Nida Art Colony, in collaboration with art space Swallow, calls for applications from artists from Lithuania for developing and producing a swallow house as a permanent artwork, a sculpture to be installed in the outside grounds of the NAC building complex.
The buildings of NAC are as much loved by migratory swallows as by the artistic and cultural community. Each year at NAC, we welcome and co-habit throughout the summer with around 20 swallow “families”. They enjoy the wide roof construction of NAC buildings, which provide shade and space for their nests.
Seasons in the Curonian Spit are marked, among other characteristics, by the coming and going of birds as well as that of tourists. With the project Neringa Forest Architecture, NAC has developed a structure to highlight the winter season as timber season, or “logging season”. The swallow house will mark the Curonian Spit as a beloved territory for migratory birds as well as highlighting summer as the time to welcome these travellers.
The aesthetic and history of miniature architecture for birds, with pigeon houses the most outstanding among them, inspired us to initiate developing a structure for our swallows. The specific location of the structure can be proposed, and will be discussed with the NAC curatorial team.
NAC will provide a sum of 2500€ for development, production, and installation of the swallow house as well as a residency at NAC in May 2021. Timber from the timber seasoning shed can be used for the project. The NAC workshop and wood working tools are available for the production purposes.
Application deadline: 23 April
Construction deadline: 30 May
Application requirements:
(1) Completed application form.
(2) Portfolio, sample of work, or publications (selection of 3–5 relevant projects)
(3) Current CV (max. 2 A4 pages)
(4) Submit all documents in PDF format, in a single file, in the order listed above using the following title: ‘Full Name_ Swallow’.
*Submit your application and related application questions to:
Residency Coordinator, Skaistė Marčienė: skaiste@nidacolony.lt
Selection process and criteria
Applications are assessed by the NAC and Swallow curatorial team. Evaluations are based on the applicants’ submitted materials according to the following criteria:
– the structure fulfils requirements for hosting swallows; necessary research is conducted;
– the proposed project offers an innovative, reflective and challenging take on the field of co-habiting with wild animals and architecture;
– the project can be realised within the given financial framework and time scope;
– the structure is robust, qualitative, safe, and sustainable in statics and material use;
– it reflects the weather conditions of the Curonian Spit.
The project is co-funded by the Lithuanian Councli for Culture.