Artist-in-Residence Programmes

The following three Artist-in-Residence Programmes were established in the reporting period, as outlined in detail below:

(INCOMING)
Artist-in-Residence WESTBALKAN took place from 1.1.2016 to 31.12.2019 in cooperation with Quartier 21 of the Museumsquartier Wien in Vienna. Artists from the successor states of Yugoslavia and Albania were invited for a residence of one to two months in Vienna, in order to promote networking with the Austrian cultural scene, as well as strengthening of cultural exchange between Austria and the individual states that are, following the breakdown of Yugoslavia, characterised by fragile civil societies.

(INCOMING)
Writer-in-Residence WESTBALKAN. A further programme similar to the above was initiated with writers from the same region.

(INCOMING/OUTGOING)
WESTBALKAN CALLING: The Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs commissioned the cultural association from the city of Graz "rotor", to implement a cultural exchange programme with the successor states of Yugoslavia and Albania between 2016 and 2018. As opposed to the programmes mentioned above, this programme is characterised by reciprocal exchange (incoming/outcoming). Whilst, artists from the western Balkans were offered residences in Vienna and other federal states of Austria (Laender), Austrian artists were invited to studios in the western Balkans. As a result of this exchange, an exhibition took place on the premises of "rotor" in the city of Graz.

The programmes addressed, in particular, younger artists and cultural actors from Austria and the western Balkans, who were aiming at the development of an international career. It further involved the general public interested in arts and culture in both regions as well as the participating organisations in the programmes (cultural managers in Austria and western Balkans).

Objectives:
* support for cross-border cultural work
* enabling the development of international networks
* fostering understanding for issues important to civil society that can be spread through cultural expressions
* strengthening social cohesion in and between countries involved
* create consciousness for the fact that living together peacefully can take place not in contradiction but to the contrary on the basis of a reflected knowledge of one's own identity and that cultural diversity represents an added value in this respect
* protection and conservation of cultural heritage

The programmes are targeted to younger persons, but are accessible to persons of all ages.