Artists selected for the second edition of Magnetic, the Franco-UK initiative of artists’ residencies

Magnetic, a unique collaboration conceived by the the Institut français du Royaume-Uni and the four UK funding agencies, has entered its second edition. Magnetic 2 is partnered with eight leading institutions in France and the UK. To strenghten relations between the institutions accross the Channel, the programme is based on a tandem partnership between a French region and a UK nation. The artists based in a French region have applied for a residency in a UK nation, and vice versa. Tandems associate CAPC in Bordeaux/Nouvelle-Aquitaine with Wysing Arts Centre in Cambridge/England, Frac Bretagne in Rennes/Brittany with Aberystwyth Arts Centre/Wales, Frac Grand Large in Dunkirk/Hauts-de-France with Flax Art Studios in Belfast/Northern Ireland, and Villa Arson in Nice/Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur with Cove Park/Scotland.

Magnetic has thoughtfully selected eight talented artists, ranging from early-career to mid-career, to engage with host institutions—eight prominent arts venues across the UK and France. The four UK and the four French laureate artists are Chizu Anucha (Scotland) for Villa Arson (Nice), Daria Blum (England) for CAPC (Bordeaux), Tom Cardew (Wales) for Frac Bretagne (Rennes, Bretagne), Charys Wilson (Northern Ireland) for Frac Grand Large (Dunkirk) and Elise Charcosset (Nouvelle Aquitaine) for Wysing Arts Centre (Cambridgshire, England), Maxime Voidy (Bretagne) for Aberystwyth Arts Centre (Aberystwyth, Wales), Laure Vigna (PACA) for Cove Park (Helensburgh, Scotland), and Francisco Rodriguez Teare (Hauts-de-France) for Flax Art Studios (Belfast, Northern Ireland).

These artists were selected based on the exceptional quality and significance of their research proposal, aligning with the residency's specific context, encompassing geography, history, society, and art. With their unique and clear perspectives, their research addresses critical questions related to the climate crisis, environmental studies, black social movements, the housing crisis, energy sustainability, and live performance.

The artists will commence their residencies in the autumn of 2023, receiving a monthly fee of 2500 euros for their 2 months stay, along with curatorial mentoring, accommodation, and access to workspace. Each residency will be tailormade in collaboration with the curatorial teams of the host institutions, providing ample networking opportunities for the artists.

Magnetic is the result of a successful collaboration between the Institut français du Royaume-Uni and the four UK arts funding agencies, joined by the British Council, the Institut français, French Ministry of Culture and French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs. Magnetic is produced under the umbrella of Fluxus Arts Projects, a charity founded and run by the Institut and supported by French and UK public partners and private donors. Over the past thirteen years, Fluxus Art Projects has become recognised as a champion of creative excellence for artists and venues, supporting exhibitions and curatorial research both in France and in the United Kingdom.