THE ART OF THE ICON

About the Open Call

A 14-day Athens artist residency focussing on Byzantine art and the concept of the icon. The Art Of The Icon is a residency and video / comics / narrative project for visual artists, jewelers, crafters, designers, filmmakers, performers, art theorists, curators, academics who wish to explore Athens’ medieval and Byzantine cultural traditions that still live on. The Art Of The Icon residency program initiates participants in understanding how to read, and be inspired by, the icon tradition, and explains concepts of time, space, eternity, providence, and divine union embedded in the visual language of Orthodox art. Byzantine art, a highly conceptual art created by a combination of mastering ancient techniques and preparing the artist’s body and mind for creative contemplation, is widely unknown to the West. Icon are intellectual and emotional bridges to the invisible world, while the sacred space becomes a stage for performing rituals of bonding between past, present and future. The Art Of The Icon residency program includes an online introductory course into Byzantine art history, and its significance for contemporary conceptual art, Pop Art and major modern art movements, guided visits at Unesco sites, museums and Byzantine monuments, individual tips on Athens' secret addresses, a narrative, comics and video workshop in Athens, as well as curatorial and editorial advice for the realization of a creative video or comics or narrative. Participants’ videos that will be inspired by the residency program will be screened at Schmuck 2025/Jewelry Week of Munich 2025, while the comics or narrative will be published in SMCK Magazine. Residents’ work inspired by the The Art Of The Icon will also be promoted through press and social media.

What is Offered

The residency program includes accommodation, guided tours in Athens and Eleusis designed for artists, three workshops on storytelling, communication and video, as well as an online introduction on Greek heritage and on the importance of interdisciplinary approach for the artist’s work promotion. Videos created by the residents will be presented during SMCK ON REEL 2025 at Schmuck Munich. Services included: Online introduction before arrival: The world of Eastern Roman Empire (aka Byzantine Empire) and its culture. 14 days / 13 nights accommodation in (central) Athens. Workshops: support and advice for developing a narrative / script / comics / video: 1. Shooting a video: Narrative and storytelling. 2. Performance practice. Plot and performance. 3. Canalizing inspiration in new work. New formats of presentation and promotion. A guided city tour plus visit at Unesco sites, museums and art venues: 1. Trip to Elefsina: Ancient and Byzantine monuments. 2. Curated visit to the Byzantine Museum of Athens. 3. Curated visit to National Archaeological Museum of Athens. Athens city tour: Byzantine treasures and monuments. Three optional presentation formats: a) Participation in SMCK On Reel video festival b) Comics or narrative to be published in the digital/print medium SMCK Magazine. c) Publication in the digital/print medium SMCK Magazine.

Requirements

Disciplines: Artists who work in the field of jewelry, object, design, sculpture, installation, performance, video, photography, textile art, ceramics, as well as filmmakers, crafters, art theorists, researchers, curators are encouraged to apply. Artists must be at least 30 years old. Residency duration: 14 days (13 nights).

How to Apply

Email your application with cover letter introducing yourself and stating your incentive to participate in The Art Of The Icon residency project. Include your bio/CV and website/blog or instagram or 6–8 images of your work. Application deadline is Sunday, 3 August 2025.