Virtual Tandem Residency: Singapore / Berlin

Musicboard Berlin in cooperation with Nusasonic awards a two-month virtual tandem residency to one Berlin-based musician and one artist from Singapore. The residency takes place digitally only due to the ongoing pandemic. As a joint project by the Musicboard and its partners Playfreely/BlackKaji (Singapore), Yes No Klub (Yogyakarta), WSK Festival for the Recently Possible (Manila), CTM Festival (Berlin) and Goethe-Institut, the residency aims to foster dialogue between musicians within Southeast Asia with links to Europe and beyond. During the residency, the artist tandem develops an artistic work to be presented at the end of the residency period. Please note: Only Berlin-based musicians can apply via the Musicboard, the Singapore-based artists are invited to apply via the Playfreely website. Both artists will be consulted in the selection of the respective tandem partner. The tandem residency will be confirmed only after both tandem partners have agreed to the collaboration.

Eligible to apply are:

• solo artists living and working in Berlin
• musicians active in pop, club music, sound art, noise, improvisation or multimedia performance that work professionally and stand out through their creative achievements
• musicians who develop works related to the fields of film, video, games, interactive media, programming, installation, and who engage in research-based practises
• musicians with a high level of independence and personal initiative
• musicians who are interested in the possibilities of online creation and presentation, are open to interdisciplinary exchange, and have a keen interest in working collaboratively

Digital exchange: 8 weeks between October and December 2021
Public presentation: early 2022

The exact periods of the residency will be coordinated between the cooperation partners and the selected musicians.

During the virtual residency, the tandem of the Berlin-based and the Singapore-based artist will work on a digital collaborative project. The aim of the residency is to identify common as well as complementary interests between both artists, which can serve as a stepping stone for developing a joint artistic work.

Both artists will be selected through separate open calls, and will be supported in their joint creative process by Berlin’s CTM Festival and by Singapore band The Observatory, who run the experimental music performance series BlackKaji as well as the festival Playfreely. The two host organisations will support the process through moderation, feedback, and providing access to knowledge and expertise situated within their wider networks. The resulting work will be publicly presented online, or at the hosts’ respective festivals or events in Singapore and Berlin, should the pandemic situation allow for in-person presentations.

The Musicboard covers:

• a weekly stipend in the amount of 250 euros per artist or 2.000 euros per artist for the whole residency
• a shared production budget of up to 3.000 euros for the tandem artist duo

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

• Completed Application Form
• Statement of Purpose
  using no more than two A4 pages, including the presentation and basis of the planned artistic initiative in the context of the residency
• Artistic resume
  including proof of past performances, releases, and collaborations with other artists (e.g. in the form of web links, graphic documents or screenshots)
• 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, by indicating multiple options in the residency application. It is important that a statement of purpose is submitted for each residency site.

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 a three-year term, independent jury of Berlin-based pop experts and in consultation with the Senate Department for Culture and Europe. In the fall of 2020 the following jury was appointed to the Scholarships & Residencies programme:

• Elia Rediger
  musician and curator of the series ›Aus dem Hinterhalt‹, Deutsche Oper Berlin
• Julia Lorenz
  music journalist and writer
• Katja Lucker
  Managing Director of Musicboard Berlin GmbH
• Pamela Owusu-Brenyah
  A&R, music consultant and curator Pop-Kultur Festival
• Sarah Farina
  DJ and producer

A short description of the jury members is available here.

We’ve 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 livelihood must be established with residence permits or personal ID (front and back). The nationality of the musician is irrelevant to the funding decision. Anyhow, 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’ve 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, by indicating multiple options in the residency application. It is important that a statement of purpose is submitted for each residency site. Applications without a statement of purpose cannot be considered. It is also possible to simultaneously apply for a scholarship and a residency. In this case, two applications must be supplied. In general, due to the large number of applications in a given funding round, the jury will recommend only one grant per artist.

How must my statement of purpose be designed?

In their statement of purpose, applicants should, in no more than two pages, state why they are applying for a residency and what artistic project they would like to put forward in the context of the residency. From the statement of purpose it should be evident that the applicant is familiar with the artistic and cultural context and the profile of the residency site. When applying for more than one residency, it is important that a statement of purpose is submitted for each residency site. Applications without a statement of purpose cannot be considered. It is imperative that this document be submitted in English, since in the event of jury approval, it will be sent to the foreign residency partner.

How must my artistic resume be designed?

We deliberately omit a template for the artistic resume since artistic careers can vary so widely. The presentation can be made graphically, in text, as a biography or in the form of a portfolio. It is helpful to indicate milestones in your artistic career, such as releases, particular performances, awards, residencies, artistic collaborations or co-ventures with partners from the music industry (labels, agents, etc.). To verify these weblinks, graphic attachments or screenshots can be helpful, but they are not necessary in every single instance. It is imperative that this document be submitted in English, 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.

I have questions about the accessibility of the residence – whom can I contact with questions?

We want our residency programme to be accessible for all and that it be as inclusive as possible, and so we are always available for any questions, requests and suggestions. For special needs or questions about the accessibility of the residency, please contact Maureen Noe for personal assistance: maureen.noe@musicboard.berlin.de.

When exactly is the application deadline?

The application deadline for the residency is midnight July 15, or 12 a.m. November 16. Until then, applications can be received online and will be posted as received before the deadline. The application is received when after a successful transmission a pdf appears for downloading. Only after a positive jury decision the signed application document has to be sent to the Musicboard by postal service. 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 site. We do not recommend the use of Google Chrome as a browser. If problems arise with the filing, please make a screenshot, save the application draft and advise us by email at: maureen.noe@musicboard.berlin.de

What are the selection criteria of the jury, and when will I be informed of their decision?

The jury bases its decision above all on the artistic quality of the work, chances of success and the persuasiveness of the application as presented. The project idea should be meaningful for the development and career of the applicant. This can be determined by the applicant’s statement of purpose. A particular focus of the jury is the music samples provided. 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 inclusion and gender balance. The jury’s decision follows the application deadline by 4 to 6 weeks, and applicants are informed by email. Acceptances and declines 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.