The association KIKK, which promotes digital and creative cultures at the crossroads of art, science, technology and society, is launching an Art & Science residency programme at the UNamur (University of Namur) Astronomical Observatory, organized in partnership with the Delta, the cultural space of the Province of Namur, and the TRAKK, the Creative Hub, Medialab and Fab Lab of Namur.

Two artists and/or collectives will be hosted in residence in the magnificent residency studios (2 flats each accommodating up to 4 people) located on the rooftop of the Delta in Namur, Belgium from Sunday 14 May until 14 June Sunday 2023. Each of them will receive a grant of 5.000 € to develop an Art / Science project on the theme of astronomy, as well as curatorial and scientific support to develop their production project.

The Delta rooftop - picture by architectura.be

A total of two residents will be selected: one international and one from the Wallonia-Brussels Federation.

The programme is aimed at artists with an interest in a transdisciplinary approach and an attraction for science and fundamental research. The artists will be able to dialogue and exchange with astrophysicists, researchers and the entire community around the Antoine Thomas Observatory. We accept artists from all creative disciplines.

Antoine Thomas s.j. Astronomy Observatory at UNamur

This new astronomical observatory of the University of Namur allows students and the general public to discover the stars with their own eyes and to learn about the sciences and techniques (optics, mechanics, physics, mathematics...) related to their observation. It is specially equipped for the discovery of astronomy in the city, by filtering light pollution. Discover more about the 4 telescopes. The imaging equipment captures objects invisible to the naked eye and allows videos to be made. The observatory also houses a large solar telescope, unique in Wallonia, which allows the sun to be observed in high definition and in complete safety. This observatory is an open window on the infinite, allowing you to explore the Universe from the City (images taken by the telescope). The place also offers a unique view on the Cathedral district and the Citadel of Namur, as well as a unique acoustic.

We are interested in projects that go beyond mere pedagogical explanation; offering a different perspective. We value proposals that connect our phenomenological world with human experiences of wonder and the senses, devices that allow the public to imagine their own story, to ask questions, to discover issues or to formulate a critical opinion, to bring their feelings and experience to science, to enrich it.

Picture taken by the telescope of the UNamur Observatory

The residency topic

The themes addressed can be diverse and varied, while maintaining a link with the sky and the cosmos. Starting from the Sun-Earth-Moon system, going beyond the solar system, reaching the confines of the Milky Way, or distant galaxies, the observation of the sky reveals the layers of the Universe not perceptible by our human senses. It is now possible to cross the barriers of the light spectrum, to listen to cosmic phenomena, to use artificial intelligence to suggest links between phenomena in the universe and other phenomena on a smaller scale. How can we imagine a different perception of time, light and space on the scale of the cosmos? Exoplanets, black holes, comets, storms on planets, gravity, dark matter, space activities, space debris, are all subjects that can form the basis for an artistic project. The use of scientific data as artistic material can give rise to new visual interpretations, sonification or sculptures revealing to us the celestial kinematics of the Universe. Like the dome that welcomes them, the artists also invite us to travel through their work, opening another window on the infinite.

The residency accommodation on the Delta rooftop

This programme is the result of a collaboration between 4 partners: UNamur (the University of Namur), the Delta; the cultural centre of the Province of Namur. The project will be piloted by the KIKK Festival (the annual festival of digital and creative cultures that explores the impact of technology on the fields of art, science, technology and society) in collaboration with the creative hub TRAKK (supported by En Mieux), a multidisciplinary co-creation space co-managed by the KIKK Festival which will make its Protolab (Digital Fabrication Laboratory - Fab Lab) and its Medialab (media laboratory dedicated to the production of immersive XR, VR, AR, binaural experiences, sound studio) available to the residents.

The residents will be able to learn how to use the tools of the Fab Lab and will receive professional technical assistance. The project could also, with the agreement of the festival team, be presented as part of an edition of the KIKK festival or at Le Pavillon, the new exhibition space managed by the KIKK.

At the end of the residency, the artists will take part in an exchange with the public about their work. The format will be determined with the organisers during the residency.

TRAKK Creative Hub & Fab Lab. Picture by: Melting Prod - Olivier Anbergen

The residency grant includes:

A total budget of €10,000 (€5,000 per resident) including the costs generated by the project, the purchase of materials, meals on site and transport costs including airfare for the period of residency.
Two accommodations at the Delta, each accommodating up to 4 people, as well as the provision of the Delta's technical means or aids (technical team, a stage, an exhibition room, a recording studio...)
Access to the TRAKK Protolab and its machines (3D printers, vinyl cutter, digital milling machine, laser cutter, electronic equipment, woodworking, etc.) as well as technical support.
Accès au Medialab TRAKK et à ses équipements (motion capture suits, casques VR, ordinateur optimisé pour les moteurs de jeu, studio son, tête micros binaural, …)

Applications:

Send your applications to adrien+astroresidency [@] kikk [.] be until March 5, 2023 with the subject line "astronomy residency" and including the documents requested below. The winners will be notified on Tuesday, April 4.

Project description including images and technical drawings in French or English.
Artistic positioning in French or English
Provisional budget in French or English.
CV in French or English
Portfolio

We accept projects in progress for which the residency budget would allow the project to be finalised or an existing project that warrants an additional budget to improve it. In this case, a justification will be requested in order to understand how this additional budget will improve the project.