Kuš! Comics Residency

Kuš! Comics Residency on hold

Between 2019 and 2024, we hosted 66 artists from all around the globe. It was an incredibly inspiring time, leading to exciting new comics, collaborations, workshops, artist talks, and many lasting friendships. As we've now run out of funding, the residency is currently on hold. We will be looking to create new opportunities to host artists in Riga in the near future.

Previous Residents

2024
Eric Kostiuk Williams (CA)

Bim Eriksson (SE)
Carlo Carnevale (IT)
Caroline Cash (US)
Giovanna Fabi (IT)
Hadeer Ali (US)

James Collier (CA)
Jonas Fischer (DE)
Luise Schaller (DE)
Malwine Stauss (DE)
Giulia Cellino (IT)
Yina Kim (US)

2023
Antony Reznik (UA)
Anu Ambasna (UK)
Asuka Okajima (JP)
Bohdana Zaiats (UA)
Chris Sperandio (USA)
Ciara Quilty-Harper (ES)
David Krančan (SI)
Gina Wynbrandt (USA)
Jakub Plachý (CZ)
Joonas Sildre (EE)
Keith Kavanagh (IE)
María Victoria Rodriguez (ARG)
Mia Oberländer (DE)
Michelle Kwon (USA)
Olena Yekimova (UA)
Sui Lam (HK)
Susanna Kesänen (FI)
Valentin Verron (FR)

2022
Ana Margarida Matos (PT)
Greta Alice (LT)
Tim Ng Tvedt (NO)
Omar Cheikh (IT)
Magdalena Kaszuba (DE)
Viktorija Eziukas (LT)
Zody Burke (USA)
Disa Wallander (SE)
Marco Quadri (IT)
Tereza Šiklová (CZ)
Janne Marie Dauer (DE)
Zlata Novikova (UA)
Jordan Troy Biko (UK)
Evangelos Androutsopoulos (FI/GR)

2021
Anastasia Stročkova (CZ)
Aapo Rapi (FI)
Chiara Dal Maso (IT)
Cristina Pirvu (RO)
Emma Roulette (USA/ES)
Jyrki Nissinen (FI)
Klára Zahrádková (CZ)
Mila Yaneva (BG)
Zsófi Rumi (HU)

2020
Amanda Vähämäki (FI)
Chika Annen (JP/UK)
Emil Friis Ernst (DK)
Greta Alice (LT)
Hans Lichtenwagner (DE)
Jurijs Tatarkins (LV)
Matei-Ioan Monoranu (RO)
Milena Simeonova (BG)
Ward Zwart (BE)
Weng Pixin (SG)

2019
Bailey Sharp (USA/AU)
Nathan Cowdry (UK)
Scott Travis (USA/UK)

Illustration: Mārtiņš Zutis

Open Call March-August 2024

Illustration by Marco Quadri

Open call for comic artist residencies in Riga from March to August 2024

The kuš! Comics Residency is open for applications from March to August 2024! Organised in collaboration with ISSP, kuš! will continue to host comic artists in our residency apartment in the centre of Riga. This is a wonderful opportunity for artists to focus on their personal projects in an inspiring environment away from home. In addition, ISSP is hosting photographers, which creates extra opportunities for interdisciplinary interaction between the residency participants.

Who can apply?

Comic artists and other professionals working in the field of comic books may apply. This open call is for artists from all around the world. Artists from the Baltic Sea region may be prioritized, in case they have the same qualifications.

Duration

One or two months. The residency calendar is based on full month slots, from the first to the last day of the month.

What we provide:

- A private room in a comfortable apartment in the center of Riga;
- A part-time staff member to provide local support;
- Individually we can agree with the residents to set up an exhibition, a public talk, or a workshop to meet with the local art scene;
- Promotion of your project on our social media accounts;
- The possibility to use the library and extra equipment at the kuš! office;
- Invitation letter so that you can apply for public funding.

What we expect from you:

- You work on your own comic book project (no relation to kuš! needed!);
- To be open to present your work to the local audience in the form of an artist talk or other public event;
- Please bring one of your zines/books to leave at the residency library.

Costs

One month at the residency costs 500 euros. A partial advance will be payable to confirm the participation. Applying for the residency is free of charge.

The selected participants will need to cover their travel and production costs themselves. You'll get an official invitation letter from us, which you may use to apply for funding.

Accommodation and facilities

The artists-in-residence will reside in a spacious apartment located in the city center, which will be shared with two other residents in the field of comics and/or photography. Facilities: private bedroom, table, shared living room, fireplace, bathroom, kitchen, wi-fi, scanner, black/white DeskJet printer, light box, bicycle.

Host town

Riga is the capital of Latvia, a country in the North-East of Europe next to the Baltic Sea. The city hosts an active cultural scene with plenty to discover. The countryside, with beautiful forests and beaches, can easily be reached by public transport.

Project Partner ISSP

ISSP is an international platform for contemporary photography, based in Latvia. ISSP offers top-quality education and networking programmes for photographers, organises residencies, exhibitions and events, and creates new ways to promote the cross-border exchange of ideas in the art of photography.

Apply!

Please submit the APPLICATION FORM by 15 February 2024. The results will be announced in the end of February. Residents applying for March will be answered earlier before the deadline, to have as much time as possible to prepare.

Questions?

Write us to komikss(at)gmail.com

Support

In the period from July 2021 - December 2023 the residency was supported by Nordic Culture Point (project "United Riga Residency for photographers and illustrators").

Testimonials

- Bailey Sharp, cartoonist from Georgia, USA, living in Melbourne, Australia. Co-art editor of The Lifted Brow and part of GLOM PRESS, kuš! resident in December 2019.

"The accommodation itself was generous, I had plenty of working space and the apartment was well looked after. Grocery stores, art supplies, cafes and cheap food spots were just a few minutes walk away, as was the tram into the city (though I usually found it possible to walk everywhere I wanted to go). It was the ideal place to be shacked up, even in the notoriously cold Latvian winter. Overall I loved it, 10/10! Go if you can."

.

Illustration: Oskars Pavlovskis