Call for Proposals: MUTEK-AVATAR Production Residency

Credit: Joni Void & Sonya Stefan, MUTEK Édition 20 by Ashutosh Gupta

MUTEK and the artist-run centre AVATAR are joining forces for the initial MUTEK-AVATAR Production and Presentation Residency.

This call for proposals is for women and non-binary artists of all origins, residing in Canada. The successful candidate will be hosted by AVATAR in Quebec City for a 4-week production residency to create a performance piece using any form of technology (audiovisual works, experimental practices, modular synthesis, artificial intelligence, audio art, DIY practices, mapping, etc.).
Artists can choose to develop a new original work or pursue a work already in progress. This residency includes the presentation of the finished work during the 21st edition of the MUTEK festival, which will take place from August 25 to 30 in Montreal.

Deadline to apply: February 9, 2020

Residency conditions offered by Avatar:

- Production fees: $3,000
- Accommodation(up to 4 weeks) and per diem ($50/day) for artists from outside Quebec City
- Travel (up to $1,000)
- Technical support: 30 hours (pre-residency + residency)
- Access to Avatar studios and equipment
The 4-week residency takes place between March and June 2020, with specific dates to be determined jointly between the artist and Avatar.
The artist will have access to Avatar’s satellite studios at the Conservatoire de musique de Québec and Université Laval’s School of Visual Arts.

Presentation conditions offered by MUTEK:

MUTEK offers optimal presentation conditions for artists. The exact venue and date of the performance will be determined by the programming team based on the work created. MUTEK will take place in Montreal from August 25 to 30, 2020.
The artist will receive a fee respecting the festival’s fee schedule.
Transportation, accommodation and per diem are covered for artists from outside Montreal (duration depending on the date of the performance).
Each artist will receive a festival passport and a passport for the IMG Forum (August 25-27, 2020).

Artists must send a proposal including
- a bio or CV,
- a project description
- examples of previous works (images, links, attached files)
by February 9, 2020 at 11:59 p.m. to residence-avatar@mutek.org.

About Avatar
Avatar is dedicated to the research, creation, circulation, and dissemination of audio and electronic artworks and artists. To support artistic practice, Avatar produces projects, invites artists, reflects on practices, and fosters new collaborations via a local and international network.
Located in the heart of Québec City, Avatar offers a venue for interactions and initiatives, explores new artistic territories, and facilitates access to equipment and specialized skills.
In North America, Avatar is a pioneer in research on audio and electronic arts.
At Avatar, sound creation covers a broad field of activities, ranging from the creation of listening devices, and the invention of musical instruments, to audio installation, including performance, radio art, and sound sculpture. Audio art crosses over the fields of music, visual arts, and poetry, opening itself to hybrid forms of audible performance, acoustic excavations, and environments. Avatar also takes part in the development of the programming of custom-made software and electronic interfaces, as well as interactive and kinetic installation systems, and telematic performances.

About MUTEK
MUTEK is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the dissemination and development of digital creativity in sound, music, and audio-visual art. Its mandate is to provide a platform for the most original and visionary artists currently working in their fields, with the intent of providing an outlet of initiation and discovery for the audiences we seek to develop.
MUTEK’s principal activity is the annual presentation of its namesake festival, which has taken place in Montreal since 2000. Since its first edition, the MUTEK festival has distinguished itself as an international rendezvous for original and avant-garde programming. In terms of content, the festival’s range strives to be diverse, with interests in both the experimental and the playful sides of digital creativity. MUTEK’s programming intends to create a sonic space that can support innovation in new electronic music and digital art. This is a world of constant evolution and incessant refinement – the “MU” in MUTEK refers consciously to the notion of “mutation”.
Over the years, the MUTEK festival has presented a considerable number of renowned artists while simultaneously providing an important showcase for up-and-coming talent. Each edition offers a notable array of Canadian, North American, and even international premieres. The festival provides an open, inviting environment that encourages rewarding exchanges between artists, professionals, and the public; MUTEK is a point of convergence, drawing participants from all over the world to profit from a context of active discovery. Many of the festival’s participants have gained concrete and positive opportunities from their involvement with MUTEK.

A MUTEK network exists today, with ramifications in North America, South America, Asia and Europe, which provides an essential platform to promote and explore wide-ranging artistic content, all the while reflecting a cultural effervescence that is both local and global.