It is the river Yantra which meanders through the city of Veliko Tarnovo and where the residency program takes its name from – Iatrus is the Latin name of the same river. It is considered by many as the biggest architect of the city, shaping a landscape that speaks for its remarkable presence. Presence which seems to be there only to remind us that everything is constantly changing and flowing and if it happens that we step into the river for the first time, next time we do so, neither we, nor the river will be the same anymore. With this in mind we invite you to deep dive into our residency program and make space for change and transformation. Because the only constant is change. (again Heraclitus, by accident)
1.
THE RESIDENCY
The Iatrus Residency Program offers you a unique opportunity to explore and engage with the vibrant and dynamic art scenes of both Veliko Tarnovo (the former capital) and Sofia (the current capital).
You are invited to develop a project, to begin research, to work with experienced curators and art practitioners, and to share your results in the form of an exhibition, a performance, an artist talk, a workshop, a presentation, an open studio day and also what goes beyond it.
We are very open to inventing new ways of being together and can't wait to work with you on the second season of Iatrus Residency Program titled after Heraclitus' quote “No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it's not the same river and he's not the same man.”
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2.
(01.07-01.08.2024)
Through this residency program located in the old capital of Bulgaria -Veliko Tarnovo, the participating artists and creative practitioners are invited to develop new projects that directly result from both their experience in the city and their relation to the initiatives they engage with.
Artists and creative practitioners such as curators, art critics, designers and architects are invited to apply for a stay at Iatrus residency for up to three months (minimum one month). All selected applicants will be offered up to a week stay in Sofia (depending on their project and availability) which is included in the program fee.
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You will have uninterrupted, self-managed work time. We will not pressure you to deliver finished work; you can focus solely on research and development of ideas related to the city of Veliko Tarnovo or beyond.
On two of the weekends in Veliko Tarnovo you will be mentored by the director of the residency program Martina Yordanova and by other collaborators during your stay depending on your work and interests.
Each session (month) hosts 2 creative practitioners at the same time, from different disciplines, giving the opportunity to artists in residency to gain new ideas and insights that can be applied to creative exploration and the development of their work through peer interaction and discussion groups.
Common spaces like living area, 300m 2 city garden and two working studios will be conceived to promote not only collaboration between the artists, but to empower ideas between different participants and interdisciplinary learning.
WHAT
Residency Fee
→ 900 € monthly which includes accommodation in both Veliko Tarnovo and Sofia.
→If selected participants are applying for funding, the residency program will provide an invitation letter.
Conditions
→The program can accommodate a maximum of two residents at a time
(exceptions are made only for artists duos or partners sharing an artistic practice
together).
→Accepted applicants must deposit 50% of the Residency fee upon acceptance. If canceled, the deposit will not be refunded. This requirement is mandatory as to not interfere with planning requirements of the other residents.
→ IATRUS residency does not cover travel and costs of living.
→ Spoken language is primarily English. German and Bulgarian are optional too.
→ IATRUS residency does not cover production materials, insurance or any transport of materials, artworks, or objects produced or collected during the residency period.
2.2
WHERE
2.2.1 VELIKO TARNOVO
(OLD CAPITAL)
→ A 180m2 house in the heart of the old town called Varusha South.
→ 2 individual bedrooms
→ 2 working studios connected through a door
→ A shared living area including kitchen, living room and a big dining room (all spaces are connected)
→ One big bathroom
→ High Speed Wi-Fi
→ A garden belonging to the property with total size of 300m2 which can be used in various ways
(CURRENT CAPITAL)
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→ Accommodation for one person (available for up to one week for each of the two residents depending on their projects and needs) in a backyard house (25m2) with 50m2 city garden. The house is a one room studio with a kitchenette area and a separate bathroom. Outside in the garden there is a BBQ, grassy area, and a place to work and relax in the sun and in the shade of a tree..
The house is located in the old Jewish Quarter, just 10 minutes walking distance from the main cathedral Alexander Nevski and the National Gallery of Fine Arts.
→ High Speed Wi-Fi
HOW TO APPLY
Prepare your CV and a PDF (max. size 10Mb) including letter of intent (1 A4 Page
max), planned project to work/realize and photo documentation of your recent work.
Do not forget to include two preferred months for a stay between November 2024
and July 2025.
Send to following email:
3.
LOCATION
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Located in the city of Veliko Tarnovo, the old capital of Bulgaria, Iatrus Residency Program is an ideal opportunity to experience both historical and contemporary attitudes and developments.
Often referred as the "City of the Tsars", Veliko Tarnovo is located on the Yantra River (from where the name of the residency comes) and is famously known as the historical capital of the Second Bulgarian Empire, attracting many tourists with its unique architecture.
The old part of the town – Varusha South, where the Iatrus Residency Program also takes place, is situated on three hills, Tsarevets, Trapezitsa and Sveta Gora, rising from among the meandering turns of the Yantra, the largest river in Northern Bulgaria.
On Tsarevets are the palaces of the Bulgarian emperors and the Patriarchate, the Patriarchal Cathedral, and also a number of administrative and residential edifices surrounded by thick walls.
A symbol of the city of Veliko Turnovo and one of the most visited monuments in Bulgaria is undoubtedly the fortress of “Tsarevets”. It is located on the same hill that bears its name and just a few steps from Iatrus Residency Program.
