Organiser: Czech Centres

Residency partner: ČB28

Duration of residency: May-June 2024 (45 days)

Financial contribution: 2.250 EUR (fixed; this includes living costs for 45 days and IPRs)

Travel costs: up to 400 EUR (one round trip; based on real costs)

Residency partner description:
České Budějovice 2028 (ČB28) is the organization responsible for implementing the city’s designation as a European Capital of Culture for 2028 and only the third Czech city to receive this honor. One of the key aspects of ČB28's agenda is the enhancement and reimagining of public spaces, including their accessibility and safety; this focus is part of a broader effort to encourage diverse ways of moving through and utilizing the city, including promoting alternative modes of transportation.

Thanks to ČB28’s extensive local network, residents can connect with any cultural organization in České Budějovice, as well as engage with city officials and political leaders. This collaborative approach allows participants to engage deeply with the city’s vision for 2028 and to contribute creatively to its cultural transformation.

Accommodation, studio & facilities for creative work:
The CYCLE UP! residency will be hosted by ČB28 together with Kabinet CB, a local re-use organisation that will provide accommodation for the creators, and Cyklobudějovice, an organisation dedicated to the development of cycling in the city. If the selected creator has special needs in terms of accessibility, alternative accommodation can be provided. Depending on the project of the selected artist, the organisation can also provide spaces suitable for work: e.g. offices, studio or even large-scale indoor and outdoor spaces. Cyklobudějovice can provide their expertise and data. 
  About the area and cycling culture:  
České Budějovice is the regional capital of South Bohemia with a population of just under 100,000. Due to its flat terraine, České Budějovice is an ideal city for urban cycling. Unfortunately, the quality of the cycling infrastructure in the city does not match this ideal. One of the main current problems of the city is heavy car traffic, which exceeds the capacity of the city, as the city infrastructure must accommodate tens of thousands of people who commute to České Budějovice for work, education and entertainment. 

While the proportion of cyclists is already above average, better conditions for cyclists could easily double this number, bringing significant improvements not only to the city’s traffic situation.

Designated outcome: 
Through this residency, we aim to shift the prevailing perceptions of cyclists and cycling within mainstream society. Cycling is not merely a leisure activity; it is a legitimate, equal mode of transportation.

The residency’s creative content should involve artistic research that examines and interprets the potential for cycling’s growth in the city. This includes exploring infrastructure development, capturing the personal stories and motivations of people who rely on bicycles for their daily commutes, and examining the increasingly complex relationship between cyclists and motorists. 

While we envision two potential areas of focus—artistic research that results in a public space intervention, and storytelling through profiles of everyday cyclists—we welcome residents to engage with either or both of these components. Potential outcomes could include projects like mapping and defining ideal cycle routes through the city with creative interventions in public spaces, or visually expressing the personal experiences and motivations of cyclists through various visual media. However, the residency remains flexible to the artist’s vision, with an emphasis on artistic research as a primary approach. 

Based on the artist’s needs, we can provide a bicycle for use throughout the residency.

Events related to the residency:

The resident is invited to participate with their artistic intervention/performance in the following events we organize during the residency period:

• Do práce na kole/Bike to Work (May)
  Regular national activity promoting cycling as a tool for commuting to work. 
• Budějovický Majáles (end of May)
  A unique multicultural festival in the city centre with several thousand visitors, organised by high school students. Suitable for student and youth involvement, workshops and/or lectures.
• Soutok (end of May/beginning of June)
  A new town festival realized as part of the 760th anniversary of the town, organized by the ČB28 organization in cooperation with the main cultural organizations of the town. Ideal for presenting the project as part of the celebration.
• Umění ve městě/Art in the City (June – September)
  Traditional festival dedicated to art in public space, also suitable for the presentation of the output.

Contact person:
cernan@czechcentres.cz