Nu’vem is an international residency programme, organised by the production company FREESAM, that offers an opportunity for artistic work in a unique environment. Its main goal is to draw attention to the unique, dramatic, and well-preserved nature of the Azores and make it possible for artists across genres to draw inspiration for their work from the specific atmosphere of Pico Island.
The programme is designed for artists who are at least three years out from a school of arts and who have done at least two solo exhibitions or presentations. The residency consists of a one-month stay at Pico Island, during which a unique work of art will be created that reflects Czech-Portuguese relations, the Azores, and their importance in the international context, or whose contents supports protection of the environment of the Azores. The resident will leave the resulting work with FREESAM, which will then use it to present the programme in the public space at the project venue.
The residency programme is located in the Terra do Pao village in the south of Pico Island in the Azores. Simple accommodation is provided in a renovated historical mill on a large private property on the shore of the Atlantic and at the foot of the Pico Volcano. An outdoor kitchen and bathrooms are available for residents. For work, there is a separate studio with running water. The property is located in a strictly protected nature reserve.
Given the type of accommodation and the challenging and frequently changing conditions, the programme is not intended for artists who require a greater level of comfort and extensive production facilities. Improvisation and the ability to adapt are necessary prerequisites for successful completion of a stay.
The residency programme includes:
- Simple accommodation in a renovated historic mill.
- Round-trip airfare to and from the Azores.
- A monthly allowance of EUR 1000 per person or EUR 1500 for an artistic couple.
- A production budget of EUR 200.
- Basic tools and equipment on site.
- One paid whale and dolphin-watching trip.
- Climb to the volcano.
(Flight times to the Azores may change without notice, due to weather conditions or other objective facts. Furthermore, weather during your stay may not permit the organisation of whale-watching trips or hikes up the volcano.)
This first round of the residency programme is for residencies taking place between February and June 2023 and for artists working in the fields of painting, sculpture, architecture, and new media. The programme is intended for all active artists who are interested in creating in the unique and inspiring environment of an island in the middle of the Atlantic. The topic of the project that the applicants submit as part of the application must reflect the Azores or environmental protection.
