AWARE: Archives of Women Artists, Research and Exhibitions, with the support of artist Manuel Mathieu, is launching the second edition of the Marie-Solanges Apollon programme with the goal of giving visibility to women artists from the Black Atlantic, from the 19th century to today. AWARE proposes a three-month residency at the Villa Vassilieff, Paris, from 1 April to 30 June 2025.
This programme is named after Marie-Solanges Apollon, Manuel Mathieu’s grandmother, who was a Black immigrant woman living in Canada and a true potomitan. This polysemous creole term comes from the Haitian Vodou traditions and refers to a person, often a woman, who is the central pillar of their home, family, and community. The eponymous residency is an homage to her and to the women whose lives have historically been kept in the shadows.
The Marie-Solanges Apollon programme seeks to encourage research that highlights the artistic practices of women in transcultural situations related to the Black Atlantic, according to Paul Gilroy, or to the Global South. Special attention will be given to propositions that focus on performance art by women artists from Africa and of African descent.
Projects that are part of a re-reading of art history through archival excavation, curatorial, academic, or community-based research will be particularly appreciated.
During the residency, the resident will be invited to host a meeting at the Villa Vassilieff (conference/round table/masterclass) to present their research work. At the end of the residency, they will be expected to provide a research article which will be published on the AWARE website.
The programme provides:
- Accommodation and studio
- Round trip ticket between the place of residence and Paris
- Living allowance of 1,000 EUR/month
