NART is presenting a new ambitious project in Narva, initiated with the support of the British Council. We are inviting three Estonian artists to participate in a commissioned art project based on various education practices. Our goal is to increase the availability and presence of contemporary art in Narva and Narva-Jõesuu.
Three artists will be selected to participate in the project which will take place in spring 2025. The “Kunstnikud on kohal” project offers a great opportunity for the artists to have a unique experience with community work in Narva and Narva-Jõesuu. Using different methods and creative techniques, artists will participate in several workshops with the local school’s students about art and media literacy. Nowadays, in a hyperized-information society, it is important to have media literacy skills, as well as an ability to understand how an object, quote, or image can be taken out of context in a completely different way. In other words, the ability for the critical perception of information in general.
The artist’s visits will be integrated in regular school lessons and the artist can organize them as workshops, discussions, games, and craft activities. All activities will be done in Estonian which is important regarding the ongoing educational reforms. After the school visits, artists create an artwork or installation reflecting the gained experience. Artworks will be presented and exhibited within the Narva Art Residency program at the end of the project in May.
NART will support the project by organizing meetings between the artists to exchange experiences as well as provide educational consultations with specialists to help with the planning of activities for the students.
The schools that will participate in this project are:
– Narva Vanalinna Põhikool
– Kreenholmi Kool
– Narva-Jõesuu Kool
This project draws inspiration from several predecessors. In Latvia, a similar project was successfully completed where 7 interested and motivated Latvian artists stayed in 6 different schools ( (https://artistispresent.lv/)https://artistispresent.lv (https://artistispresent.lv/)). (https://artistispresent.lv/) A project called “Kunstnikud kooli” involved an impressive amount of artists and South-Estonian schools ( (https://www.moks.ee/events/artists-to-schools)https://www.moks.ee/events/artists-to-schools). (https://www.moks.ee/events/artists-to-schools) Another project called “Kunstnikud koolidesse!”, was organized for the centennial of the state.
Open call guidelines:
- Application deadline: February 25, 2025.
- School residencies in Narva and Narva-Jõesuu: March 31 – April 4, 2025.
- Transportation and accommodation costs are covered.
- Exhibition of artworks takes place in the second part of May, 2025.
- The scholarship for each artist is 1000€
- The budget for production costs is 700€.
To apply, please send a CV, portfolio, and a short note of motivation to residentuur@artun.ee.
Note that the opportunity is open only to Estonian-speaking artists that are available to be present in Narva during the week of March 31 – April 4. The selected artists are chosen based on the strength of the applicant’s previous work and experience.