Call for Applications: “Creation & Transition” Residencies

The new residency program at the Foundation stems from its aim of acting as an agent for dynamism within its region and beyond. It welcomes creators who focus on research to activate new, collective transformative potential. It soon became clear that the first step, before taking any action, would require the compilation of an inventory of the region’s resources and issues.

Objectives of the Residency 

• Enable the emergence of new creative practices that bring about change.
• Create new imaginaries.
• Collectively pave new paths toward building a more resilient and sustainable future.

Residency Orientations 

The residencies are mainly focused on transitional design projects on the basis of their transformative potential and their ability to link together creation, society, and science. For the purpose of collective intelligence, the submitted projects should be aimed at developing thinking about the region, local resources, and vernacular expertise. Collaborations with local, national, and international partners are encouraged. The projects must be committed to searching for sustainable solutions to the challenges relating to ecological transition. They may take the form of:

• pragmatic approaches to eco-social design
• innovations based on experimental vernacular practices
• artistic approaches that question the state of the world
• potentially hybrid projects or collaborative initiatives combining art and science.

Professional Support 

Fondation d’entreprise Martell strives to offer designers, researchers, and artists in residence a privileged environment in which they can carry out their projects, gain visibility, and expand their professional network. For this purpose, various forms of support are made available to the resident creator:

• Scientific management: Provided by Olivier Peyricot within the framework of the Almanach Lab, with regular follow-ups before, during, and after the residency, through interviews and meetings at the resident creator’s request.
• Workshop support: The creators in residence receive daily support from the Foundation’s Workshop Coordinator Michel Sedack, who acts as their direct point of contact. The glass workshop is run by home-based glassmakers. In terms of the other technique workshops, the production budget allows for external skills to be procured (this must be determined in preparation for the residency).
• Search for scientific and technical partnerships: The resident creators independently search for potential partnerships in order to develop their research. The Foundation’s support will consist of suggesting, formalizing, and organizing the partnership once it has been validated with the scientific management of the Almanach Lab.

Production Support

• The resident creator receives a weekly residence allowance of EUR 375 (including tax) consisting of a living allowance of EUR 125 (calculated on the basis of EUR 25 per day) and a research and creation fee of EUR 250 per week. Production costs will be defined according to the budget presented in the application, subject to formal validation by the Foundation. These expenses will be reimbursed to the resident creator on presentation of an invoice and receipts, up to a maximum amount of EUR 3,000.

Residency Formats 

• Research, experimentation, and writing residency: 1 month
  • You have a research project that requires time to write, investigate, and format. You would like access to the workshops and will focus on the creative and transitional topics supported by Fondation d’entreprise Martell.
• Research and prototyping residency: from 1+1 months to longer / duration determined depending on project 
  • You have a research project that requires time for prototyping. You would like access the Foundation’s partner networks and will focus on the creative and transitional issues supported by Fondation d’entreprise Martell.

Stay 

• The residencies require a daily and continuous presence whenever possible. Any long-term absence must be discussed with the team at the Foundation in order to make sure that the project runs smoothly. The future resident creator’s arrival and departure dates are fixed by the Foundation, in consultation with them. A prototyping residency may be fragmented according to the needs of the project and following validation of its feasibility by the Foundation.

Transport 

• The Foundation will pay for the resident creator’s travel costs, up to a maximum of one round trip from their home to the Foundation (second class for train, reimbursement of the actual costs (fuel and tolls) for travel by car, economy class for air travel – (public transport and eco-friendly forms of transport are encouraged). These expenses will be reimbursed to the resident creator on presentation of an invoice and receipts or will be paid directly by the Foundation.

Accommodation and Meals

• The resident creators are provided with accommodation paid for by the Foundation, in shared accommodation (5 rooms) in the center of Cognac, with private bedrooms and shared living spaces including a garden. The Foundation will also pay for the resident creators’ meals taken at the company restaurant at lunchtime from Monday to Friday. The cost of other meals, including off-site lunches where applicable, remain the responsibility of the resident creator.

Who is the Call for Applications Aimed at? 

• Fondation d’entreprise Martell’s call for applications is aimed at designers, architects, artists, and humanities researchers (philosophers, anthropologists, historians, writers) who wish to benefit from time dedicated to research and writing, creation and/or production. Every year, around 15 creators are welcomed for residency periods of one to three months.
• The call for applications is open to people of any age, living in France or abroad, who can demonstrate a significant or emerging career. They welcome applications from duos or interdisciplinary collectives working on a common project.

For more information, visit Fondation d’entreprise Martell.