Venezuelan Artist to Participate in the International Artists’ Residency in Argentina

(Caracas, December 29, 2009)--Reaffirming its commitment to support the Venezuelan contemporary art within and beyond our borders, the Coleccion Patricia Phelps de Cisneros (CPPC) of the Fundación Cisneros, through its partnership program with renowned international institutions, will provide the necessary financial support for a Venezuelan artist to participate in the fifth edition of the International House of Artists in Argentina (RIAA, Residencia Internacional de Artistas en Argentina) to be held in Buenos Aires in partnership with the   Artistic Research Center  (Centro de Investigaciones Artísticas), between  March 7 and 27th of 2010.

The RIAA program gathers artists from various countries for the residence of the Artistic Research Center  (Centro de Investigaciones Artísticas) of Buenos Aires (www.cia.centro.org). During 20 days, the artists work in a new environment, and have the opportunity to share experiences and knowledge with other artists, and also attend programs, workshops and exhibitions of contemporary art, which signifies a dip in the city´s cultural environment.

The Venezuelan artist to receive the scholarship will be part of a preselection of four artists to be held in Venezuela by a committee of four recognized curators experts represented by Lorena González, Gerardo Zavarce, Felix Suazo, and Ariel Jiménez. The portfolios of the semi-finalists will be sent to RIAA’s international selection committee that is responsible for making the final decision about the scholarship.

RIAA invites artists between 27 and 60 years of age to participate, who beyond recognition and brilliant careers have an outstanding body of work demonstrating a coherent theme. It is essential that the artists prepare a strong proposal, or in the case of young artists and those starting their careers, demonstrate strong potential.

Artists who are currently attending a university should abstain from submitting their portfolios. However, those who are pursuing graduate degrees or artists who are studying after establishing a career in the arts are able to apply. Applicants may be self-taught or have received professional training.

The artists may work in a single medium or several media within the visual arts discipline, and may also be involved in contemporary art. Visual art in all media, including painting, drawing, photography, performance and conceptual art are accepted.

The RIAA experience focuses on the exchange of knowledge and experiences, thus there are various group activities and the opportunity for dialogue, as well as the opportunity to work individually for those who are so inclined.

The selected artist should make a 30-45 minute audiovisual presentation in Buenos Aires for the attending audience, and although the RIAA program does not require an original work of artwork or a project, attendance and participation in the activities is mandatory.

Artists that wish to apply for the RIAA program scholarship should submit a digital portfolio on a CD with a minimum of 10 and maximum of 20 images of their work accompanied by a brief résumé in Word or PDF format. The application should be sent to the Colección Patricia Phelps de Cisneros until January 8th at the following address: Final Av. La Salle, Colinas de Los Caobos, Quinta Patricia. Phone: +58 (212) 708.9697 Attention: Coordinación de programación de la Colección Patricia Phelps de Cisneros, between 9:00 am  and  5:00 pm.

With this scholarship, the Colección Patricia Phelps de Cisneros demonstrates its commitment to supporting Venezuelan artists through exchange programs that help link diverse contemporary art productions, giving them the opportunity to develop as artists while advancing their artistic careers.