Open Call to the 5th edition of Rupert Alternative Education Program

We kindly invite you to apply for the 5th edition of Rupert Alternative Education Program that will take place between spring and autumn 2017. We are looking forward to receive your applications until 6 April (Thursday midnight).

Our Alternative Education Program aims to combine self-directed education, interdisciplinary exchange and professional development. It is a resource aimed at creating opportunities for exchange between thinkers and producers based in different parts of the world and at facilitating the production of various individual projects including artworks, exhibitions, publications and institutions. The program consists of regular lectures, workshops, events and studio visits with local and international guests (among which Travis Jeppesen, Claire Bishop, Dora Garcia, Nina Power, Dan and Lia Perjovschi, Kristupas Sabolius, Mårten Spångberg and Lina Lapelytė have participated in the past) and self-initiated initiatives such as reading groups, workshops and trips. In addition to its own programmed activities, the Alternative Education program is informed by the presence of the 40 or so artists, writers, curators, academics and other creative researchers that join Rupert’s Exhibitions, Residencies and Public Programs each year. Lastly, the program consists of a final presentation of completed projects  – hosted at both Rupert and at partner organisations in Lithuania or abroad. Former participants have travelled to Studio-X in New York, Komplot in Brussels and Warsaw Bauhaus in Poland as well as sites and collaborations all around Lithuania.

Past editions have taught us that it’s essential for applicants to regard themselves as participants, not as students. Equally, it is important for them to regard the Program as a resource, not as training. We ourselves, the team and the people we invite, are equally faced with the challenge and the desire to do things from impossible conditions. The Education Program is an opportunity to help each other succeed in that effort.

While we reinvent our approach with every edition, exploring new modes of engagement and pedagogical formats, the Program remains aimed to help emerging artists develop their practise in the framework of formal and informal exchanges between them, writers, art theorists, curators, scientists, international artists, and the public. This year our focus is on discussing the various economies of the contemporary art world and the aesthetic and political means we have(n’t) got towards moving away or cardinally remodelling it; exploring psycho-geographies and the wavering communities of Lithuania’s regions and political and aesthetic transformations of systems of knowledge from the very broad like language itself to the very peculiar and precise. With this in mind, the Program goes where the participants take it. This initial framework can and no doubt will shift towards something else with your input!

The 5th edition of the Alternative Education Program is curated by Adomas Narkevičius and joined by Suhail Malik, Jolanta Zabarskaitė, Hanna Kaljo, Jasmine Picôt-Chapman, Julijonas Urbonas, Justė Jonutytė, Jonas Žakaitis and other local and international tutors yet to be announced who will host talks, workshops, public events or engage participants in free-form conversations and discussions. The rest of the Program will be created by you – the participants.

We look forward to receiving your applications! And if you’re not an artist, a curator or a writer, please don’t be discouraged from applying. We would love to have you involved!

DATES
Two trimesters: April 2017  – June 2017 and September 2017 – November 2017 (availability to participate in both is highly preferred)

APPLICATION DEADLINE
6 April 2017 (Thursday midnight)

HOW TO APPLY
Send your application form, CV (in English) and portfolio (no more than 5 works) to info@rupert.lt by 6 APRIL 2017 (Thursday midnight), we’ll let you know we’ve received your application via email. Applicants selected for a live or Skype interview will be notified separately. Final selections will be announced in shortly after.

ELIGIBILITY AND CRITERIA
Applicants must have a good command of the English language (no formal language qualifications required).
Applicants must also be based in Vilnius for the duration of the program and agree to an 80% attendance of all program activities. International applicants must be from the E.U. or have a VISA that allows them to stay in Lithuania for the duration of the program.
Secondary education and previous work experience are not required but looked at favourably.

The Program is FREE.

If you have any additional questions, don’t hesitate to contact us at info@rupert.lt