MA RESIDENCY
Mothers in Arts Residency (MA Residency) will be a studio space combined
Mothers in Arts Residency (MA Residency) will be a studio space combined
with a communal nursery. The Residency is specialized in supporting
merging women artists, who are also mothers. Mothers in Arts is free of
charge; the artists agree on take turns to work and look after each others
children around an organized work schedule.
MA Residency provides studio space for 3 artists and a communal nursery
for their children. Accommodation is not provided. The residency invites
emerging woman artists to apply whose children are between 3 months an
24 months old. The Residency gives new mothers an opportunity to
continue their artistic development.
The trial Residency takes place in Amsterdam, the Netherlands between
March 2017 and May 2017, and will be finished with an exhibition in
June 2017.
BACKGROUND
Mothers in Arts is a small initiative founded by Csilla Klenyanszki,
Mothers in Arts is a small initiative founded by Csilla Klenyanszki,
who lives and works in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
The idea of this project comes from my own experiences, which are based
The idea of this project comes from my own experiences, which are based
on the first year of motherhood, the social and the daycare situation in the
Netherlands & my particular situation as an emigrant artist, without a
family network.
The inspiration for this project comes from a “self-directed, open-source artist
The inspiration for this project comes from a “self-directed, open-source artist
in residency”, called ARIM. An Artist in Residency in Motherhood (http://www.artistresidencyinmotherhood.com/) was founded by Lenka
Clyton and wants to “empower and inspire artists who are also mothers”.
I am currently doing a project, called “Pillars of home” during ARIM.
The Residency begins as a small project, because it is supported from the
The Residency begins as a small project, because it is supported from the
Stipendium Program for Emerging Artist (Werkbijdrage Jong Talent), awarded
by the Mondriaan Foundation, based in the Netherlands. This is also the
reason, that the Residency will be a trial residency first as the financial
resources are limited.
The studio invites emerging women artists to work in the studio when
The studio invites emerging women artists to work in the studio when
their child is between 3 months to 2 years old. The Residency is designed
around the childcare policies of the Netherlands: 3 months is the given
maternity leave and 2 years is the minimum age, when children are
provided with 2 days a week subsidized daycare. This “in between”
period is crucial for an artist-parent: through the strict schedule and the
constant attention which a baby requires, critical practice becomes
limited.
The trial residency takes place between March - May 2017 and will be
The trial residency takes place between March - May 2017 and will be
finished with an exhibition in June 2017. The trial residency is really
important to obtain further funding, which would make possible
extending the Residency and making it permanent.
The project exists with the hope that it can help artists to combine their
artistic practice with early parenthood. Through the project I wish to put
forward a discussion about a problem that affects many emerging artist
women when they become parents. Even though, many artists have
children, parenthood remains stigmatized in the art world. Therefore,
besides the physical and mental challenges of childbearing - which are
consuming enough - an added feeling of isolation can be felt by many
mothers.
This situation isn’t exclusive for artists of course, it is a common dilemma
This situation isn’t exclusive for artists of course, it is a common dilemma
for most working mothers. After becoming a parent maintaining a
professional life becomes difficult.
The project is geared to mother artists and by drawing attention to this
The project is geared to mother artists and by drawing attention to this
hidden segment of the art world I want to stimulate mothers in general.
By showing and promoting their existence, I hope that the professional
and also the general public realizes and confirms their importance as a
matter of public health.
