Artists-in-Residence Program for 2024

I. Introduction

International artists participating in the AIR Program of Soulangh Cultural Park stay in a vibrant community of artists and have the opportunity to exchange techniques and ideas with other artists; local and international, emerging and established. Artists live in close proximity to local craftsmen and artisans and are encouraged to take the community and the vibrant local culture as inspiration for their artworks. Soulangh Cultural Park has professional, wheelchair-accessible, air-conditioned, modern studio spaces, galleries and theatres for exhibitions, workshops and performances.

II. Resident Location

Soulangh Cultural Park (https://soulangh.tnc.gov.tw/)
(No. 130, Liu‐an Village, Jiali District, Tainan City 722, Taiwan)
Soulangh Cultural Park is a governmental institute, managed by the Cultural Affairs Bureau of Tainan City Government, Taiwan. Please go to application website AIR in Tainan and download Space and Environment of Soulangh Cultural Park for further information.

III. Time Schedule

1.  Submissions accepted from:  17 July 2023
2.  Submissions deadline:       7 September 2023, 23:59 (Taiwan time)
3.  Examination:              September 2023
4. Residence period:          2 January 2024 - 30 June 2024 
   1. Each applicant can only be accepted for one term. 
   2. The minimum residence is 45 days, with a maximum of 90 days per applicant.

IV. AIR Theme for 2024 (Please read it carefully)

In 1624, the Dutch built Fort Zeelandia in Anping District in Tainan, which means Tainan is the oldest civilized settlement in Taiwan. The year 2024 will mark the 400th anniversary of the establishment of Tainan as a town or city. In addition, the year 1624 also marks the beginning of cross-continental collaboration being documented widely in Taiwan’s history, including those in respect of culture, trade and art, as well as several areas of conflict in terms of society, politics and the military.

The year 2024 is an important historical moment for ‘Tainan 400’. This year’s (2024) call for artists aims to focus on two main issues: firstly, the exploration and interpretation of themes related to the indigenous Taiwanese tribes, namely the Siraya and the Plains indigenous peoples; and secondly, to visualize and represent discourse on the physical heritage of ‘Tainan 400’, including the local architecture - especially warehouses - and a multitude of other materials, products and objects related to Taiwan’s colonial history during the past 400 years.

V. Eligibility

1. We welcome applicants who are interested in:
   1. Interdisciplinary
   2.  Visual arts 
   3. Performance
2.  All applicants must be able to communicate in either English or Chinese.
3.  Applicants have to plan the proposal based on the theme of 2024, and we encourage you to utilize the resources of Tainan Cultural, include tangible or intangible, the outdoor work which could blend with the environment of Soulangh is most welcome.

VI. How to apply

1. We only accept online applications. Please click on the following link: AIR in Tainan (http://air-culture.tainan.gov.tw/) and fill out the application before the deadline (listed above).
2. Applicants are required to upload personal information, a resident plan and letter of recommendation.

VII. Procedure

1. Applicants will be examined by the jury committee and successful candidates will be partly subsidized.
2. The jury committee is scheduled to meet either in late September or early October 2023. 
3. The results will be announced on the official website (http://soulangh.tnc.gov.tw/) and emailed to the successful candidates by the end of October 2023.

VIII. Program Provisions and Requirements

Applicants should agree with the following requirements before submission.

A. Program Provisions - what do we offer?

1. Placements of up to three months with free accommodation and studio space.
2. Living and working expenses in Taiwan (including 18% personal income-tax and insurance) - partly subsidized (NT$ 30,000 per month maximum). The total amount will be paid in two installments. Artists will receive payment directly, excluding any tax. Since 2016, the Taiwan government has announced that all terms of contract should include stamp-tax, which is one thousandth of the total amount. The stamp-tax should be paid in cash by the artists themselves, and this is excluded from the subsidy. 
3. Presentation expenses - The maximum allocation is NT$ 150,000 (including tax), which will be paid directly to the relevant contractors. The above expenses include: providing a service or materials used in completing workshops, exhibitions and performances; fees for brochure design and printing, dissemination, art work insurance, translation fees, and expenses for a press conference, etc. Any transportation fees for works are excluded.
4. Administrative support.

※If you have any enquiries about the subsidy, you should notify Soulangh Cultural Park during the application or before signing the contract. 

B. Program Requirements - applicants’ responsibilities

1. Before the end of residency, the selected artists should provide one type of presentation, either an exhibition or a performance.
2. Before the end of residency, the selected artists should hold (at least) one session of children-friendly workshop or one-day artist open studio.
3. Approaching the end of the residency, the selected artists are required to complete a report and questionnaire. The report should include details of the residents’ experience, the progress of their projects and any relevant feedback.

IX. Notice

A. Terms of application:

1. Artists who will be occupying other resident institutes in 2024 should inform Soulangh Cultural Park in the application, otherwise the Soulangh Cultural Park residency will be regarded as forfeit.
2. A letter of recommendation is required. You need to submit at least one letter of recommendation from an artist, curator, institute director, researcher, or organizational professional. The title and full name of the recommender should be clear, and the letter should be signed personally or attached as a signature file. 
3. According to the resident program, if applicants require assistants (i.e., someone who is not an applicant), it is the applicant’s responsibility to notify Soulangh Cultural Park in the application form, and all eligible expenses for such assistants will be included in the subsidy. No extra expenses will be provided for assistants after submission of the application.
4. All selected artists can apply for accommodation; however, such accommodation is only for resident artists. To maintain the safety, living quality and rights of every single artist, the accommodation is not available for non-artists to stay overnight (including family members, assistants, companions or pets).

B. Terms of residency:

1.  Selected artists should participate in all activities held by Soulangh Cultural Park. If this is likely to cause any inconvenience, please inform Soulangh Cultural Park in advance. 
2. If selected artists fail to complete at least two thirds of their residency duration, Soulangh Cultural Park will regard this as forfeiture of the residency.
3.  Ownership of any works created during the residency period remains with the creators. However, Tainan City Government has the right to exhibit, present and publish any or all works. If any damage is caused to Soulangh Cultural Park, or any claims for compensation are made against Soulangh Cultural Park, the selected artists shall be fully liable to compensate Soulangh Cultural Park. 
4. All selected artists shall follow and obey the latest terms and regulations of preventing COVID-19 from Taiwan Centers for Disease Control and Tainan City Government.

                                                                                                                  
X. For any further information:  

All applicants should go to application website AIR in Tainan (Article VI.) and read “Soulangh Cultural Park: Space and Environment” and “FAQ” before they complete online application.

If you have read the above information and still have questions, please contact us:
T: (+886) 6 722 8488 / 6 722 9910       
Email: soulanghpark@gmail.com
Soulangh Cultural Park: http://soulangh.tnc.gov.tw/
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AIR in Tainan: http://air-culture.tainan.gov.tw
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWqcXtU2DxflSyrmKmYmoSA

Please note that: The Cultural Affairs Bureau of Tainan City Government reserves the right to supplement and amend the contract and has the right of final interpretation.
 

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