In October through November 2014 we will be realizing the 2014 artist-in-residence project CreAir Kristiansand. 4 artists from the CreArt network will be invited to work for two months in the Ekserserhuset, or the 'X-house' as we like to call it.

Location

Kristiansand is the fifth largest city in Norway with a population of nearly 85000. It is located on the south tip of the country, on the coast with direct access to the sea, but still not far from the mountains. A fairly young city established less than 400 years ago, but rapidly developing culturally. Kristiansand recently established it's own regional university (Universitetet i Agder) which adds to our pride in the city. The new concert hall, Kilden, was built a couple of years ago and is a great addition to the possibilities for scenic art. The importance of visual arts has grown the later years to include SKMU, the regional art museum, together with a well-functioning Kunsthall. Odderøya must also be mentioned, which together with the municipality has developed into a creative center for both visual arts and musicians. 

Atelier- and exhibition space the X-house

The Ekserserhuset, or the X-house, is a more than 200 year old building that has been used for military purposes as well as concerts, theater and the celebration of our national day up to 1940. Nowadays it is an exhibition hall as well as atelier for artists. The X-house will function as a working place for the four artists that will be admitted to CreAir Kristiansand 2014.

Kristiansand CreAir Program 2014

• Kristiansand CreAir will assist the artist to get familiar with the city, its cultural institutions and useful places and provide the artist with a weekly agenda of art related activities.
• Kristiansand CreAir will provide during the whole working period a curator interacting with the artists about their work and presentation.
• Kristiansand CreAir will also follow up the participants with practical issues.
• Kristiansand CreAir will organize every week an artist talk for all participating artists as well as an informal gathering where the artist-in-residence can meet and mingle with local artists from the region.
• Kristiansand CreAir will provide professional master-classes for the participants by local established artists.
• Kristiansand CreAir will in cooperation with the artists towards the end of the CreAir period organize a final public presentation of the artworks created during the residency in the form of a group-exhibition.
• Kristiansand CreAir will organize a school project where the artists will be able to convey their work either with or for youth.
• Kristiansand CreAir will be responsible for:

◦         Travel expenses, reimbursing the travel cost till a certain amount.

◦         Accommodation and 4 organized meals each week(breakfast or lunch).

◦         Working budget of 600 euro a month.

Artists contribution

• to be committed, during the whole working period, to keep the working space open for the public from Thursday till Sunday from 12 – 5 pm, to see the work in progress.  
• To join in the activities organized by the host and which are a part of the project, in other words the master-classes, the artist meetings as well as the final group exhibition.
• To join in and contribute actively to the organization around the school projects.
• To make available for the group-exhibition the works made during the CreAir residency.

CreAir Kristiansand inspiration

At CreAir 2014 we are inspired by the great leap which the medium textile has made within the art world the last years in Norway. Kristiansand has had several strong personalities within both the textile art and the textile craft tradition. This presence of great traditions has made us aware of the unknown possibilities within the medium of textile, also for the new generation of artists. It need absolutely not be a must, but some curiosity among the CreAir applicants regarding the possibilities within the medium textile will be welcomed greatly.

At CreAir 2014 we have decided to focus on youth and their training within the knowledge of art as well as within the field of creativity. We regard the broad knowledge of visual culture as a useful tool for youth to learn to navigate within a continuously changing visual culture. Creativity on the other hand is important as an integrated part of education. Creativity might contribute to the personal development which is needed to meet the challenges of our changing world. At CreAir Kristiansand we therefore would like to receive some ideas in the application as to how the artist plans to convey his project to or with school children during the program.

ARTISTS SELECTED 

Kinga Kovács

Ana Paula Garcês Carvalho de Sousa e Costa Rodrigues

Rollina Nell

Vygintas Orlovas