The objective of Pro Helvetia Johannesburg’s residency programme is to stimulate the development of new thinking and new work and to promote creative and mutual exchange between artists and professional networks in Switzerland and the Southern African region.

During the course of 2020, Pro Helvetia Johannesburg partners with local performing arts organisations to offer variously formatted residencies, open to Swiss artists from any disciplinary background:

Forgotten Angle Theatre Collaborative residency (Emakhazeni, South Africa)

Since 1995, The Forgotten Angle Theatre Collaborative (FATC) has collaborated with renowned South African and international dance and theatre artists. In 2015 FATC relocated its operations to the rural area of Emakhazeni, Mpumalanga, and established the Ebhudlweni Arts Centre. With this move FATC has been able to deliver on its committment to mobilising the arts as a vehicle for personal and social transformation. This commitment, emerging from its long history of arts activism, lies at the heart of each project within FATC’s programmes.

The residency is open to 1 Swiss artist, over a 4 to 6 week period, during August to September 2020. Applicants should have a desire to collaborate and share with the company’s artists, as well as give workshops and exchange with members of the Ebhudlweni Arts Centre. FATC hosts the community and public arts festival – My Body My Space in September, a collaborative work generated from the residency would have showings at the festival.

FATC has associated dancers, performance artists and choreographers, as well as equipped dance studios and accommodation in a secluded retreat setting.

Pro Helvetia support:

Pro Helvetia Johannesburg office covers the cost of the artists’ travel and visa costs, accommodation, per diem, and to some extent, production costs. Local partner host and artist’s costs are also covered.

Application requirements for Emakhazeni, Forgotten Angle Theatre Collaborative residency (South Africa):

Please provide a considered response to the list of questions below. Application must be in English. Email your responses to the questions and your full professional CV to the Pro Helvetia Johannesburg office: johannesburg@prohelvetia.org.za. Use the subject line “Emakhazeni residency application”.

1. What motivates you to apply for this residency?

2. If you were awarded the residency, what are your initial thoughts on how to approach your time in Emakhazeni, as well as the possibility to present work at the My Body My Space festival?

3. This residency has a strong sharing and collaboration focus; how might you be interested to engage with:

3.1. The company

3.2. Local persons: professional artists and non-artists

3.3. The context

4. Have you worked elsewhere on the continent?  Please describe the experience.

5. Have you done previous activist, skills training, or collaborative work?

6. Where relevant, please provide web links or dossiers to your previous work.

Deadline for applications:  9 December 2019

Selection of successful applicant and notification: by 31 January 2020