The Asialink Centre of The University of Melbourne invites applications from artists and crafts people to spend an extended period working in an Asian country. Up to ten residencies will be offered in 2007.

This program is an ongoing partnership with the Australia Council and is supported by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and various State and Territory Arts Departments, extending the number and scope of residencies available. Since the program's inception Asialink has sent 406 residents to 242 hosts in Asia. Residencies have taken place in 18 countries: Australia, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, East Timor, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, The Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam.

AIM
The aim of this program is to broaden the experiences available to Australians in the Asian region, to develop projects related to the host country and to encourage on-going involvement between Australian and Asian artists and organisations. The residencies are a professional development opportunity for Australian artists and also act to foster bilateral relationships in the region.

EXPECTATIONS
Each residency offers a specific amount of funding and initial contacts in the host country. It is then up to the individual to make as much of the experience as possible and to plan and manage their own program. Flexibility and being able to cope with sometimes unusual or difficult situations are great assets.

The resident's interest in the host country and an understanding of its customs and cultures are very important. Researching the country of interest is essential and language skills are an advantage. It is recommended that successful applicants undertake language lessons prior to departure and in-country.

The resident will be expected to do their own work based on their application and to make a contribution to the life of the host organisation or community. There is a different idea about working space for artists in Asia: that is, discrete space for an individual is not assumed and resources, such as computers, can be scarce. It is hoped that working space of some sort is available but it is not guaranteed.

To varying degrees the resident will be expected to take part in workshops and seminars, and in some places to teach more formally. Most artists would be expected to give talks with images on Australian art and on their own work. The resident is encouraged to generate and participate in publicity in the form of interviews and articles both overseas and in Australia. They may also be required to provide images, give interviews or talk at forums to promote the program on
their return.

An exhibition is often expected as it is regarded as a good way to 'present' the artist to the local community. It could be held early in the residency, including work brought from Australia, or at the end showing work made during the residency.

FUNDING
A travel grant of up to $12,000 is provided to each resident to assist with airfares, accommodation, living expenses, materials and production costs. Residencies are for three to four months but there is flexibility to undertake a shorter residency (minimum two months) with pro-rata funding. Please include an explanation for why you prefer a shorter residency in your statement.

Once selected it is the artist's responsibility to maintain their own budget and contribute funds if necessary. An amount of up to $2,000 might be required. Asialink's grant can only be used for expenses directly related to the residency and are not for expenditure incurred in the artist's absence, eg. rent or mortgage repayments.

The grant is not considered a salary or a fee. On completion of the residency, the resident must provide a report and financial acquittal and return unexpended funding. Asialink's residency funds are sourced from a range of State and Federal bodies (as listed). Please be aware of the potential for duplication of funding if you have other applications pending.

TIMING
The expected duration of the residency is three to four months. The timing of the residencies is flexible but will need to be negotiated with the host organisation bearing in mind semester times in the case of teaching institutions and extremes of temperature. It is a funding requirement that the residency be undertaken in 2007. Residencies are not transferable so please do not apply if you think you might not be available.

PERSONAL SAFETY
Residents are responsible for their own health and safety and must obtain property and health insurance cover for the duration of the residency. We advise that residents consult the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade website (www.dfat.gov.au) about conditions in their host country prior to departure and check official travel advisories throughout their stay. Residents should take all due precautions while overseas and consider returning home or delaying visits where necessary.

COLLABORATIVE RESIDENCIES
It is possible for collaborative residencies to occur either across or within art forms. Applicants can either submit a joint application to share one residency grant or submit individual applications. Applicants should discuss collaborative proposals with Asialink staff prior to application.

ACCOMMODATION
Organising accommodation is the responsibility of the resident, however where possible assistance will be provided by the host organisation, the Australian Embassy or High Commission and Asialink staff. Family members can travel with the resident at their own expense as long as the expectations of the residency are fulfilled. Please note however that some hosts offer accommodation that would not be appropriate for families.

HOSTS
Host organisations range from tertiary art schools and academies, public and private galleries and philanthropic institutions. Applicants have two options with regard to selecting hosts. They can:

• Select from the hosts listed here
  Please note that many listed host organisations also have websites and links are provided here, however applicants should not contact these hosts directly until the selection process has been finalised.

or

• Propose an alternative host
  Applicants do need to make individual contact with these alternative hosts as such self-initiated residencies must include a letter of support or invitation from the host institution attached to their application. Applications are ineligible without this letter. Applicants should discuss self-initiated proposals with Asialink staff prior to application.

Applications can be made for one or more hosts and there is space on the cover page for 2 preferences. If you apply for more than one host you may wish to give individual reasons for your preferences within your statement, but you need only send one application and one set of images. Any special conditions or experience should be mentioned in your statement.

The countries of residency and host institutions are:

INDIA
1 Shanthi Road, Bangalore www.1shanthiroad.com/residency.htm
1 Shanthi Road is an artist-led initiative founded in 2003 and supported by a trust for the visual arts. It is a space that provides opportunities for artists to reflect and interact with the local artist community in Bangalore, southern India - a cosmopolitan city with an eclectic mix of tradition and modernity. The program invites both emerging and established artists who usually present a public lecture, and an open studio or exhibition. Contact and interaction with the local art college is encouraged. Accommodation and a studio are provided at a cost of approximately AU$22 per day.

INDONESIA
Galeri Soemardja, Institute of Technology Bandung http://soemardja.art.itb.ac.id/?page_id=5
Galeri Soemardja was established in 1974 and in its current location in 1993. As an oldest university gallery in Indonesia, Galeri Soemardja serves as an educational complement to the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) Department of Fine Art and as a cultural resource for the institute and Bandung arts communities. Galeri Soemardja holds contemporary exhibitions, discussions, seminars and workshops by artists and theorists in the national, regional and international fields. The gallery also accommodates other visual art practices, including industrial design, architecture, craft, photography, and visual culture in general. Arts residents at Galeri Soemardja work in collaboration with the art school community, one of the most active in Indonesia.

