[spectre] Open call for residencies/research in Barraco #55, center for Art and Research in Rio

[Ellen Sluis]

Barraco #55 = Research + (Co) Creation
This is an open call for proposals for artist residencies, internships  
and / or theoretical research in Barraco #55, an Art and Research  
Center in the favela of Complexo do Alemao, Rio de Janeiro.  
Researchers, students and artists are invited to explore – in  
collaboration with the local community - topics on art, popular  
culture, technology and sustainability within the context of a  
recently pacified (by UPP police) urban community (favela) in Rio de  
Janeiro. We are looking for cultural exchange and interaction within  
and outside of the community in order to develop sociocultural and  
environmental proposals that encourage social mobilization through art  
and culture, as well as the transformation of an area classified as  
"poor" into an area characterised by creativity, innovation and  
cultural efflorescence.


Purpose of Residence
Residencies are oriented towards creating international connections  
that foster the exchange of knowledge and culture for reflection and  
mutual enrichment. More specific objectives include studying and  
researching local topics and issues so as to arrive at a better  
understanding of an area such as this in the present context; breaking  
stereotypes and countering prejudice; and exchanging different  
cultures and knowledge.

What is Barraco #55?
Research + (Co) Creation

Barraco #55 is a house and cultural incubator in Complexo do Alemao, a  
recently pacified urban community in Rio de Janeiro. Our overall goal  
is to connect and to boost the exchange of knowledge and culture,  
within and outside of the community, and to develop cultural projects  
that reveal and resolve issues and problems. Barraco #55’s small  
permanent staff cooperates with residents, neighborhood associations,  
organizations and community leaders in order to map out and explore  
local issues. We subsequently devise points of action and link these  
to the knowledge and expertise of artists or researchers interested in  
starting local community projects, interning in local organizations,  
or researching current and urgent topics, either independently or in  
cooperation with Barraco #55.

Our role is to introduce the artists and researchers to the community,  
and to substantially support them in their (research) projects.  
Moreover, Barraco #55 has a facilitating role, helping the artists and  
researchers to integrate in the local institutions and organizations,  
aiming at the formation of a network of local and foreign professionals.

Our Projects
We are working on a variety of ongoing projects in the areas of street  
art, new media, photography, film, urban planning, gender and urban  
gardening. Our partners are primarily specialized in the fields of  
ecology and recycling, audiovisual technology and art. Artists and  
researchers can also submit their own research proposal or work. We do  
not limit ourselves to a single discipline, instead we are keen to  
receive people from different backgrounds in order to preserve a  
diverse research base.

Visit our website (www.barraco55.org/collaborate) for an overview of  
our current and previous projects.


Context
Complexo do Alemao is a complex in the North Zone of Rio de Janeiro.  
It is made up out of 13 communities and houses approximately 300,000  
residents. Until the Brazilian army occupied the area in late 2010,  
Complexo do Alemao used to be controlled by drug traffickers, and  
could be considered a parallel community that basically managed to  
survive independently, separate from the rest of society. Under the  
traffickers’ reign, the area saw its own system emerge (complete with  
transport, housing, water, gas, electricity and garbage collection),  
which seemed disorganized at first, but which has adapted to local  
structures over the years. Today, with the presence of the UPP (the  
pacification police unit that continued the army’s occupation), the  
violence in the area has decreased considerably, but a lot of new  
social, political, cultural and economical challenges rear their heads  
every day. Opportunities for transformation emerge alongside new  
problems here, and residents, institutions and social movements try to  
cope with these changes, seeking improvement for their community.

What we are looking for
We are looking for dedicated people over 18, that preferably have a  
certain amount of experience in community work or research and that  
are prepared to devote a period of time (ranging from two weeks to six  
months) towards developing a (research) project. Basic knowledge of  
Portuguese is useful but not necessary.

What we offer
Accommodation (paid*)
Wi-Fi
A workspace and the use of tools and equipment free of charge
A network of residents, locals and local institutions
A team of 2-4 project coordinators, both local and international, who  
speak English, Portuguese and Portañol
A group of up to to 12 artists / researchers to collaborate with

* We are an independent center and would like to keep it that way!  
Continuing our work - facilitating, supporting and hosting - requires  
a minimum amount of compensation from our residents (based on the  
average rent in the city of Rio de Janeiro) to ensure the hosting of  
future residents and further developments in Barraco #55. If you need  
a letter of recommendation to apply for scholarships or other forms of  
sponsorship, we can easily write one for you!

Contribution

Previous artists and researchers in residence have committed  
themselves to documentation of their activities on our collaborative  
blog and website. We would also like to receive your printed work  
(pictures, map designs, etc.) in order to exhibit it in our house.  
Furthermore, you could consider offering workshops to the community,  
participate in interventions, writing an essay or article about your  
experience or any other proposal that might be of interest to us, the  
other artists and researchers in residence, and to the community in  
general.

Accommodation

To become part of the team and to integrate into the community as much  
as possible, we usually host our artists and researchers in residence  
in the Barraco #55 house and work space. We have single rooms or mixed  
dormitories, and we will provide bed linen and towels. Residents are  
asked to assist the team in cleaning and organizing the house, as well  
as maintaining our outside project space (the square).


Enrollment

Deadlines

Proposals for artist residencies and research should be sent at least  
three weeks prior to arrival.


Applications
Application forms can be sent to nos at barraco55.org. Within two days,  
you will receive a confirmation email from us. If you don’t receive a  
confirmation email from us within two days, please contact us through  
Facebook: facebook.com/barraco55.

Both individuals or groups of up to 12 people can apply. If you would  
like to apply with a larger group, please consult us about the  
possibilities for alternative accommodation within the community.

In order to apply, you’ll need to fill in an application form that can  
be submitted in .doc, .odt or .pdf format to nos at barraco55.org.  
Included in the form are personal data, a mini resume, a work or  
research proposal for your own project or an existing project, and a  
personal motivation. The form can be found at: http://www.barraco55.org/form 
.

Replies

We attempt to provide you with a concrete answer about the  
possibilities of a residency with your project proposal and within  
your desired time period no more than a week after we have received  
your proposal.

Upon application, we assume that the author of the the proposal has  
read and agreed to all terms mentioned above.

Contact
Please contact us if you are interested or have any other questions.
nos at barraco55.org
http://barraco55.org
http://www.facebook.com/barraco55
+55 21 7184 4465 / +55 21 7184 4850
Skype: barraco55

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