EARTH & SONG Vardablur
A Fully Funded Art Residency Program
Concept
“Earth and Song” is a community development project implemented by the Institute for Contemporary Art in Vardablur village (Lori province). The project aims at revitalizing community life through artistic activities rooted in the cultural tradition of the village: the craft of pottery and the musical heritage of Komitas. With the help of donors and partners, ICA has established a ceramic studio in Vardablur and provides ongoing workshops for children and teenagers from Vardablur and surrounding villages. A community choir performing Komitas’ heritage was also formed and trained by an invited conductor. To foster this process of transformation through art, ICA is implementing a fully funded art residency program in Vardablur for artists to create, learn, research, and share experiences within this authentic creative hub.
Why Vardablur?
Surrounded by marvelous nature, the village of Vardablur is famous for its quality raw clay, which was once widely used for local household and construction needs. Also, it is here that Komitas, the founder of Armenian national music, transcribed the famous plow song “Lorva Horovel”. Throughout his life, Komitas collected and transcribed over 3,000 pieces of Armenian folk music, thus contributing to save the Armenian cultural heritage. Moreover, Komitas was born in the ancient city of Kütahya (current Turkey) which, together with Iznik, was one of the largest centers of ceramic production in the Ottoman Empire.
About ICA Yerevan
The Institute for Contemporary Art (ICA) Yerevan is a leading nonprofit cultural organization dedicated to the development and promotion of contemporary art and critical thinking in Armenia. Founded in 2013, ICA serves as a dynamic platform for exhibitions, research, curatorial and artistic education, and community engagement. Through programs such as the School of Critical and Curatorial Studies, artist residencies, and regional initiatives, ICA fosters dialogue, experimentation, and collaboration both locally and internationally, playing a key role in shaping Armenia’s contemporary cultural landscape.
Program
The program is open to multidisciplinary artists who are interested in research and community projects providing them with the opportunity to live in Vardablur while developing an art project connected to the local community.
Your art project may take various forms, including:
– Exhibitions,
– Public art installation,
– Video Making,
– Performance,
– Storytelling,
– Participatory art.
It is mandatory for each resident to contribute to the community by conducting workshop(s) for teenagers/adults, or implementing a community art project.
Eligibility
Age: Over 21 years old (no upper age limit)
Residence: The applicant must be a citizen of RA.
Having experience of working in community art projects is a plus.
Practical Information
Duration: The art residency is welcoming participants starting from June 15th until October 31st. Selected participants may stay from 2 weeks up to 1 month. The time of the stay can be extended depending on project complexity.
Travel: A one-time travel allowance of up to 50.000 AMD is provided.
Stipend: A daily stipend of 10.000 AMD is provided.
Accommodation: Accommodation is provided free of charge.
Supplies and materials։ A one-time stipend of up to 50.000 AMD is provided.
Expenses paid by the resident: The resident is responsible for personal expenses including food, local transportation, and artwork shipping.
Accommodation facilities: Accommodation in Vardablur village is provided in a village house, which comprises a living room, two bedrooms, a shared-kitchen, a shared bathroom, a balcony, and a garden.
Studio facilities: The Vardablur residency comprises a fully equipped ceramic studio to be shared by artists and students. The equipment comprises a kiln, a potter’s wheel, various tools, and different types of clay. Residents who don’t work with ceramics are also welcome to use the studio space for various events/activities.
Number of residents at one time: 2
An orientation package will be provided to selected participants.
Application
Send your portfolio and a motivation letter detailing your art project plan for Vardablur at icaevn.programs@gmail.com mentioning “Vardablur Residency” in the subject line. Please mention in your motivation letter your preferred dates of stay.
The first call for July and August opens on June 12nd and closes on June 25th.
A second call for September and October will be open on August 1st and will close on August 20th.
The “Earth and Song” residency program is implemented with the support of the ArtNexus programme, which is funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) and managed by The Swedish Arts Grants Committee.
