Artistic Residency Program

The Baltic Gallery of Contemporary Art (BGSW) is a cultural institution of the Pomeranian Provincial Government, whose mission is to promote contemporary art. BGSW has three showrooms: the Witches’ Tower, the Small Gallery located in Słupsk and the Centre for Creative Activities in Ustka. Baltic Art Gallery in Ustka was established in 1987 and located in the historic grain store. In 2013, it changed its name to the Centre for Creative Activities. The change of the name and image was the result of the implementation of a project called the Comprehensive Development Programme for the Baltic Gallery of Modern Art – the Establishment of the Centre for Creative Activities in Ustka. The Centre for Creative Activities is the result of a complete modernization of the facility where until recently only a part of the area was occupied by the Baltic Contemporary Art Gallery. Currently, the entire granary went in the possession of the Baltic Gallery of Contemporary Art. It is the first centre of its kind in Poland and one of the few abroad. After rebuilding the Centre for Creative Activities has gained some well-equipped studios of sculpture and ceramics and computer graphics and film. The Centre for Creative Activities also has an auditorium and an exhibition hall. Modern fitted hotel with cafe facilities is prepared to accommodate the artist-in-residence stays. From the artistic stays mainly benefit artists from abroad.

The Centre for Creative Activities is a place of interdisciplinary activities for a broad range of visual arts. Here are realized film projects, music, theatre and performances. The Gallery invites the outstanding artists from Poland and abroad. Another task of the Baltic Contemporary Art Gallery (BGSW) is educational activities aimed at broadening the audience of contemporary art in all age, and the preparation of active recipients of contemporary art through a direct participation in it. We offer many attractive forms of education, among other things: lessons about art, lectures, workshops, panel discussions, film screenings and more. An important part of the educational activities are lessons and lectures organized for children, high school students, college students and adults. Within this framework are also held workshops conducted by artists whose aim is to familiarize the viewer with various technologies and media used by contemporary artists.

Description of the residency program:

Residences are international; artists are invited from Poland and abroad. The preferred projects of artistic residencies relate to art in public space, a socially engaged art. We invite above all artists who work in the public space, involving the local community. During their residencies the artists should refer to the place where they are, that is to a small seasonal village, making (if possible) the local community to commit in their work. The final result should be the joint work of the artist and local inhabitants. The program is cyclical. Duration of residence from 2 months. Each artistic stay ends with a summary and a public presentation of the work’s effect in the form of an author’s meeting, self-presentation or exhibition.