The Safe Haven Residency have just released an open call to international artists at the Wysing Arts Centre, as part of their ARTISTS at RISK (AR) network. The first of its kind in Britain, Safe Haven hopes to support international visual artists whose practices’ have been targeted by their home country, and who remain at risk of persecution if they return.
In cooperation with SafeMUSE, PEN, and the International Cities of Refuge Network (ICORN), Artists at Risk works to map and advocate for art professionals “at risk”, addressing their practical needs and advancing their artistic practice. Granted either short or long-term residencies, the organisation actively seeks out and calls forward artists, inviting them as “honoured visiting art professionals” — rather than asylum seekers. Stating that “these artists not only greatly enrich their host countries, but are at the heart of rebuilding their often war-torn countries of origin.”
The first public call for the Wysing residency was launched today, and will remain open until May 15, with the programme running from October to December 2017. The Wysing Arts Centre, located just outside Cambridge, UK, encompasses a gallery, education space, ceramics studio, recording suite, studios for local artists, a live/work studio and a 17th century farmhouse. On the centre’s engagement, director Donna Lynas said: “During periods of political and social upheaval — such as we are currently seeing — it is the responsibility for those of us running arts and cultural venues to make our resources available to those who need them most.”
Artists who have previously benefitted from the scheme include Pınar Öğrenci, an artist and writer from Istanbul commenting on war, migration and activism, and Shieko Reto, a visual artist and activist from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, whose work addresses the concerns of trans- and cross-cultural phenomena.
