportunity to diversify their perspectives by exchanging practices with fellow residency participants. The residency is intended as a space for artistic practice and learning, meetings, spending free time, individual and group work, being aimed predominantly at cultural and local communities, but also open to all.

WHO CAN APPLY

The program is intended for artists and researchers with diverse practices, both in Romania and internationally. The residencies target projects that are already in progress or in the research stage, without necessarily having a direct connection with the village of Șona. The program is also open to designers, architects, writers, academics and curators, as well as people working in the performing arts, sound and film.

The residency program does not impose any predefined outcomes (production), but participants are encouraged to hold an individual or collaborative public event based on their practice addressing the local community and the rural context. Participants will be asked to provide the organisers with a residency diary, in any form (written, audio, video, etc.), summarising their experience and the evolution of their artistic project during the residency. The residency does not facilitate exhibitions, but may host guests or collaborators.

WHERE DOES IT TAKE PLACE

With its peaceful setting, the village of Șona offers residency participants a space of clarity in their creative processes, being at once secluded and accessible by train or car. The design of the house also encourages a slow and relaxed routine, and the work spaces can accommodate different practices: 2 rooms with bathrooms for residency participants, accommodation for guests, a courtyard, a kitchen, a utilities room, a library, private and shared work spaces, a studio, a vegetable garden and an orchard). The House of Residencies, located at no. 234, Șona, also known as the Blue House, was renovated in 2011 and is where the Ștefan Câlția Foundation carries out a large part of its work. Find out more details here.

DURATION

Participants in the 2025 residency program can choose to undertake their residency during one of two different periods:

27 January – 13 April (11 weeks)

15 September – 9 November (8 weeks)

Residency participants must spend at least 75% of the residency period in Șona. Depending on individual circumstances and workflows, the duration of the residency may vary by a few days. Residency participants are advised not to work on other projects that require them to travel during their residency.

BENEFITS

Participation in a residency includes: a payment of €2,500 (for the entire period), a daily allowance of 57 lei/day and transport to and from the residency location (Șona), in Romania and internationally (within the limit of €270).

LIVING AND WORKING CONDITIONS

Each resident will have the use of a room with two single beds, a table and a private bathroom, as well as access to communal spaces, such as the courtyard, kitchen and shared work spaces. Șona AIR does not supply any materials for use in the individual works and projects developed during the residency.

FAMILY AND GUESTS

Residency participants are permitted to invite family members or other guests to stay in the guest rooms. Use of the beds in the guest rooms should first be confirmed with the organisers.

REQUIREMENTS

(The residency program is aimed at established artists who have completed their studies and made a name for themselves through their publications or work as an artist or researcher.

(1) a description of the project, underway or in the research stage, to be carried out during the residency (max. 2 pages);

(2) a portfolio of works and publications (please select the last 3-5 relevant projects);

(3) a recent CV (max. 2 pages);

(4) a letter of recommendation from a colleague/collaborator (max. 1 page);

(5) a completed application form (Google Forms link).

Please submit all documents in a single PDF file (max. 10MB) in the order indicated above and name it using the following format: “Full name_ 2025”.

SELECTION CRITERIA AND PROCEDURE

Applications will be assessed by the program team together with external evaluators. The evaluation process will take the following criteria into consideration: the candidate’s artistic practice and relevant experience in their field of activity, their understanding of the working context and the expected impact of participation in a residency for their practice.