Selection of the second research residency collective
What could be learning ground or ground lying fallow within the collective arts ?
“In a world in constant motion there is an ecological imperative to embrace the value of idleness” Michael Chieffalo and Julia Smachylo in Lying fallow: the value of idleness
a.pass has been inviting collectives, existing or newly established ones on the occasion of this call, for a 2-month paid collective research residency. In total there will be three rounds, for this second round, with deadline October 13, we have made the selection of the second group!
In total we received 116 applications, our jury went through all the applications and selected 3 collectives with whom they had a conversation. Eventually, after listening to all 3 collectives, the jury (Goda Palekaite, Hendrik De Smedt (both from a.pass board/GA), together with One Field Fallow (the 1st residency collective) and the 3 external jury members Ash Bulayev, Damla Ekin Tokel and Kopano Maroga) has decided to give the opportunity for this 2nd call to the collective Topote de Acahual, the artistic and pedagogical branch of the ngo Vivero de Tebanca based in Tebanca, Los Tuxtlas rainforest, Mexico.
Topote de Acahual has been selected because the collective is truly embedded in a hyper-local context of Mexican rainforest and has an active practice with immediate and vital effects on their immediate communities. Their practice is deeply rooted in grass-root peer-to-peer dialogue and education of their peers, their current and future co-inhabitants, with the hope of preserving preservation and conservation practices of the rainforest (in danger of utter and complete deforestation) and fresh water springs that are vital for the survival of all communities and life on our planet.
Their understanding of the overarching theme proposed by a.pass (ie. Lying Fallow) is undeniably part of their daily life and practices, and therefore their relationship with the research thematic is visceral, keeping in mind the actual proposal of the a.pass Open Call proposal “how can we learn with and through collectives around the world and imagine other possible ways of continuing the viability of diverse voices, art forms, and discourses in an increasingly dire political climate that our world, and certainly Europe has currently entered”. Topote de Acahual provides a hope for an alternative rooted in collective land art practices that can hopefully inform tools for sustainability of a free and accessible arts funding ecosystem.
They will have their residency in April and May 2025. Soon we will give more info about their residency program, in the meantime, find out who they are by following this link.