Arquetopia/Arquetopia Oaxaca Writers Residency - Puebla or Oaxaca, Mexico - 2013

 

Arquetopia is a nonprofit foundation run entirely by artists. Arquetopia’s programs promote development and social transformation through contemporary art with a non-traditional, culturally diverse and multidisciplinary approach. Arquetopia offers artist residency programs of the highest quality, making its staff available and creating a community among staff and resident artists. Arquetopia’s resident artist backgrounds are diverse in all aspects. As part of Arquetopia’s mission is to promote diversity, artists and writers from Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, Latin America and the Middle East are especially encouraged to apply.

 

Puebla, known as the "City of Angels,” is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that lies 136 km (84 mi) from Mexico City and has approximately 5,000 colonial buildings. Puebla is famous for a deep cultural identity, delicious cuisine, Talavera ceramics, and traditions rooted in the 16th-century Baroque and enriched by a blend of five pre-Hispanic/indigenous cultures, Arabic, Jewish, French and Spanish influences. Accessible via two international airports in Puebla (PBC) and Mexico City (MEX), Puebla lies east of the Popocatépetl and Iztaccíhuatl volcanoes, giving the residents a magnificent view of their snow-topped peaks. At an elevation of 2200 m (7200 ft), Puebla features a temperate subtropical highland climate, resulting in an average of only three days a year seeing temperatures rise above 29°C (84°F).

Lonely Planet, the world’s largest travel guide book and digital media publisher, recently announced that Puebla, Mexico has made its Readers’ Choice Top 10 “Best in Travel” list for 2012. After hundreds of nominations for cities and countries and regions, we are proud that Puebla was voted by experienced travelers to the Top 10, alongside such destinations as Barcelona, Reykjavik, Berlin, Istanbul and Bangkok.

 

The San Francisco Chronicle recently named Puebla as one of the top five safest places in Mexico for travelers.

A large, unique three-story Mexican colonial-style house close to Puebla’s historic district and Zócalo accommodates Arquetopia’s office, production spaces, and space for up to seven residents.

 

OAXACA
Oaxaca is a beautiful colonial city nestled in a valley in the Sierra Madre mountain range of Southern Mexico. Oaxaca is located 450 km (280 miles) southeast of Mexico City and reachable via three international airports: Oaxaca (OAX), Puebla (PBC), and Mexico City (MEX). Oaxaca boasts magnificent colonial architecture, the most outstanding example being Santo Domingo church and its former convent, now home to an impressive museum. The unusually colorful city and its surrounding areas also feature a high concentration of native Zapotec and Mixtec cultures and archaeological sites. Oaxaca was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987 for its central Historic Monuments Zone and the archaeological site of Monte Alban. Getting around Oaxaca is easy and enjoyable; museums, studios, libraries and landmarks are all in close walking distance. At an elevation of 1555 m (5100 ft), Oaxaca features a subtropical climate, resulting in mild-to-warm temperatures year-round.

 

 

Arquetopia Oaxaca is the newest residency space of Arquetopia.  Located right in the heart of the Historic Monuments Zone, Arquetopia Oaxaca is only two blocks from the popular Calle de Alcalá (a picturesque street known for its restaurants, museums, shops, and nightlife), our spectacular and newly renovated adobe casona, hosting up to ten residents at a time, is also two blocks from the extraordinary Santo Domingo church and museum.

 

The Writer-in-Residence Program offers important professional opportunities for writers, journalists, playwrights and translators 25 years of age and over. As part of Arquetopia’s mission we promote international experiences in the field of culture by promoting Mexico’s rich and diverse artistic heritage. We are aware that understanding Mexico’s cultural context and complexity is key for a successful cultural exchange; therefore we offer a flexible program that provides the necessary social and cultural research and aesthetic resources to connect the writer’s project with the context of Puebla or Oaxaca.  All proposals are welcome and considering all of our programs are oriented to promote social consciousness, writers addressing social themes as part of their residency goals will be given priority.

 

As our approach is contemporary, we welcome writers from diverse genres: poetry, prose, drama, screen and playwriting, children’s literature, journalism including travel writing, blogging, magazine articles, editorials, as well as translators and editors who are interested in creating work while experiencing specific cultural expressions from Mexico and/or unique to Puebla or Oaxaca.

 

Arquetopia is committed to establish dialogue with the community and all writers-in-residence are encouraged to get involved with the local Mexican literary and cultural life by participating in one of the following public components:

 

Each residency is unique, based on the residency research needs and the writer’s proposal. Residents are chosen on the basis of artistic merit and evaluation of the proposed project.

RESIDENCY PROGRAM GUIDELINES
• Selection decisions are based on quality of written work. Candidates at all stages of their careers (emerging and established) must display a demonstrated sense of potential. The residency is for writers who want to advance their work (especially work that in their particular circumstances would normally be difficult to produce).

• The residency pool is diverse in all aspects
• The creation of community among fellow artists and staff during the residency period is important.

 

INCLUDED IN ARQUETOPIA (PUEBLA) ARTIST RESIDENCIES
Comfortable Accommodation and Meals:
Residents enjoy comfortably furnished bedrooms and use of Arquetopia’s residency space including wireless Internet, lounge with TV/DVD, kitchen, dining room, outdoor terrace, and private bathroom with modern fixtures, shower, and hydro-massage tub. Housekeeping and most meals are also included.

 

INCLUDED IN ARQUETOPIA OAXACA ARTIST RESIDENCIES
Comfortable Accommodation and Meals:
Residents enjoy large, comfortably furnished bedrooms (rooms feature main level or loft accommodation) with full-size beds and use of Arquetopia Oaxaca’s residency space including wireless Internet, kitchen, dining room, covered outdoor patio, and private bathrooms with modern fixtures and showers. Housekeeping and most meals are also included.

 

RESIDENCY TIME PERIOD/TERM OFFERED
This Writers Residency term at Arquetopia (Puebla) or Arquetopia Oaxaca is for 2 to 8 weeks during 2013.  Terms at each location may also be combined for a dual-location residency.

RESIDENCY FEE
Arquetopia (Puebla): The fee per person is  USD $429  per week, with a minimum of 2 weeks.

Arquetopia Oaxaca:  The fee per person is  USD $529  per week, with a minimum of 2 weeks.

Payment of Total Residency Fee due within 1 week of selection notification.

 

APPLICATION DEADLINE SUNDAY, MARCH 3, 2013.
Complete and submit together online/via e-mail to info@arquetopia.org all of the following:
1. The Arquetopia Artist-in-Residence Program Application (completed and scanned)
2. Resume or curriculum vitae
3. At least two samples of your written works or published articles and a signed statement attesting that all works are your own
4. Complete contact info (name/title/organization/address/phone/e-mail) of two professional references
5. Non-refundable Application Fee of USD $35.00 via PAYPAL to account address: “fguevara@arquetopia.org”

 

• An independent jury comprised of editors and professional writers makes the final selections. The jury may have multi-year terms and are given specific selection guidelines. The jury is selected by the Executive Directors.
• Following selection, applicants are notified immediately via e-mail.

 

Arquetopia on the Web:  www.arquetopia.org

Arquetopia on Facebook:  www.facebook.com/Arquetopia

Arquetopia Oaxaca on Facebook:  www.facebook.com/ArquetopiaOaxaca

Arquetopia Blog:  www.arquetopia.com