ABOUT BLITZ VALLETTA

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

Malta-based artists who graduated in 2019-2022 had fewer chances to expose their work in projects and exhibitions, therefore Blitz is offering this opportunity to apply for an open call to have a new project produced and exhibited by Blitz, and published in a catalogue. This initiative is intended to give the successful applicant a curated platform to express themselves, an occasion to work one-to-one with international curator Sara Dolfi Agostini on a new commission, and improve their professional skills while promoting their artistic practice. Blitz will act as a host institution, a mentor and partner.

The selected artist will have the opportunity to work on a first commission and solo show. Our aim is to provide a platform to kickstart a professional career through mentorship and curatorial guidance, while also creating the opportunity to expose the emerging artistic community to our international network.

This competitive open call 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 who have graduated from an arts-related degree between in Malta 2019 and 2022. All applicants are requested to present a proposal for a new project to be produced and exhibited at Blitz Valletta.

The selected candidate will be mentored through a research and production phase of approximately a month, during which the resident artist will be in a conversation with the curator. The production phase will be followed by the launch of a solo exhibition at Blitz Valletta.

The programme is open to all artists regardless of background, ethnicity and with no age limit. The applicant must have recently graduated (2019–2022) from Malta-based, arts-related degree in a subject relevant to the open call. Applications received after the official closing date will not be considered. Kindly refer to the terms and conditions in the guidelines before submitting your application.

Selection is not based solely on applicants’ academic background but our selection panel will give particular attention to the strength of the project proposal and integration with our audience and community. Shortlisted applicants may be selected for Skype interviews with the selection panel. All applicants are expected to be fluent in English.

Application Requirements:

To apply please submit one PDF document set in 10-point font containing the information below presented in the following order:

1. Artists CV including name and surname, year of birth (used solely for internal administrative purposes), current address, citizenship(s), email, phone number, and academic background.

2. Artist statement (300 words maximum)

3. Your proposed project including title and concept (500 words maximum)

4. A maximum of 8 images of your work or video/sound links. Including title, year of completion and medium, and a brief description of each (50 words maximum). Please note that these works must have been completed within the last 2 years.

5. Your agreement with the Terms and Conditions of the open call, including date and signature.

***

Materials in excess of the limits above will not be viewed by the committee.

Title your PDF document in the following way: Firstname_Lastname_Emerging_OpenCall_2022.pdf

Your submission must not exceed 10mb in total.

Please send your PDF application to contact@blitzvalletta.com with the subject line EMERGING ARTIST APPLICATION by no later than 5:00 PM (CET) on Wednesday 31 August 2022.

***

BUDGET AND FEES

Blitz Valletta has dedicated a budget of €2,000 for the successful applicant, which includes an artist fee and a production budget for the exhibition proposed in the application. The proposed 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 irrevocably agrees that:

• Each applicant 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.

• Should an applicant not fully participate in the programme and honour the commitments agreed upon 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.

• Applicant will be selected at the sole discretion of Blitz Valletta and the jury. The applicant selected will be informed by email.

• 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.