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In the old town (Varusha South quarter) you will have the opportunity to explore unique cultural memories and many beautiful places that have kept the history of the city for centuries. Numerous churches, museums, cultural monuments, ancient fountains and houses of worship where some of the city’s most respected artists have given life to their work.
Varusha South is one of the oldest neighbourhoods in Veliko Tarnovo. With its pleasant atmosphere, it attracts young entrepreneurs and artists who bring a new modern air to the city. A new wave of renovations of historical buildings and the abundance of high quality goods and services revitalized this part of the city into a favourite place for relaxation and entertainment among both tourists and Veliko Tarnovians.
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Iatrus is the ancient Roman name of the river Yantra, which meanders through the city of Veliko Tarnovo. The house where the residency program takes place is located about 100 meters away from the river, in the oldest part of the city named Varusha South.
We thought we could not overlook this fact, since the river is a source of life, and we see the residency in exactly the same way. The name comes with the ambition to develop an institution for creative visions from different disciplines, where artistic thoughts and exchanges meet new ways of expression and fulfillment. Where, in one way or another, you leave your mark on the life of Veliko Tarnovo.
The house of the Iatrus Residency Program is more than 170 years old and has been entirely renovated inside and adjusted to the needs of the residents. Originally it belonged to the Bai, when the Ottoman Empire was ruling these territories (until 1878). It has been among the most precious buildings around the area. Today, in its contemporary state, the house is fully equipped and furnished with everything you could need on a daily basis.
4.
ABOUT
Meta:Martina _ Yordanova _(left) _ Galya _ Krumova _ (center) _ Petya _ Krumova _ (right) _ and _ Scully _ (bottom) _ @FCAM's _ intiated _ exhibition _ of _ Aldo _ Gianotti
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Founded in February 2016, Foundation for Contemporary Art and Media is a non- profit organization run by Martina Yordanova, Galya Krumova and Petya Krumova. Its headquarters is based in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria.
The Foundation’s missions are to both support the cultural and creative sector, and to convey the context in which artworks and the general public can meet.
The organization brings together actions that are initiated by the board of directors to promote the creation of contemporary art: exhibitions, artists presentations, multicultural projects, publications, art promotion and education towards communities.
The Foundation’s art policy explores questions relevant to contemporary art, architecture and urbanity. It aims to promote the circulation of cultural and creative works and the mobility of cultural and creative players, in particular of artists, transnationally. In 2023 a new project arose in the portfolio of the organization – Iatrus Residency Program.
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Martina Yordanova is currently Curator at The National Gallery, Sofia (since April 2020), Founder and artistic director of IATRUS Residency Program in the city of Veliko Tarnovo, selection committee member and ambassador of Sofia Art Fair and a member of the board of Trustees of Eastern Balkan Institute for Art and Architecture. She grew up between Bulgaria and Austria, received her BA and MFA in Publicity, Communication sciences and Media History from the University of Vienna, Austria in 2014.
In her practice as a curator Martina Yordanova develops and mediates relationships between the exhibit, curator, artist and the exhibition space. She engages with the exhibition as a medium and as a form through her curatorial and research projects. Her interest is in different kinds of knowledge production within exhibition spaces and a study of vocabularies formulated during the process of exhibition-making.
5.
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Meta: Martian _ Tabakov _ Sound _ Sculptures _@TAM
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TaM is a place for culture and social initiatives in Veliko Tarnovo. Launched in 2012, the space became an attractive stage for contemporary art and culture. TaM regularly presents upcoming and established artists from all over the world. The program includes activities promoting participation in urban social processes. The events are suitable for English-speaking audiences, too.
Heerz Tooya (LINK)
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Meta: Kristoffer _ Zeiner _ Christiansen _ and _ Marius _ Mathisrud
Meta: Kristoffer _ Zeiner _ Christiansen _ Installation _ View
Meta: Oda _ Haugerud _ Installation _ View
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A contemporary art gallery run by Norwegian artist Lars Nordby who also hosts a residency program in Vishovgrad, a village situated 30km. away from Veliko Tarnovo.
Varusha South Festival (LINK)
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48 Hours Varusha South is a community festival created to bring contemporary urban culture to the oldest part of Veliko Tarnovo. Every year, on the third weekend of August, the streets of Varusha South are brought to life with music stages, workshops for children and adults, lectures and exhibitions, attended by both locals and the thousands of visitors to the city. Within this year’s edition two of our previous residents will participate in the official artistic program of the festival with a performance and an exhibition.
Narrativa Gallery (LINK)
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A contemporary art gallery, located in the heart of Varusha South quarter, dedicated to street art and the presentation of both young and established artists.
RadLab Studio (LINK)
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RadLab Studio is a photography studio nested in the town of Gabrovo, Bulgaria, which is only 45km. away from the city of Veliko Tarnovo. Here you can enjoy an extensive range of services including film development, scanning and printmaking. They specialize in a wide range of traditional photography processes, as well as the modern approach of creating digital negatives.
No Point Atelier (LINK)
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Nopoint Atelier, located in a tiny mountain village right next to the city of Gabrovo, is a shared studio for artists, focused on silkscreen and risograph printing. They are keen on helping artists to explore those techniques and enrich their artistic practices through the different programs that are developed there - workshops, residencies, and collaborations.
CONTACT
BULGARIA
5000 VELIKO TARNOVO
Hristo Ivanov Voivodata 22
Email: dare@iatrus.art
TEL: +359 88 805 5509