GROWING COMPOSERS: VISBY RESIDENCIES

THE VISBY RESIDENCIES EXCHANGE PROGRAMME

The exchange programme between the Visby International Composers Centre (VICC) and NewMusicSA is now in its fourth year. It was initiated jointly by both organisations in December 2006 and provides 2 residencies a year at VICC, situated in the medieval town of Visby, which is the capital of the Swedish island of Gotland. The residencies include free accommodation per composer and free use of a well-equipped music studio — one studio per composer — for up to 4 weeks. Other expenses are for residents' own account. (In 2010 SAMRO gave R22 000 to help cover these and in 2008 R20 000. In 2007 the Swedish concert agency Concert Sweden (Rikskonserter) gave SEK20 000.) Places have been reserved at VICC under the NMSA-VICC exchange during the month of June 2011. Apply for one of these places! Application is free. See below for more details.

WHO HAS ALREADY BEEN?

Visby Residents in 2007

The two applicants who successfully applied for residencies in 2007 were Clare Loveday and Paul Hanmer, both from Johannesburg, who went in December 2007 for 4 weeks.

Visby Residents in 2009

The two applicants who successfully applied for residencies in 2009 were Lloyd Prince from Grahamstown and James Webb from Cape Town. Lloyd went from 12 January to 4 February 2009, and James went during March 2009.

Visby Residents in 2010

The two applicants who successfully applied for residencies in 2010 were Fiona Tozer from Durban and Julia Raynham from Cape Town. Fiona went from February 8 to March 7 and Julia from Feb 8 to 28.

Visby Residents in 2011

APPLICATIONS ARE NOW OPEN FOR TWO RESIDENCIES IN JUNE 2011. PLEASE APPLY USING THE VISBY APPLICATION FORM (SEE BELOW). THE CLOSING DATE IS 31 AUGUST 2010.

Clockwise, from top: Composers' Hall (VICC) Visby, main square of the old town. Gotland Ferry on a midwinter's afternoon, view from Composers' Hall. Carlquist Villa (opposite Composers' Hall) where composers are accommodated in a centrally-heated, self-catering flat. Composers' Hall (on the right), showing view over Visby harbour.

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GUIDELINES AND CONDITIONS FOR APPLICANTS

Applicants who wish to apply for a 4-week residency in 2011 should be South Africans or South African permanent residents between the ages of 25 and 45 who are already composing independently. We particularly encourage applications from members of designated groups who have not had much opportunity to take up a funded composition residency before. The conditions of being offered the residency are as follows:

• Composers must be members of NewMusicSA;
• They must be able to stay for 3 to 4 weeks at the VICC (4 weeks is best);
• A 300-word report must reach the NMSA Board within a month after returning, describing what was accomplished and how the residency benefited the composer;
• At the next New Music Indaba after their return composers must assist NMSA with the organization of composers' workshops.

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SELECTION PROCESS AND CRITERIA FOR SELECTION

The NMSA Board will consider all the applications and select two names on the basis of age, readiness for a residency, the feasibility of the proposed work to be done at VICC, and the deservingness and complementariness of the applicants. Successful and unsuccessful applicants will be informed immediately, and successful applicants will be asked to immediately put in a formal application to the VICC as well, which must go with the endorsement of the Chair of NMSA (who is also Chair of the SA section of the ISCM).

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VISBY 2011 APPLICATION FORM

Kindly:

• Complete the online Visby Application Form; or
• Download the PDF version of the form and fax it to 086-544-4202.

Please note that the closing date is 31 August 2010.

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FURTHER INFO

Any queries may be sent to:

For more information on the Visby International Composers Centre and Visby, see: www.centreforcomposers.org

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