Kuš! Comics Residency

Currently we have an open call for the Kuš! Comics Residency for artists from Ukraine (see below). The rest of the year the residency is already fully booked. As soon as we have free spaces again, we'll announce the info here and via our social media chanels.

Kuš! Residencies for Artists from Ukraine

Illustration by Jana Ribkina

In the months of August and September 2023 we offer two fully-funded residency spots each to a comic artist or illustrator from Ukraine.

Duration

1-31 July or 1-31 August 2023 (one residency spot each)

What we provide

- A private room in a comfortable apartment in the center of Riga, Latvia shared with two other artists from the field of comics and photopgraphy (in collaboration with ISSP);
- 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.

What we expect

- You can work on your own comic and illustration projects (no relation to kuš! needed!);
- To be open to present your work to the local audience in the form of an artist talk;
- Hold a short drawing workshop (1-2 hr) for kids or youngsters.

Support

- Up to 350 EUR to cover your travel costs to Riga
- 500 Euro stipend
- Free accomodation

In collaboration with Nordic Council of Ministers’ Office in Latvia
Supported by The Nordic House — Reykjavik

Apply!

Send an email to kushmens(at)gmail(dot)com, provide your name, year of birth, where you plan to travel from, your website/instagram, short motivation and when you would like to come (August or September). Please apply by 5 May 2023. The results will be announced as soon as possible.

More info about the residency

See the info below or write us to kushmens(at)gmail(dot)com if you have questions.

Open Call February-December 2023

Illustration by Zlata Novikova (UA)

Open call for comic artist residencies in Riga from February - December 2023.

The kuš! Comics Residency is open for applications from February - December 2023! 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.

This time we only have 6 places left to offer, as we already filled the rest with previous applicants, who had to cancel because of covid restrictions.

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, fromt the first to 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 350 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.

Nordic Grant

One selected artist from a Nordic country will get to stay free of charge and receive a stipend and travel costs covered by Nordic Culture Point.

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.

Covid-19

In order to make most of your residency and keep everyone safe, we currently only accept applicants that are fully vaccinated and have a valid Covid Certificate. Official information on the current entry regulations and the situation in Latvia you can find here: https://covid19.gov.lv/en

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.

Support

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

Apply!

Please submit the APPLICATION FORM by 5 December 2022. The results will be announced in the end of December.

Questions?

Write us to komikss(at)gmail.com

Previous Residents

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 Kwnon (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

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."

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Illustration: Oskars Pavlovskis