Commonwealth Connections International Arts Residencies
An opportunity for artists from Commonwealth countries to develop new skills, gain international experience and share with other cultures.
Entry for the 2009 Commonwealth Connections international arts residencies has now closed.
Our residencies seek to support an environment that fosters creativity and individual cultural expression, increase mutual understanding between peoples through artistic exchange and give up and coming artists opportunities to learn new skills that will help them develop their livelihoods as artists.
Formerly the Commonwealth Arts and Crafts Awards, the Commonwealth Foundation's residency programme for visual arts is changing to bring the benefits of its successful model to an increasing number of practitioners. For 2009, performance art and photography are included as eligible categories for the first time; there is no longer an age limit; and this year sees the first step in the evolution of the awards into a rolling, annual scheme of residencies for which artists can apply at any time. In addition, the scheme will expand and extend to disciplines outside the visual arts.
Established in 1987, the Commonwealth Foundation's arts and crafts residencies have a long tradition of artists working within different cultures and passing on techniques and knowledge of their own, as well as imbibing new ideas and skills.
Commonwealth Connections is part of the Culture Programme of the Commonwealth Foundation.
The specific aims of the Commonwealth Connections residency programme are:
- to increase knowledge, appreciation and understanding of different cultures among Commonwealth artists;
- to enable artists to develop new artistic skills;
- to enable artists to develop personal and organisational skills;
- to enable artists to share their skills with others in their host country;
Image: Oneika Russell, 'Victorian Lady'