JAPAN
Tokyo Wonder Site www.tokyo-ws.org
Tokyo Wonder Site opened at the end of 2001 as a space offering support to young creators and a platform for exchange between artists and art fans. Activities include international and local exhibitions, arts residencies, events introducing contemporary composers, collaborations with traditional art fields and club nights. The opening of TWS' new space in Aoyama in the UN University building has increased the number and scope of residencies available to international artists. TWS seeks applications from young and emerging contemporary artists. Facilities available include accommodation, studio and internet access.

KOREA
SSamzie Space, Seoul www.ssamziespace.com
SSamzie Space, open since 2000, supports contemporary and innovative art practices including installation, painting, performance, music and digital work. The building includes an events club, media theatre, three gallery spaces, local artists' studios and accommodation to house international artists. Staff at SSamzie are very much in touch with both the international and
Seoul art scenes and the centre is near Hong-ik University in the heart of Mapo-gu, an area renowned for its arts activities and nightlife. The accommodation is available for three months at no cost, but the selected artist will be expected to contribute to all other costs and asked to donate a work to SSamzie's collection. Active artists with a project that can be executed during the residency are preferred. This residency is for three months during 2007 and the accommodation is not suitable for artists' families.

MALAYSIA
Galeri Petronas, Kuala Lumpur www.galeripetronas.com.my
In 2007 the host will be Galeri Petronas in the Twin Towers building in the centre of Kuala Lumpur. Galeri Petronas has run a residency program since 1999 and offers excellent studio facilities and connections to the Malaysian art world. The gallery itself is regarded as one of the best in Kuala Lumpur and the two Australian artists placed at Petronas to date have also been invited to exhibit there. 

SINGAPORE
p-10 www.p-10.org
p-10 is a curatorial collective which is one of the most important, active and exciting art groups currently in Singapore. Established in 2004, p-10's project space is located in Little India, an area known for its vibrancy and proximity to the city. p-10's residency program supports contemporary art practices across a range of art forms including installation, painting, performance art and digital/media work. In addition to artists, p-10 invites curators, researchers, writers and historians to propose projects which can be executed during the residency period. The selected artist will be provided with a studio and accommodation at a reasonable cost and will be expected to give occasional lectures/workshops and a presentation of the results of the residency.

TAIWAN
Taipei International Artists Village www.artistvillage.org/
Located in the centre of Taipei, the Taipei Artists Village (TAV) plays an important role in arts dialogue, networking and the presentation of work to the very vibrant Taiwanese art world. The TAV has residential apartments and studios for 10 international artists and a mission to promote contemporary and avant-garde practices across a range of art forms. Facilities include a gallery,
a darkroom and a video editing room. For applicants interested in giving classes the TAV is able to set up workshops and for applicants more interested in creating new works the centre can assist with exhibiting. This residency is for three months during 2007.

THAILAND
Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok - for a digital/multimedia artist www.car.chula.ac.th/art/
Chulalongkorn University, located in the heart of Bangkok, was the first Thai university to include 'Inter-Media' (non-traditional media) in the visual art curriculum. The Visual Art Department invites a digital video or electronic media artist who can bring their own equipment. The department will provide a secure studio space (24 hours access) on campus and internet connection. The successful Asialink resident will be encouraged to promote digital and new technologies within the University as an emerging contemporary art form and would work with the students and staff in the Visual Arts Department. Staff at Chulalongkorn are also well connected to the contemporary art scene of Bangkok and can provide a strong network for the visiting artist.

• the standard of work as shown through the visual images supplied
• professional experience
• relevance of the residency for future professional goals
• ability to carry out the residency and to fulfill expectations
• potential to apply outcomes of the residency in Australia
• previous experience in / commitment to working with Asia

• a cover page [PDF, 60kb, 1 page]
  Please print the cover page directly from the website and fill in your details in block letters - do not staple to your application. An html version is available if you are unable to access the PDF.
• an image list or description of video/multimedia works submitted (1 page)
• a short (1 page, 550 word limit) statement on why you would find such a residency valuable and what you hope to achieve. Please address the selection criteria. Your statement should be written in clear English, bearing in mind it will go to countries where English is a second language. Please note here if you have any other funding applications for this project currently pending or approved.
• a CV (no more than 2 pages)
• a letter of support from the host organisation (only if this is your own proposal and not for a listed host)

• If your work is static - six jpegs of recent work submitted on a labeled CD 
  - Image size: no bigger than 18 cm height x 25 cm width at 120 dpi resolution
  - File size: images should not exceed 300KB each
  - Naming protocol for images: SurnameInitialNo. i.e. SmithJ1, SmithJ2, SmithJ3, SmithJ4, SmithJ5, SmithJ6  (no more than 6 images will be viewed)
  - The correct titles of your work, as well as dimensions and media, should be included on your written image list and should correspond to the order of the images presented.

• If your work is time-based or animated - up to 5 minutes of footage on a cued VHS cassette or DVD. (please include viewing instructions)

• Extra material is not required at this stage and will not be taken into account. If your application is shortlisted we will ask you for additional material such as catalogues and reviews etc.
• Your application will be photocopied and sent to the members of the advisory committee therefore please use plain white A4 paper and do not bind or staple the pages.
• Material will not be returned unless indicated on the front of your application. If you require materials returned please include stamped self-addressed envelope with return postage.