The goals of the Residency Exchange Program for artists and curators between Armenia (ACSL) and Bulgaria (Art Today Association) is to counteract the imbalance of artistic exchange through residencies between Eastern and Western European countries but also between the regions of Black Sea, ergo Bulgaria, Moldavia, Georgia and Armenia.

Through artistic excellence and interdisciplinary cooperation, realized in artist and curator residencies, the project brings genuine attention to and develops an ongoing dialog, resulting in concrete public projects such as exhibitions, publications and workshops. Organized in context of the different national art scenes, the project gives a very modest tribute to the enlargement and openness of the contemporary art world in Europe. Furthermore, the residency program offers to the artists and curators a concrete opportunity to increase the professional relations through studio visits and meetings with local art scenes.

The residency program is separated in two consecutive modules: in a first step, a curators´
exchange is organized by both participating countries. During their residency, the curators do a profound research on the local art scene. Finally, they suggest an artist from the visited country for a residency in their country of origin. Thus, a sustainable cross-border exchange of artistic and curatorial knowledge and experience is guaranteed.

The first residency exchange between Armenia and Bulgaria was initiated by ACSL at the International Artist-in-Residence program “Art Commune” with hosting Jakob Racek – curator and cultural manager from Art Today Association – in April 2011.

The reciprocal curatorial residency of Susanna Gyulamiryan – curator, director of ACSL – at the ATA Center for Contemporary Art in Plovdiv took place in September 2011.

In October 2011, the following curatorial residency at the “Art Commune” Residency program took place. Emil Mirazchiev – curator and director of the ATA Center for Contemporary Art in Plovdiv – was hosted at the ACSL.