Salvador de Bahia: Vila Sul

Set on the coast of the Black Atlantic, Brazil’s Afro-Brazilian-influenced first capital offers many sources of inspiration. But where do Bahian sounds come from – and how does one live and work there?

In cooperation with the Goethe-Institut, Musicboard Berlin grants one Berlin pop musician a two-month stay at the residency programme VILA SUL in Salvador de Bahia, Brazil. The residency is particularly suitable for musicians with an interest in Brasilian and Afro-Brazilian music, interdisciplinary exchange, and networking. It offers the opportunity to implement individual projects. The residency in Salvador de Bahia is aimed at artists from all genres of pop music, meaning all genres and styles that cannot be clearly designated as classical, new music or jazz. This includes all forms of cross-genre and experimental pop music.

The aim of the residency is interdisciplinary artistic and cultural exchange with the local music scene and the other residents at VILA SUL. Further, an artistic exploration of the overarching theme of »the South« is desired, focusing on discourses of postcolonialism, sustainability, and gender. In 2024, the residency programme is also focusing on the topic of urban development.

The Musicboard residency programme intends to be accessible to everyone and as inclusive as possible. Nevertheless, this residency cannot be taken up with family. If you have questions about the accessibility of this residency, please contact Maureen Noe before applying: maureen.noe@musicboard.berlin.de.

Eligible to apply are:

• musicians who live and work in Berlin
• musicians from all genres of pop music who stand out through particular creative achievements and who work professionally
• musicians who have a high degree of independence and take their own initiative
• musicians who are particularly open to interdisciplinary and transcultural exchange
• musicians who reflect on their own social position and are critical of power imbalances and discrimination. Prior knowledge of topics such as whitewashing, white saviourism and cultural appropriation is desired. Applicants will have the opportunity to acquire relevant information in a mandatory workshop on power relations.
• musicians who have (basic) knowledge of Spanish or Portuguese or are willing to acquire this knowledge prior to the residency. The project funds of the residency stipend can be used for a language course.

Stay in Salvador de Bahia: 30 September to 1 December 2024

The period is set, the residency cannot be shortened or postponed.

VILA SUL is Goethe Institut’s residency programme in Salvador de Bahia. The residency house is surrounded by museums and theatres. Besides the residency spaces, Goethe-Institut accommodates a studio theatre, two galleries, an inner courtyard, a library and seminar rooms. Throughout the year, VILA SUL hosts fellows from a wide range of artistic disciplines who are concerned with the Global South as place and concept, and who are interested in open, lively, eye-to-eye exchange. The discursive focus is placed on sustainability, gender, and postcolonialism. In 2024, VILA SUL is also focusing on the topic of urban space and urban development. The residency is a platform for dialogue, reflection, presentation, cultural production and impulses that are far removed from Eurocentric perspectives.

The residency at VILA SUL is structured freely. It is up to the musicians to decide which projects they would like to realise. VILA SUL is not an outcome-oriented residency, so no concrete results are expected. The residency space does not have a recording studio. The focus is instead on interdisciplinary exchange with other resident artists at VILA SUL and proactive interaction with the local music scene. The local music scene is strongly shaped by African influences. Music and musicality are a integral and omnipresent part of Bahian everyday life, and this brings much inspiration to musician residents in particular. Musicboard residents are encouraged to travel to Brazil by themselves and participate in two local public events. The residents are free to create their own event formats or to participate in festivals or series organised by VILA SUL.

The Musicboard covers:

• the round-trip travel and project costs as well as costs for accommodation, working and rehearsal space
• a monthly stipend in the amount of 1,500 euros for food and living expenses

The following information and documents must be supplied, in German or in English, using exclusively the application tool that can be accessed via the button at the end of this page:

• completed application form
• artistic project & motivation
  motivation and presentation of the planned artistic project in the context of the residency
• artistic resume
  including a list of artistic milestones such as shows, productions, releases, collaborations, awards and grants
• three music samples
  to be uploaded as mp3s
• scans of certificate of registration or personal ID (front and back)
  indicating Berlin as place of residence
• for non-EU citizens: Passport scan
  including residence permit, duration of stay, and type of work permit

In each round of funding, applicants may apply for more than one residency. In this case, separate applications must be submitted.

Only fully completed documents can be considered. All applications will be handled confidentially and used exclusively for decision-making and funding purposes. Publication of certain relevant details is granted by the applicant as part of the application process.

The residencies are awarded through Musicboard Berlin GmbH upon recommendation of an independent jury of Berlin-based pop experts and in consultation with the Senate Department for Culture and Social Cohesion. Jury members are usually appointed for a period of three years. The following jury is appointed to the scholarships and residencies programmes in 2024:

• Aida Baghernejad
  cultural journalist
• Ebru »Ebow« Düzgün
  artist, label owner, manager and event organiser
• Ji-Hun Kim
  editor-in-chief Das Filter, freelance lecturer, DJ and music producer
• Misla Tesfamariam
  artist manager, label owner
• Thien Nguyen
  label owner, DJ, music and film producer
• Yeşim Duman
  curator, moderator, DJ

A short description of the jury members is available here.

