Four SA artists to be selected for Berlin-based residency

Artpace has its celebrated International Artist-in-Residency program. Sala Diaz has its new Casa Chuck Residency Program for critics and curators, while big museums, and even small artist-run spaces, bring talent to town from all over the world. There are opportunities here for local artists to exhibit, but showing abroad is a dream few realize — and landing a residency is tough for those not already in the circuit. Blue Star Contemporary Art Center is doing a little push-back to adjust the state of things.

Due to the efforts of independent curator (and occasional Current writer) Angelika Jansen, Blue Star has been invited to participate in the international studio program at Künstlerhaus Bethanien, a nonprofit in Berlin, Germany, that has garnered high praise since it opened almost 35 years ago. Four SA artists will be chosen through an open call to take part in a three-month residency to work at Künstlerhaus in Berlin from July 2013 through July 2014. The residency provides assistance and support in well-equipped studios equipped to address a variety of media, and most important: opportunities for dialogue with other visiting artists from around the world and access to Berlin's exciting hotbed of international art. Künstlerhaus stages exhibitions of resident artists, publishes the annual BE Magazine, and is a regular contributor in the annual art fair, Art Forum Berlin.

Blue Star's Berlin initiative is supported by UTSA, the Department for Culture & Creative Development (previously known as the Office of Cultural Affairs), Guillermo Nicolas, and other private sponsors.

Submission deadline: December 1. Candidates must reside in Bexar County. For more information, visit bluestarart.org, or contact Allison Salinas at (210) 227-6960 or allison@bluestarart.org.

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