HMK Open Call for Proposals 2016

Deadline: June 1st 2015

Hotel Maria Kapel (HMK) is an artist-in-residence, exhibition space and cinema for contemporary visual art in the city centre of Hoorn; a historic town 40 kilometres north of Amsterdam, the Netherlands. HMK is a non-profit organization that aims to assist young as well as more established artists from all over the world in the production of new work and promote exchanges between national and international artists, cultural institutions and the public. The studio/exhibition space of HMK is located in an early 16th century chapel, surrounded by a semi-private courtyard. This beautifully tranquil and spacious working environment offers the artists-in-residence a unique space for reflection, experimentation and production. HMK places the artist at the centre of its activities, and stimulates risk-taking as a key element of artistic development. The public programme of exhibitions, screenings, lectures, workshops and publications, aims to challenge perceptions of what constitutes contemporary art, and bring the audience closer to the practice that motivates it.

Once a year HMK sends out an open call for artists, writers, curators and researchers (individuals or groups) to hand in a proposal for a residency period. A residency typically lasts for one or two months. During a stay in our guesthouse, residents are invited to develop, execute and present new work in the chapel/exhibition space, or research and develop a specific project culminating in an event, exhibition, presentation or publication. The Netherlands is a small country that is easy to navigate by train, and we stimulate artists to also use the residency as an opportunity to explore other places, museums and project spaces.

Who may apply?
Artists, writers, curators and researchers (individuals or groups)

About our residency
During a stay at our guesthouse the artist/group of artists is invited to develop, execute and present a new project. Residencies vary in length and depend on the nature of the work; usually between one and two months. The exhibition with the residents´ work is open to the public, and lasts around one month.

All residents are offered
Full and free use of all accommodation and living / working facilities (a.o. wireless internet, shared kitchen, washing machine / dryer, basic tools, some audio & video equipment ).

Accommodation
The guesthouse is a short walk from the chapel. It has two bedrooms (one large and one small), a large living space, bathroom, and kitchen.

The studio/exhibition space is approx. 9 by 18 m, by 8m high, with 5 large church windows. Window blinds and scaffolding are available. The large inner garden can be used as well. Please be advised that the walls of the chapel are uneven and moist and therefore not very suitable to hang drawings.

Funding
Please note: HMK aims to secure funding in collaboration with the artist to provide a travel/living/production budget. Amounts depend on individual projects, and HMK strongly advises artists to secure additional funding elsewhere. HMK always offers full and free use of the guesthouse and its facilities. Furthermore, HMK is responsible for all mail-outs and promotional activity in relation to the shows, which include regional, national and international contacts.

HMK is looking for
HMK is looking for innovative projects that make full use of the unique opportunities offered. Projects may be presented outside the Maria Chapel, or can take on other forms than an exhibition. HMK is keen on artistic projects that do not only focus on art itself but which, in content or practice, are able to expand the artistic field and make connections outside an art-context. HMK focuses and facilitates collaborations; preferably you work with artists or others with whom you haven’t (extensively) worked with before. If your proposal does not include such collaboration, HMK can propose one from the other applicants. The beautiful chapel/exhibition space lends itself well for ambitious projects, and we prefer to facilitate projects that for one reason or other cannot (easily) be realized somewhere else.

Things to consider when applying

• We strongly advise you to read into the wider context of Hoorn and HMK prior to submitting a proposal.
• Proposals must focus mainly on content of the work and the process of working resulting in a presentation in our chapel/exhibition space, please do not propose to exhibit pre-existing work.
• HMK does not usually host residents working with theatre or dance as their main medium.
• Realize that the end of your residency has a public component; e.g. an exhibition in the chapel or other presentation. Include this clearly in your plan.
• Consider the size of the exhibition space! It is very big as well as high. We are looking for projects/artists that use the space well.
• Projects must have a strong international component (i.e. cooperation with artists from different countries). We consider it to be an advantage when a group has one Dutch component, but this is not obligated.
• Do not take this too literally, feel free to propose the unexpected, and be bold!

Application fee
In order to apply, HMK requests a small application fee of €15,-. The application fee should be transferred to our PayPal account with email address office@hotelmariakapel.nl. Fees paid are nonrefundable. Without received payment your application will not be considered.

Selection procedure
A small selection committee chaired by the artistic director selects artists in 2 rounds; after sending in a first, short project proposal, you may be asked to submit more information.

How to apply?
1) Read our info and application guidelines (above)
2) Fill in our application form. (see www.hotelmariakapel.nl)
3) Transfer the application fee to our PayPal account with email address office@hotelmariakapel.nl
4) Send in your application in a SINGLE pdf file to: call@hotelmariakapel.nl

More information?
Download the HMK-info pack (pictures, floor-plan etc.) For questions about the Open Call, please email to office@hotelmariakapel.nl.