Here we have collected here some frequently asked questions about Musicboard’s residencies. This information is intended for general advice, is not legally binding, and does not take the place of an examination of individual circumstances. We will gladly answer further, detailed questions on the funding programme by phone or by email. Please read the FAQs and other explanatory notes on this website carefully before contacting us. We also recommend the free services of the Kulturförderberatung by Kreativ Kultur Berlin, which supports artists in all disciplines in their search for possible funding, can offer tips for preparing applications and can provide review of applications.

What is meant by »living and working in Berlin«?

In the residency programme, Musicboard funds exclusively musicians and bands who live and work in Berlin. Residency and creative focus must be verified with residence permits or personal ID (front and back). The nationality of the musician is irrelevant to the funding decision. However, for non-EU citizens filing an application, it is necessary in addition to the Berlin residence certificate to provide a passport that includes residence permit, duration of stay, and type of work permit. Please note that Berlin residence must be officially verified. Rent contracts etc. are not sufficient for proof of residence. We kindly ask you to refrain from submitting such documents containing sensitive personal data.

I have just submitted another application to Musicboard. Can I still apply for the residency?

In general, it is possible for musicians to be funded repeatedly and in successive periods. In each round of funding, applicants may apply for more than one residency. In this case, separate applications must be submitted. It is also possible to simultaneously apply for a scholarship and one or multiple residencies. In this case, separate applications must be submitted. In general, due to the large number of applications in a given funding round, the jury will recommend only one grant per artist.

How do I submit my letter of motivation?

Since 2023, the motivation can be entered into fields in the online application form. In the application form, applicants must explain, among other things, why they are applying for the residency and what artistic project or type of collaboration they would like to pursue as part of the residency. In addition, they are asked what they expect to gain from the residency for their own artistic and professional development. The letter of motivation should reflect that the applicant is aware of the artistic and cultural context and the profile of the residency location.This information must be submitted in English when applying for a residency abroad, since in the event of jury approval, it will be sent to the foreign residency partner.

How should my artistic resume look like?

The artistic resume is meant to describe the applicants’ artistic career. In the application form, we also ask for milestones in the artistic career in the form of a brief list of artistic milestones such as shows, productions, releases, collaborations, residencies, awards and grants. You are welcome to voluntarily provide information about your social position here (e.g. self-description, gender, disability, age, sexual identity) if it plays a role in your artistic identity and your work and you would like the jury and partners to be aware of it. This information must be submitted in English when applying for a residency abroad, since in the event of jury approval, it will be sent to the foreign residency partner.

What songs can I submit as music samples? Are demos acceptable?

The music samples should be three songs that represent you and your art. They need not be the newest songs, or the ones that you want to work on during your project. Demos can be submitted. Depending on their quality, it may be wise to provide in addition one or two fully produced works.

Are your residencies accessible and/or family-friendly?

The Musicboard residency programme is intended to be accessible to everyone and as inclusive as possible. Whether a residency is accessible or can be taken up accompanied by family depends very much on the particular location and the individual needs of the applicant. The residency space at VILA SUL is not suitable for children. Visits by partners may not exceed two weeks in the entire period of the residency. If you have questions about the accessibility of this residency, please contact Maureen Noe before applying: maureen.noe@musicboard.berlin.de.

When exactly is the application deadline?

The application deadline for the residency is 1 March 2024 at 6 p.m. Until then, applications can be submitted online and will be posted as received before the deadline. The application has been successfully received as soon as it appears in your user profile in the »Submitted Applications« section. We recommend allowing plenty of time for the application and its attachments to upload, and not waiting until the last minute to apply. The upload speed of our servers can decline with increased traffic to the website. If technical problems arise, please take a screenshot, save the application draft and notifiy us by email at: maureen.noe@musicboard.berlin.de

What are the jury’s selection criteria?

The jury makes its recommendations primarily on the basis of the quality of artistic work, the chances of success and the conclusiveness of the proposed project. A particular focus of the jury is the music samples provided. In addition to these general criteria, transcultural criteria play a major role, especially in the awarding of international and co-creation residencies, e.g. whether applicants have familiarised themselves with the residency location and its cultural context, whether they already have personal or professional connections to the local music culture or whether transculturality is reflected in the applicant’s proposal. Funding decisions are made with a view toward building the diversity of Berlin’s music scene. Musicboard and the appointed jury place great value on diversity, inclusion and gender balance.

When will I be informed of their decision?

The jury’s decision follows the application deadline by 4 to 6 weeks, and applicants are informed by email. Acceptances and rejections are sent at the same time. Usually, more applications are received than can be funded, and Musicboard is not obliged to explain its decision. There is no legal entitlement to funding.

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