Good management practices to involve the State and the national institutions of the residents
Rodrigo Mirto, co-founder of Residencia Corazón, provides valuable perspective on the management practices, as well as his thoughts on involving the state and national institutions in supporting their initiatives.
With a focus on fostering collaboration and providing exposure for artists, Residencia Corazón has become a valuable platform for cultural exchange in La Plata and beyond. Rodrigo Mirto explains the artist selection process at Residencia Corazón, stating, "The artists apply through a form that we send them or that they download from our website, and from there we select the projects that are viable." He further elaborates on the selection process, saying, "In general, the selection is done with my partner, with my partner and other artists who work secondarily in the space, with curators, and well, there is a coordinator who also helps us with the selection." This collaborative approach ensures a diverse and inclusive range of artists are chosen for the residency.
Regarding the inclusion of open studios, Mirto emphasizes their importance, stating, "We do open studios where it is prior to the exhibition that we agree with them. We like to open the space to the public at the end of the residency, so that it is not enclosed in the space, but rather has a public opening where people can come and get to know the artist and his work." He further adds, "And previously, we do a talk in an open studio with the artist that somehow promotes the exhibition that comes later." These events create a sense of accessibility and engagement, enhancing the overall experience for both the artists and the public.
Rodrigo Mirto also highlights the impact of Residencia Corazón on the local community, stating, "For our city, as a resident of La Plata, I think it is a very enriching project because not everyone has the opportunity to see an artist from New York, to give the example of the artist we have now or to know him, and that are working in another part of the world.”
While acknowledging the success of Residencia Corazón, the founder recognizes the need for improvements in the residency sector, stating, "It would be interesting to improve the residency system, perhaps it does not depend on us." He continues, "I think it depends on the State or the Government to have an idea to see how to work together, to look for allies being companies or the State itself to finance and simplify the economic support, which is the problem of practically all residencies." Mirto believes that with the support and involvement of the state, as well as embassies, the residency system can be significantly enhanced. He states, "I believe that yes, with an accompaniment from the State, it would be much better, also from the embassies to participate. I think it would be a good help if the country of the artist who comes would participate because not only we feel alone, those who direct the residencies, but also the artist who visits us, comes individually. So, yes, it would be very good to get the support of their embassy.”
Residencia Corazón stands as a model for successful artist residency programs. Rodrigo Mirto's insights into their selection process and the importance of public events highlight their commitment to fostering artistic collaboration. Furthermore, his call for increased involvement from the state and embassies emphasizes the need for financial support and a stronger network of international collaboration. By working hand-in-hand with state institutions and national entities, Residencia Corazón would be able to thrive and create meaningful opportunities for artists from around the world.
