Switzerland | Bibliothek Andreas Züst residency calls 2017

Twice annually — respectively for the months of April and November — the Bibliothek Andreas Züst in the Alps of Eastern Switzerland offers three studio residency stipends. The length of the stay can vary from one to four weeks according to the needs of the stipendiaries.

Application is open to Swiss or foreign individuals or teams (max. four persons) working in any artistic / cultural field, e.g., visual arts, literature, new media, music, theatre, dance, design, architecture, film, photography, as well as applied arts, art or cultural theory / studies. Foreigners are required to have an authorized permit to enter Switzerland.

For the stipendiaries, the Alpenhof panorama lodge will provide for accommodations. Applicants must submit a statement specifying their specific interests and describing their motivation in seeking a residency. The Bibliothek Andreas Züst is especially seeking projects that deal with the library as a whole or one of its sub-areas.

The Bibliothek Andreas Züst includes approximately 10,400 titles on topics ranging from, e.g., the weather, geology, astronomy, physics, literature, photography, art, kitsch, and popular culture. Since 2010, the Bibliothek has been located at the Alpenhof. The former hotel, situated on the Appenzellian St. Anton (1,110 m.a.s.l.), not only offers facilities for overnight stays, but also spaces for working.

The Studio Residency Stipend program is to be considered in the tradition of libraries as places of knowledge in the sense of diversity. In short: the residency should entail research about what constitutes the fabric of our culture and also what goes beyond it.

The Alpenhof is an inspiring location for a retreat and working, with opportunities for exchange and relaxation. Situated at 1,110 m.a.s.l. overlooking the Rhine Valley and Lake Constance, here landscape conjoins with lingering; the Alpstein mountains with a sea of fog; Eastern Switzerland with Übersee; traditional Alpaufzug (procession of cows on mountain paths) with astronomy. The Alpenhof itself, with its rooms, grand halls, terraces, and the music room, is open to guests from far and wide, as well as all kinds of encounters. Depending on the bookings, the Alpenhof can be either busily lively or peacefully quiet. For each recipient of a studio grant, there is a private bedroom available with an individual area for working. In addition, there is a shared studio-/music room available, as well as different areas throughout the Alpenhof for working quietly. Further facilities include: the shared kitchen, dining and living rooms, and the Bibliothek Andreas Züst.

Accommodation and use of the studio are free-of-charge, and travel costs are also covered. A separate request can be made for an additional subsidy for living costs of up to CHF 250/week. Artistic production costs must be covered privately.