The physical building that is home to the Singapore Art Museum (SAM) may be shuttered now for an extensive restoration, but the contemporary art museum has stayed active with its programming over the past few months. Perhaps you've seen Heman Chong's commissioned murals on the hoardings of its facade; or caught Time Passes at the National Gallery, conceived as part of Proposals for Novel Ways of Being.
Now, SAM is ending 2020 on a high note. It has just launched SAM Residencies, a museum-run programme committed to supporting the development of innovative artistic and curatorial practices that respond to current global discourse.
Designed to engage both the art community and the public at large, SAM Residencies will involve local communities and the public through a diverse lineup of activities. Think of it as an incubator for new approaches to artistic and curatorial practices through supporting dialogue within and beyond the field of contemporary art.
There are four residency types – Artist Residency, Community & Education Residency, Curatorial & Research Residency, and EX-SITU: Art Spaces Residency – open to those based in Singapore or internationally. Each residency will run between a period of one and six months and will take place in physical spaces in Singapore. The Residents will also be encouraged to interact with or involve local communities and the public through presentations and programmes such as open studio visits, talks, and workshops.
SAM Residencies is a fully-funded programme, supporting Residents with return airfare, a monthly stipend of $1,500, housing allowance, a studio space or co-working space, an "ideas lab" and support from the museum and Residencies team in the form of institution resources and expertise, network building, opportunities for public engagement, and a scaffold for interaction and exchange.
The first open call is taking place from December 9 to February 28 2021. Those interested can find more info at singaporeartmuseum.sg/residencies/open-call.