ARCO FOCUS FINLAND

 Amongst the main priorities for Matadero Madrid is the promotion of creation both of work and knowledge. Matadero aims to be a living and changing space that adapts to the challenges and issues of the present. As of 2011, the El Ranchito programme aims to promote shared work focused on artistic experimentation and reflection on contemporary art, based upon premises that contemplate interdisciplinarity, the creation of specific art projects, the generation of collective meaning, community building, processes and the efficient use of resources.   In 2013, this programme expanded toward the so-called El Ranchito Residencies offering workspaces and residences for artists, architects, curators, thinkers and other cultural producers.   During these residencies, artists from diverse disciplines and nationalities unite their individual work with the creation of an artistic community in a shared open space in Nave 16 at Matadero Madrid. These residencies are structured into three defined periods that vary between six weeks and three months of joint residency; followed by a public presentation of the artistic results from this cohabitation. These calls are international in scope and make it possible for local and international creators, in addition to taking advantage of workspace, to interconnect with each other, thereby favouring the mobility and internationalisation of local creators. The objective, not limited only to local artists developing their creations side by side with international artists in the heart of Matadero Madrid, is also to - through strategic alliances - enable these artists to travel to other international residency centres through these projects.   As a result of ARCO Focus Finland, Matadero Madrid will take in four Finnish artists, architects, curators, art critics, etc. who will cohabit alongside four national artists, architects, curators, art critics, etc.   These creators have been selected in advance by a Matadero Madrid curator and others from FRAME Finland, and will work following a reading-group format aided by a text, which will be used throughout the residency as a common theme. After living together at the Matadero Madrid, the artists will take this experience to the HIAP residency space in Helsinki.

The results from this period may be seen from 17 February as they will be publicly presented.

More information at the El Ranchito blog: http://elranchitomadrid.wordpress.com/

 Produced by: Matadero Madrid, AECID, Instituto Iberoamericano de Finlandia, FRAME Visual Art Finland and HIAP Finland

In colaboration with: ARCO and The Finish Embassy