Organiser: Czech Centres

Residency partner: Broumov 2028+ (city of Broumov and Hronov as focal points)

Duration of residency: 1. 5. - 15. 6. 2025 (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:
Broumov 2028+ co-organises this residency as one of the activities following the city’s run for the title of European Capital of Culture. Although the title was eventually awarded to České Budějovice, Broumov continues its creative journey and strives to develop the region through culture. Thanks to this, Broumov 2028+ has a varied base of contacts and projects, including Studio Hronov. 

Studio Hronov was established in the autumn of 2024 as a platform for diverse forms of contemporary art. It is located in a functionalist apartment building in the city of Hronov (located in the Broumovsko region, twenty kilometres from Broumov) and at the same time operates as an online platform where it showcases creative processes and their results. It aims to become an impetus for a better dialogue between the general public, the institution and the artists, providing facilities for workshops, artist residencies, gallery and coworking. Another focus is its gradually emerging networking structure with other independent cultural initiatives in the region.

Accommodation, studio & facilities for creative work: 
There is a fully furnished apartment (kitchen, bathroom, bedroom) available for the resident and there is a studio suitable for working with sculpture or painting and a photographic studio in the house. If the selected artist has special needs in terms of accessibility, alternative accommodation can be provided. 
 
Studio Hronov Gallery strives to represent innovation, diversity and critical expression in contemporary art. Especially in the field of photography it wants to address new principles of humanistic photography. In the creation of the thematic program, it cooperates with experts and curators. The exhibition spaces are spread out in the former shop premises, in the entrance hall to the residential part, on the staircase  and in the basement.  
 
In 2025, Studio Hronov plans to launch a rental shop for custom bikes for paved roads, cross, gravel, and there will also be bikes available for purchase. These bikes will also be available for the resident and their work with the public.
 

About the area and cycling culture: 
Broumovsko is a region in the northeast of Bohemia, surrounded by Poland and separated from the rest of the Czech Republic by a rock massif. It is an area of the former Sudetenland, where there was a total population change in 1945. The region is now home not only to Czechs and Slovaks, but also to Dutch, Ukrainians, Poles and Roma. 

At the same time, the region faces significant social challenges, including high unemployment, low education levels, debt issues, and limited medical care. Some areas have socially excluded communities, predominantly of Roma population, while rural areas often lean toward populist views, are susceptible to misinformation, and tend to distrust new ideas. Many residents' lives are centered around family and familiar community, creating a separation from other groups, which are sometimes perceived as threats. The resident’s challenge will be to use the theme of cycling and pathways to connect these groups, actively reducing barriers and fostering inclusivity.

In both urban and rural areas, encountering cyclists on the road is rare. This is largely due to cycling infrastructure that is often dysfunctional and unsafe. Additionally, a common perception persists that those who rely on bicycles do so only because they cannot afford a car. In the Broumov region, getting around without a car is particularly challenging, as public transportation options are limited and infrequent. As a result, cycling is mainly reserved for weekends, either as a health activity with high-end equipment or, on regular days, as a necessity for those with limited financial means.
 
We want to connect the city of Hronov and the city of Broumov communities together with artists to break down these nonsensical stereotypes, through artistic interventions, workshops, joint trips, different events, etc., to the point where we learn to take care of our bikes in addition to our communities.

Designated outcome: 
The aim of the residency is to foster local cohesion and encourage dialogue and positive neighborly relations among diverse population groups through the theme of cycling, including hands-on work with bicycles and riding activities. We view the bicycle as more than just a mode of transportation—it’s a tool for empowerment.

Another goal of the residency is to establish and strengthen connections with local artists and creatives who may continue its mission in the future. This approach ensures that the residency’s impact remains within the community, creating a legacy that can be built upon. 

The form of the artistic output is free - it can be visual, performative or other. The most important thing is the involvement of the public and the low-threshold nature of the project. The artist should be an empathetic individual, who is open to public involvement. Previous experience in fostering grassroots projects that empower others is a plus, as the artist may work with disadvantaged groups who do not have access to standard cultural and artistic offerings or do not feel "invited" e.g. due to language barriers, special needs or social disadvantage. 

Since the artist will be based in Hronov, it is up to them whether they would prefer to focus more on activities in the surrounding area or more towards Broumov. Translation and accompaniment when working with the public will be provided, as well as support in sustainable transport in between the cities, including cost coverage.

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:

• Neighbourhood day, TBA
  Originating as an event intended to help people who had fled the war in Ukraine to integrate more easily into the local community, it is now a regularly repeated event organised around European Neighbourhood Day (28 May). Food tasting, concerts, programme for children and other activities.
• 3rd Czech-Polish friendly bike ride, Saturday 7.6.2025 
  A bike ride that celebrates International Bike Day (3.6.), which brings together local communities and involves many cultural actors and other organisations. It includes a neighbourhood afternoon of workshops, creative workshops, lectures, music and food.
• Do práce na kole/Bike to Work (May)
  A nationwide event which is still in its infancy in Broumov region. It offers a great opportunity to use an already existing platform and help it grow.

Contact person:
cernan@czechcentres.cz