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APPLICATION GUIDELINES

Blitz was founded in 2013 as a grassroots, artist-run contemporary arts space, and it is housed in a four-level, typical Valletta townhouse, which was originally the family home of founder Alexandra Pace’s grandparents. After standing empty for over 30 years, the building slowly started returning to life through a dedicated and steady restoration process. Now, Blitz is a reference for contemporary art in Malta, and each of its floors shines in its full former glory with a project space for public programmes and workshops, an in-house artist residency and the exhibition galleries. Since its founding, Blitz has formed an identity and a presence which has extended beyond the island to the international art world, through prominent collaborations with institutions such as Royal College of Arts (London), Central Saint Martins University of the Arts (London), the European Graduate School (EGS) and the annual Network of European Museum Organizations conference (NEMO). In 2015 Blitz launched the Residency Programme which invited artists from Berlin, London, Wroclaw, Athens, Kuwait, Paris and Istanbul to participate via open calls with more than 200 applicants. Also, Blitz has received important mentions by ArtBasel Crowdfunding initiative (2015), and Tate Art Exchange Programme (2016). Today, Blitz’s international programme reflects the institution’s commitment to support and showcase Malta-based artists abroad, such as participation in relevant international platforms dedicated to non-profit art spaces. Simultaneously, our exhibitions and public programmes at home are mainly dedicated to established international artists. Their works have never been exhibited in Malta before, yet specifically resonate with Malta’s unique history, culture and social landscape as much as with the major challenges of our present society. Blitz’s activities have been featured in some of the most relevant international media – Artforum, Folha de S.Paulo, Flash Art International, Mousse Magazine, Weltkunst, Sole 24 ORE, Artribune and Abitare.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

Blitz Valletta’s Digital Residency is open to highly motivated individuals from all artistic disciplines, including (but not limited to) new media, digital platforms, film, photography, performance, painting, sound, architecture, electronic music, installation, and will be selected through a competitive open call. Selected applicants must have recently graduated (2017 onwards) from an arts-related postgraduate degree and are requested to present a proposal for an original artwork to be produced and exhibited on our digital platform OPEN, dedicated to Blitz’s digital programme of exhibitions, talks and activities.

The residency will include a research and production phase of approximately one month, during which the resident artist will be in a conversation with Blitz’s curatorial team while participating in a mentorship programme with Art Critic, Writer, Digital Art Specialist Valentina Tanni, together with a minimum of three international visiting professors and project-specific technical experts. The production phase will be followed by the launch of the proposed new artwork, which will be exhibited online for a minimum of two months. Public engagement is crucial to the residency programme, taking the form of virtual open studios, a workshop and/or a talk for a community of artists, researchers, educators, professionals and students. All these activities will be performed virtually and must form part of the applicant’s proposal.

Blitz’s curator will be in discussion with the residents prior to and during the residency about their work and intentions. The curator’s role will be to guide, discuss and work with the residents towards an idea or concept that is agreed upon by both parties. Each resident has access to Blitz staff and associates, who will offer guidance and support, and introduce the resident to the institution’s network. Our aim is to foster and encourage collaborations that are sustainable beyond the framework of the residency.

DURATION / AVAILABILITY

Blitz Valletta is offering three online residencies for the duration of three months each, starting February 2022, June 2022 and October 2022. One of the three residencies is exclusive to a Maltese artist. Each residency will follow the timeline below:

Month 1 – mentoring programme, lectures with three international visiting professors, research and production of the artwork, virtual open studio

Month 2 – launch of the artwork on Blitz Valletta website, virtual press conference

Month 3 – duration of the online exhibition and public programme (talk / workshop)

Applicants from all over the world may apply and contact hours will be adjusted to facilitate the participation of artists in various time zones. Blitz Valletta reserves the right to determine the order of the selected candidates for the three residencies in order to ensure a smooth implementation of the programme.

BUDGET AND FEES

Blitz Valletta has dedicated a budget of €2,000 for each successful applicant, which includes an artist fee of €500 and a production budget for the artwork proposed in the application. The artwork must be original. No other grants are currently available, however selected candidates are issued a letter of acceptance for individual grant-seeking and funding applications.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

The selected applicant/s irrevocably agree that:

• Each applicant/s may submit only one application / project.

• Collectives, groups, and any other practices consisting of more than one person may apply with one proposal. In case a group is admitted as one applicant, the overall budget for the intended project will not be higher than that for projects submitted by a single person.

• The participant(s) portrait and submitted materials may be published on Blitz Valletta’s website, as provided in the online application form.

• The applicant/s hold the sole copyright to and/or have secured the consent of any other copyright owner on any given text, excerpt, or portfolio image submitted, in accordance with all applicable national and international regulations. They guarantee that the rights of no third parties would be violated in the publication of any submitted text or portfolio material. The applicant/s unconditionally and irrevocably declare their copyright responsibility and liability toward third parties for any and all possible disputes over copyright infringements and fully indemnify Blitz Valletta against all third-party claims arising thereof.

• In submitting the application in any form, the applicant/s grant consent to and license Blitz Valletta to use his / her / their name, text, artwork, or design, and representations in any media related to the submitted project, anywhere in the world, without further compensation for artistic, promotional, and documentary purposes.

• Participation is exclusively online. Should an applicant not fully participate in the programme and honour the commitments agreed upon – which include a talk, an opening event, a press conference, three lectures, mentoring and production activity in collaboration with Blitz Valletta – and / or not deliver the project within the institutional timeline for whatever reason, Blitz Valletta reserves the right to revoke their invitation, request reimbursement of the project budget, and award a runner-up instead.

• Applicants will be selected at the sole discretion of Blitz Valletta and the jury. Applicants selected will be informed by email on or before 15 January 2021.

• The jury’s selection decision is final. Any attempts to contact any member of the jury will automatically result in disqualification. Any recourse to courts of law is excluded.