OPEN CALL FOR RESEARCH RESIDENCY PROGRAMME

Research focus: The Housing Question in the Zagreb Neighborhood of Trešnjevka

Application deadline: June 11, 2017

We are seeking applications from artists to be part of our research residency programme launched in 2016. The residency takes place in and around our space called BAZA, situated in the Zagreb neighborhood of Trešnjevka and should focus on the housing question. Researchers will be awarded a grant of 500 EUR for a three-week stay during a mutually agreed period between September 18 and November 18 2017. Accommodation and travel costs (up to 300 EUR) will be covered by BLOK, as well as logistic support during the research process.

ABOUT THE TOPIC

The research programme will explore the housing question in Trešnjevka. Historically, Trešnjevka was a working class neighbourhood, characterized by low-quality, pre-World War II construction. It was one of the places where the working class movement sprung from and the area contributed greatly to Zagreb's anti-fascist movement. After World War II, as with many other parts of Zagreb, Trešnjevka tended towards a socialist city, through projects of collective housing and the construction of communal infrastructure. During the transition to capitalism, Trešnjevka was largely characterized by illegal construction, acquisitions of dilapidated housing units and erection of new buildings, whose parameters reflected the imperative the logic of profit and changed the organization of the neighbourhood to its core. The present state of housing in Trešnjevka will serve as the starting point for the artistic research residency.

ABOUT THE GRANT

Through organized meetings and guided tours, the selected artist will be offered an insight into the history that shaped the Zagreb of today with a special emphasis on the neighborhood of Trešnjevka and its housing question. The research will be further developed during the residency in collaboration with the curatorial team of BLOK, and according to the artists' interests. Artists will be expected to publicly present their research in BAZA.

In addition to the fee of 500 EUR, BLOK will cover accommodation costs for a period of three weeks and travel costs in the amount of not more than 300 EUR.

Applications should be sent to blok@blok.hr (subject: For the Open Call) by June 11, 2017

Please include a letter of intent (no longer than 750 words) which explains the motivation for the topic and interest in the context, a CV, and a PDF portfolio. Images should be embedded in the PDF, but not be sent as separate files. Please specify proposed dates for your residency (three weeks between September 18 and November 18 2017).

The programme is supported by Croatian Ministry of Culture and City office for education, culture, and sports, Zagreb.