KÜNSTLERHAUS

BETHANIEN

INTERNATIONAL STUDIO PROGRAMME

Cedric Bomford, Das Amt, 2010. Photo: David Brandt.

Alicia Frankovich, Gestures, Splits and Annulations, 2011. Photo: David Brandt.

Peggy Franck, Drawing from a store of thought, 2011. Photo: David Brandt.

OPEN STUDIOS 2011, studio Pawel Ksiazek. Poto: Georg Schroeder.

OPEN STUDIOS 2011, studio Assaf Gruber. Poto: Georg Schroeder.

The International Studio Programme is a platform for emerging artists from around the world. The artists-in-residence at the Künstlerhaus Bethanien are given the opportunity to develop and implement a project over a fixed period of time, and to reflect and consolidate their position in the Berlin art scene. The focus of the Künstlerhaus Bethanien’s efforts lies on providing individual support and establishing connections between the artists in the programme and the wider local context.

As part of the International Studio Programme, the Künstlerhaus Bethanien offers a wide range of services, which include providing curatorial support in the implementation of the artists’ projects, supplying workshops and technical infrastructure (including qualified personnel), presenting the projects produced at the Künstlerhaus Bethanien, advertising all events organised by the resident artists, holding at least two annual “Open Studio” events, inviting the artists to take part in larger projects (e.g. exhibitions at the Künstlerhaus Bethanien or other venues), editing and distributing the publications related to the projects presented at the Künstlerhaus Bethanien, establishing contacts with international curators, critics, publicists, theorists, gallery owners and collectors (e.g. through individual studio visits), hosting seminars, talks and readings, liaising the artists with international institutions, projects and exhibitions.

Residency costs are covered by international bursaries, which include a monthly fee towards living costs for the duration of the artists’ stay. The grant also covers studio rental, a lump sum for materials, and the presentation of a final project. Residencies generally extend over a period of 12 months. The artists’ projects are presented in the Künstlerhaus Bethanien galleries. Residents who wish to produce a project-related publication may receive support from our staff.

Open Studios

At the beginning of the year, once in the summer months, and as from recently, in the course of the Berliner Kunstherbst as well, Künstlerhaus Bethanien organises its Open Studios. The Open Studios draw around 800 visitors per event, including curators, gallery owners, artists and the general public. The Open Studios offer our artists a good opportunity to get into direct, relaxed conversation with interested members of the public.

Studio Visits

Künstlerhaus Bethanien has an excellent reputation within Berlin, but also on the international art scene due to its high-quality programme. For example, it is also systematically contacted by art experts with a view to studio visits. Those who are interested can get information about all the current grantees from the Künstlerhaus website and so make a specific selection of studio visits. In addition, the Künstlerhaus regularly invites curators, journalists or art historians to visit the studios. In agreement with the invited guests, a programme of appr. six visits is put together on such occasions.

Application

Artists must apply with one of our international partner institutions by responding to a public call for application. A local jury shortlists a number of applicants, among whom a jury of experts in Berlin selects the recipient of the bursary. Artists who do not qualify for any of these national bursaries may apply directly on the condition that they have secured alternative funding, e.g. through supporting galleries, collectors or other bursary schemes. In this case acceptance is granted by the Künstlerhaus Bethanien on the basis of a review by an in-house jury. Please find further informations on our application process under application.

SPECIAL PROJECTS

Falkenrot Price 2011: Tony Matelli. Photo: Bernd Borchardt.

The Künstlerhaus Bethanien co-produces and presents projects in collaboration with local and international partners to complement its regular programme of exhibitions and events by its resident artists. We also support third-party projects by opening our premises to funded exhibitions. By expanding the scope of our activities, these thematic or media-based presentations allow us to reach out to wider audiences.

Past exhibitions include Urbane Realitäten: Fokus Istanbul (Martin-Gropius Bau, Berlin, 2005); OstPunk!/too much future (2005); Painting as Presence (2006) as well as solo shows by Norbert Bisky (2005), Thomas Kapielski (2006) and Rainer Mariea Matysik (2006).The most recent examples are Falkenrot Prize 2012: Slawomir Elsner as well as  Berlin.Status (1).

PUBLICATIONS

Anouk Kruithof, Becoming Blue, Studio 2, 2009. Photo David Brandt.

The Künstlerhaus Bethanien is also an active publisher. Since its foundation it has produced over 300 books, catalogues and magazines covering a wide range of topics, exhibitions and projects. As a full-service publishing house, the Künstlerhaus Bethanien furthermore provides qualified editing services. As well as securing the international reputation of its publications, it is thus committed to generating sustained attention for the artist’s projects and works.

To buy publications either send an order to bestellung@bethanien.de or get your catalogue directly at the exhibition space during the regular exhibition opening hours.  Please find further informations under the main link publications.

Be Magazine

Since 1994 the Künstlerhaus Bethanien has been publishing the Be Magazine, a bilingual (German/English) journal for art and criticism. The centrepiece of our theoretical work, it includes specially commissioned essays from critics, curators, scientists and writers who discuss current trends and developments in the international art scene. It furthermore supports emerging and established authors from Berlin by asking them to review the work of the artists in the International Studio Programme.