Who is this for? This programme is directed at programme managers, cultural organisations artists, curators, creative professionals and other actors within the cultural field
The CYCLE UP! Project has recently launched ‘Sustaining Creativity: The honest guide to sustainable residency programmes’ - this toolkit helps and suggests ways for organisations and residencies to integrate meaningful environmental and social practices without compromising artistic freedom or the survival of the organisation.
Born from the CYCLE UP! project, this guide addresses three critical aspects: ecological responsibility, social sustainability, and financial viability. Rather than prescriptive rules, it presents real experiences, honest failures, and tried and tested solutions from residencies worldwide.
This symposium aims to not only introduce our guidelines to you but also deep dive into some of the aspects which we have explored and want to bring to life. We also want to bring together various parties and stakeholders active in the Czech artist-in-residence scene to share their experiences, exchange knowledge and perhaps kickstart new collaborations. Above all, we hope to create a drive to inspire more dialogue, stronger networks, and shared learning between artists, organisers, communities, and institutions.
Schedule:
Morning Session: 10.00 - 13.00:
10 - 10.45: Welcome and discussion about ‘Sustaining Creativity: The honest guide to sustainable residency programmes'
10.45 - 11.00: Coffee break
11.00 - 13.00: Unlearning Money:
Every day, cultural organisations that care about society do something other areas increasingly find harder and harder: they build trust, get people talking, and create places where communities can come together. But this important work often isn’t communicated systematically, and often not paid fairly. In this 'Unlearning Money' workshop, we're asking the question again: What do we actually offer, and who gets something out of it?
Instead of just talking about funding, we are looking at fair deals based on what we actually do. What would be a proper exchange, not just with the people who take part, but also with the businesses, government, and universities that we work with?
We will work together to find ways to properly include social and cultural work in the services we offer, look at different ways of asking for compensation for this work, and work out what kind of administrative setup we would need. What can we put in place that can be realistically implemented and keeps solidarity in mind?
14.00 - 17.00: Dedicated afternoon session for residency spaces - facilitated by the Czech Centres (in Czech)
The afternoon session will be focused on the local context. The Czech Centres would like to provide an open platform for residencies, municipalities and other actors within the residency sector from various artistic fields, to share their know-how, shared values and core needs in order for residency programmes to continue to add value to the Czech cultural scene.
About Klub Solitaer:
Klub Solitaer e.V.is an independent cultural association based in Chemnitz, Germany. Since 2010, the organisation has been actively shaping the city’s Sonnenberg district through artistic production, community engagement, and cultural infrastructure. Working at the intersection of contemporary art, social practice, and urban development, the Klub brings together a wide network of artists, designers, performers, curators, and cultural workers.
The association runs two artist residency houses, several exhibition spaces (Galerie HINTEN, Galerie Glaskasten), a cultural venue (LOKOMOV), a performative stage (KOMPLEX), and a set of shared studios and workshops for analog photography, printmaking, and digital media. These spaces are used for exhibitions, performances, workshops, and collaborative projects that create low-threshold access to cultural participation – especially for young people and local communities.
Robert Verch is a cultural manager and active board member of Klub Solitaer e.V. He has played a key role in shaping the association’s artistic and organizational profile and is particularly engaged in building cross-sectoral networks between art, civil society, and urban practice.
FAQs
Language:
The morning programme is in English and the afternoon programme is in Czech.
Food and drinks:
Morning and afternoon coffee and refreshments will be provided, as well as a vegetarian lunch for all.
Getting there:
You can check here for more information on how to get to Pragovka Gallery: How to get to Pragovka
Other questions:
If you have any questions or queries, please feel free to contact Natálie Černá: cernan@czechcentres.com
