The UKRAINIAN INSTITUTE – Український інститут becomes partner in the BAI Residency Program at the BERLIN ART INSTITUTE by launching an international program EXTER announcing the first open call for Ukrainian artists, curators and critics to participate in art residencies throughout 2019. The first round of the program features short-term residency opportunities in eight institutions across Austria, Germany, Italy, Spain, and USA.

Under the agreement between the Ukrainian Institute and Berlin Art Institute, two fully funded residencies are available for Ukrainian artists, curators and critics in 2019: Block 10: 09/09 – 10/04/2019 & Block 11: 10/07 – 11/01/2019.

“EXTER is a long-term programme of the Ukrainian Institute aimed at building sustainable partnerships with international art residencies. The programme aims to spark research, processes of exchange and facilitate cooperation of artists, curators and other actors in the sector. EXTER programme involves designing and creating opportunities for international mobility of people, ideas, experience, and practices.

The programme is based on collaboration with leading contemporary art residencies in the countries of the Ukrainian Institute’s activity. Programme partners are organisations and institutions that are well integrated in professional community, have the experience and infrastructure to meet the residents’ needs as well as an extensive network of local contacts. Striving for a balance of self-directed work and curated programming, each individual residency is jointly developed by Ukrainian Institute, partner organisation and the resident based on the latter’s professional needs, local context, and institutional framework. EXTER programme is designed to actively engage participants with the cultural scene of the cities of residency, provide opportunities for networking and public presentation of their practice to foreign audiences.” (Text by courtesy of the Ukrainian Institute) 

The programme is named after Oleksandra Exter (Alexandra Exter) (1882 – 1949), a Ukrainian avant-garde artist of international prominence who spent most of her life in Kyiv. Alexandra Exter revolutionised stage design and reconceptualised Ukrainian folk culture by fusing abstract art with traditional embroidery patterns and crafting practices. A refined intellectual well-versed in several European languages, she traveled extensively around the world and was friends with Picasso, Braque, Léger, Apollinaire, Soffici, and Marinetti, among others. Founder of her own school in Kyiv and Odesa, Exter was a bridge between the world of the Ukrainian avant-garde and new art of Western Europe. 

In the first edition of the EXTER programme in 2019, the Ukrainian Institute is funding short-term residencies for Ukrainian artists, curators and art critics in the following partner institutions and programmes:

Ars Electronica (Linz, Austria)
BERLIN ART INSTITUTE (Berlin, Germany)
Curators’ Agenda 2019 (Vienna, Austria)
International Studio & Curatorial Program (New York, USA)
R.A.R.O. (Madrid, Spain)
< rotor > (Graz, Austria)
Viafarini (Milan, Italy)
Visiting Curators 2019 (Vienna, Austria)

More information on the UKRAINIAN INSTITUTE Website.