p       I       A       R

perfocraZe International Artist Residency

perfocraZe International Artist Residency popularly known as pIAR, is the only openly trans led space and a queer inclusive arts and cultural organization of its kind in the history of Ghana. pIAR is founded and directed by a Ghanaian trans-woman, Va-Bene Elikem Fiatsi, a multidisciplinary artivist, curator, philanthropist and mentor  working internationally across several countries. The residency is hosted by “crazinisT artisT studiO” in Kumasi, the second largest city of Ghana and the capital of the Ashanti Kingdom.

pIAR is certified as an interdisciplinary artists program, performance ‘hatchery’, cultural incubator, research laboratory and interactive platform that aimed at promoting exchange between international and local artists, activists, researchers, writers, curators and critical thinkers. pIAR prioritizes bridging the gap between the arts and the people as well as reuniting the queer community and their family through arts and cultural experiences. The residency was launched in 2018 after four years of its underground projects and has hosted over 160 artists from more than 25 countries since 2019.

• Every year, pIAR invites new applications from international and local artists for a stay of not less than 4 (four) weeks between 1st JANUARY and 31st AUGUST.

• Artists in residence are supported to develop their projects focusing on processes, collaborations, workshops, community building,  critical investigations, researches, networking and experimentations.

• Participants share their projects and experiences through discussions, research-workshops, presentations, art talks and lectures with Ghanaian artists, students and the local community.

We are delighted to announce the selection of 40 amazing artists from 18 countries across the globe for pIAR 2022.

Stay tuned for the profile of each artists starting soon on our instagram page.

We are still waiting for the confirmation from those artists of pIAR2021 who did not participate in the 2021 residency due to C.O.V.I.D.1.9 restrictions.

All Artists selected should regularly check their email for updates and necessary information that may be required.

All applicants who are not in the list should contact us for further information.

OPEN CALL FOR STUDIO INTERNSHIP

You can apply for our STUDIO INTERNSHIP for 2022

(this is open for artists and non artist who are interested in collaborating with artists in residence or to work with the pIAR Team in 2022)

Artistic Director

Va-Bene Elikem Fiatsi (crazinisT artisT)

We are very much pleased to officially announce the selected artists for pIAR2021. 

It has been a heavy challenge this year to decide who comes to pIAR 2021 because of the COVID and the large number of applications received from over 30 countries.

Private email has been sent to those placed on the waiting list (if your name is not on the list of selected artists above, please check your email for your status)...

We will keep in touch and let you know the latest by December 27th if you will be joining your fellows in residence next year.

• All Selected Artists should kindly get in touch if you have not yet received your invitation letter.
• Please forward to any of the artists in the list above or who has applied. 

Artists in Residency-2019

Exploring the performative energy of the body and the soul

pIAR has been designed as a site and point of contact for promoting cultural exchange between international and local artists, writers, curators photographers, film makers, video artists and many more. Participants are encouraged to explore the contemporary spirit and rituals of performativity in our multigenerational societies and cultures, as well as question the complexities of race, gender, social justice, marginalisation and identity politics. The residency runs from January to end of August each year. We invite and accept proposals from international and local artists to stay and develop their projects over a period of  4 weeks while focusing on processes, collaborations and experimentations rather than products. Participants will be given the opportunities to share their experiences through discussions, research, workshops, presentations, talks and lectures. Projects developed in the residency will be eligible for exhibition at Chale Wote Art Festival, the Alliance Francaise Kumasi and Accra, public spaces, schools and other alternative art spaces.

Our focus is on performativity while aiming to merge contemporary art, culture and the people through collaborative practices. The Ashanti Kingdom is full of performative expressions, rituals, festivals and cultural practitioners that we hope our artists in residence could collaborate and engage with.

