OPEN CALL: Balmoral Residential Fellowships 2024

The conditions for all fellowships with the exception of the curator fellowship are a completed course of study in art (MFA or comparable degree) and two to three years (depending on the respective fellowship) of continuous artistic work after the conclusion of the studies until the beginning of the fellowship. Applications are also possible for autodidacts distinguished by special artistic achievements, as documented by exhibitions and prizes.

To foster artistic dialog and interdisciplinary collaboration, knowledge of English is expected.

Since 2013, fellowships are offered in one artistic genre or one theme each year. This offering, which is unique in Germany, is intended to intensify the content-related artistic exchange among the artists present. It will also lead to a more intensive specialist exchange of ideas with external artists, speakers, teachers, curators, etc.

International residential fellowships
Six residential fellowships will be awarded to international visual artists.

The annual theme for the Balmoral residential fellowships 2024 is “Immersiones. On Immersion to the Point of Vanishing in Different Spheres.”

This year’s theme involves on the one hand the artistic arrangement of immersive situations, spaces and images and, on the other hand, an examination of the mental implications of immersive experiences and the preconditions they require.

A central role is also played here by (critical) reflection and definition of the concept of the immersive, which in the context of contemporary art is primarily associated with technical developments and possibilities (such as AR/VR).

The main focus is on experiences of being completely immersed. It is intended that immersion in something and interaction with that something should ideally be illuminated, tested and felt out by artistic means.

What is immersion?

Historically, the experience of immersion ranges from the wall fresco to the interactive image space and often has to do with the principle of illusionism. Mostly, immersion in a sphere is conditional on a separate field appearing to be isolated from the real environment and that this field emanates a (sensual) attraction.

We have not just been experiencing immersion since Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) have existed, since there have been virtual museums and gallery spaces or since the Metaverse (Facebook) has been knocking at our doors. It goes all the way back to the 360° fresco room, which found successors and exegetes in the panorama, the stereopticon, cinéorama and IMAX cinema. Today we have a complex array of media and possibilities available to us. Smartphones that have taken root in our hands are the most obvious. But reactive image and sound worlds have long been gaining ground as well. And by means of avatars, with which we can conquer new worlds, a sheer infinity of expanding zones and immersive experiences are beckoning to us.

Notwithstanding any critical exploration of the theme – immersion also offers spaces of power outside the routine of daily life. Places in which we rise above the trivial (transcendence) and can place ourselves in relation to something (such as a great oneness).

The potential of the theme in art: among other things, situations of tension while experiencing the work, oscillation between fake world and self-reference, shedding light on states of being such as “homeless” (unhoused/displaced) or “worldless”.

Expanded invitation for international residential fellows:
Call for applications for teaching position at the Mainz Academy of Fine Arts

The partnership with the Mainz Academy of Fine Arts (Kunsthochschule Mainz) includes the opportunity to apply for a separately-remunerated teaching position for the 2024 Summer Semester at the Mainz Academy of Fine Arts. This would involve 2 semester periods (of 45 minutes each) per week during the semester.

In this way, the Academy of Fine Arts wishes to foster close contacts between the selected fellow and its students, and it also offers the opportunity for becoming a teaching professional within the scope of an internationally-active art academy.

The successful applicant will be able to structure his or her teaching as he or she wishes, perhaps covering for instance communication of his or her own experience as an artist to the students, theme-related work, interdisciplinary projects, workshops, etc. The professors at the Academy of Fine Arts will be available as needed for advice, etc. The time allocation is at the successful applicant’s own free discretion, and it will be possible to hold block seminars. If you are interested, please submit your teaching concept of no more than one A4 page as the basis of your application, attaching your application documents for a Balmoral residential fellowship as an appendix.

Please note that the teaching position will only be awarded in conjunction with an international residential fellowship in the Artit Residency Schloss Balmoral. The teaching appointment will be carried out at the Mainz Academy of Fine Arts during the period of the residency.

Three fellowships last four month and three fellowships last eight month. All residential fellowships run from April 2024.

The residential fellowships are endowed with 1,400 € a month plus subsidy to the travel costs for arrival and include free accommodation in the Artist Residency Schloss Balmoral.

International curator fellowship
To foster dialog between artistic work and theoretical reflection, Balmoral awards a residential curator fellowship to a fellow in the humanities (preferably art history). The curator fellowship is awarded to persons with university degree (at least M.A.) and first curatorial experience. For the curator fellowship, mastery of the German language spoken and in writing as well as good knowledge of English is essential.

The fellowship lasts eight month and begins in April 2024. It is endowed with 1,400 EUR per month plus subsidy to the travel costs for arrival and includes free accommodation in the Artist Residency Schloss Balmoral.

There are also fellowships offered for visual artist with relation to Rhineland-Palatinate
Relation to Rhineland-Palatinate means (and/or): is born here, studied Fine Arts with graduation here or works as an artist here (except fellowship stays in RLP).

Awarding of fellowships
A jury of specialists will award all fellowships, taking into consideration the developmental potential of the applicant’s artistic or theoretical work.

Additional information and application forms are available on our homepage balmoral.de/fellowships. Applications must be made with these application forms. Other applications will not be taken into consideration.