"I believe performance is an embodiment of life, perhaps subtle but intensive and ephemeral, which could provide an intimate dialogue between the performer/s and the audience (co-performers). It is important using performance as a potent medium to re-examine our own colonial and post colonial history from dynamic experiences and views." crazinisT artisT

Fees/aids/donation/sponsorships

Due to logistical inability to fully fund our diverse and talented selection of participants, international artists are advised to seek for sponsorships or fundings from their home countries or alternative organisations for return flights and any high budget production cost. We will nevertheless provide free accommodation, free wifi, and cover limited materials cost.

Selected Participants are eligible to stay ONE MONTH FREE at pIAR  once in their lifetime (without paying any fee). However, artist who wish to be invited in future after exhausting their free one month will have to contribute ($150) per month at their next stay. All artist who also wish to extend their stay after the first free-one month during an ongoing residency, will have to contribute ($100) per month to continue for at most three months stay in total. (FEE WAVER AVAILABLE FOR ARTISTS FROM AFRICAN COUNTRIES)

NOTE: pIAR DOES NOT CHARGE FOR RESIDENCY FEE- Fees paid as ALUMNI are to support the effective running of the space covering costs of utilities (water, electricity, gas etc BUT NOT for accommodation or your stay). We are glad and honoured to accept any donation in kind or cash to help us run a smooth program. See below this page how to support pIAR

NOTE: Conditions and Eligibility

1. pIAR is built on the notions and intersections of Performativity, documentation and archiving. NOTE: All participants and activities at pIAR are randomly documented for websites and social media.
2. NO stipend! NO per diem! Applicants are advised to seek external fundings.
3. The residency runs monthly from JANUARY to AUGUST each year. (Participants must select at least 4 weeks convenient for their stay)
4. Free accommodation (shared rooms and facilities)
5. Free WiFi (Depending on available funding)
6. Participants must be able to STAY for a minimum of 28 days.
7. pIAR is suitable for artists working in performance, videos, photography, film, interactive/performative installations, interventions, graffiti, curating, writing, storytelling and music/dance. 
8. Participants should at least be able to communicate in English.
9. Participants must be able to COVER travel, visa, health insurance, cost of production and cost of living.
10. pIAR IS A HOPE FOR ARTISTIC & CULTURAL ADVENTURE: Participants must be willing and ready to take the challenges and responsibilities in navigating the socio-cultural complexities within Kumasi and its environs. 
11. pIAR IS A HOME FOR ALL: Participants must be willing and ready to coexist and tolerate people from diverse cultural identities, race, gender, age, sexuality, etc.

Donations

We are appealing to individuals, groups, organisations and institution for gap funding. With this gap funding, pIAR will be able to move forward and enhance Kumasi and surrounding regions with an influx of creative energies, projects, and dialogues from fellow artists working in the African continent and beyond. Without this support, the residency program will be heavily burdened on the organising and supporting institutions. We would be glad to accept any funding offer so that we might enable as many artist as possible to participate in this critical cultural project of artistic development and cultural exchange.

For enquiries, supports and donations or further information, please contact:

info@crazinistartist.com / perfocraze@gmail.com for the best options available for making donations.

You can also send your donations via

• Click DONATE/PLEDGE
• Paypal
• WorldRemit Money Transfer
• Western Union
• Bank Transfer

Collaborations

The participants will work under the curatorial collaboration with crazinisT artisT (Va-Bene Elikem Fiatsi), a multidisciplinary international artist, who is also the director of crazinisT artisT studiO and performance curator. With the assistance of interns and guest curators, the participants could engaged in community based researches and projects highlighting their interest in cross-cultural experimental works, connections and networks with communities in Ghana and abroad. However, the residency is a self-directed and a non-instructional program to allow artists the freedom to expand boundaries and possibilities. Participants will work independently in our spaces but could also  engage with schools, institutions, the local artists, traditional and cultural groups and non artist to revive the artistic and performance vibes across the city of KUMASI and beyond. There will be an open day for studio visit once every two weeks for the artists in residence to discuss their projects, encounters, processes and ideas with the visitors and critics.