Picture Berlin, founded in 2009, is a four-week program designed for emerging artists working and using the medium of photography. Set in Berlin, a city renowned for both its tumultuous political history and its thriving contemporary art scene, this program gives participants an unparalleled opportunity to develop their individual portfolios while immersing themselves in Berlin's multifaceted culture. This unique artist-initiated program encourages participants to continue their individual approach to the photographic medium by offering close mentoring from internationally practicing artists. Picture Berlin is designed to be urban and mobile, actively encouraging the participants to use the city as a resource with a rich program of workshops exploring the city, visiting artists in their studios, lectures, tours and film evenings.

A rigorous studio practice forms the heart of Picture Berlin. Over the course of the program, participants attend workshops led by the Picture Berlin faculty, who are all working artists based in Berlin. Each week is rounded off by a group critique led by the faculty together with a selection of artists and art professionals. The program begins with an exhibition and also culminates in an exhibition of the work produced over the month.

Picture Berlin brings each participant directly into contact with the vibrant cultural scene in Berlin, offering an intense four-week insight into the international art world with the theme this year focusing on SUBCULTURE. The program leads the participants into the art scene through the backdoor, offering them access, information, and possibilities other institutionally based programs are unable to offer.


April Gertler
Director

A rigorous studio practice forms the heart of Picture Berlin. Because the program is mobile - using the city as a backdrop, the studio spaces available to participants also change yearly. A large studio space at Kuenstlerhaus Bethanien was available in July 2010 for the participants during the program. Each participant had space that included a desk, wall space and floor space where they could work. The studio space also functioned as a meeting room for the critiques which happened at end of each week, in addition to presentations by artists and film evenings. The studio space for 2011 is not fixed yet.

The participants show their work twice during the program. Once in the beginning and once in the end - giving the participants a chance to experience two very different types of exhibition spaces. The program starts off with an exhibition in a project space. The participants exhibit work that they have brought with them based on a pre-arrival assignment about their expectations of Berlin. The end of the program culminates in a 3 day exhibition in a formal white cube space. Each participant is responsible for making work that is presentable and fit for the final exhibition. Please go here for more information on our workshops.

Each week is choreographed around the theme of SUBCULTURE in Berlin by the invited faculty and includes a varying combination of lectures, film presentations, and guided tours through the city. A critique of work by invited artists and art professionals end each week. The theme gives the program an access point into the city.

Picture Berlin is as much about finding a way in a city that might be foreign to most as it is also about understanding the international art community. It is clear that connections are most easily made around a table with good food. Hence, preparing and eating food has an important role in Picture Berlin. The participants are encouraged to meet for various meals through the week.

The guest mid-career artist for the summer of 2011 is: Joachim Schmid (DE).
Joachim Schmid began his career in the early 1980s as a freelance critic and the publisher of Fotokritik, a German photography resource. In 1987 Schmid focused on his own art making, based primarily on found photography and public image sources. In recent years, his work has taken him to the Internet to create provocative works that reflect the future of photography in a networked, global culture. His work is included in major museum collections and he is a recipient of the prestigious Mondriaan Prize of Holland, and was awarded a Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung grant by the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung in 2004. Schmid lives and works in Berlin.
> Schmid's Website
> About Schmid on Lensculture

Berlin's dynamic gallery scene, always on the move, has shifting clusters of activity. In the 80's it was Charlottenburg, in the 90's it was Mitte and today the center of the scene is going through another metamorphosis. A big concentration of galleries are in Kreuzberg bordering with Mitte in addition to Schöneberg. There are over 750 galleries in Berlin and for a good overview see the free gallery guide Index.

Established galleries :

• Galerie Guido W. Baudach
• Galerie Berinson
• Galerie Mehdi Chouakri
• Galerie Max Hetzler
• Kicken Gallerie
• Klosterfelde
• Johann König Galerie
• Sprüth Magers
• Galerie Neu
• Neugerriemschneider
• Galerie Barbara Thumm
• Galerie Barbara Weiss
• Barbara Wien

Project spaces :

• After the Butcher
• Forgotten Bar
• General Public
• Invaliden1

• Boros Bunker
• C/O
• Checkpoint Charlie Museum
• Gemaldegalerie
• Martin-Gropius-Bau
• Deutsche Guggenheim
• Hamburger Bahnhof
• Holocaust Memorial
• Jewish Museum
• Kunst-Werke
• Neue Nationalgalerie
• Helmut Newton Foundation
• Sammlung Hoffmann
• Stasi Museum
• Wall Museum/Documentation Center

Projects are presented by artists in a concentrated week-long workshop format ending in a critique by invited artists, free-lance curators and artist professionals.

Joachim Schmid (DE). Joachim Schmid began his career in the early 1980s as a freelance critic and the publisher of Fotokritik, a German photography resource. In 1987 Schmid focused on his own art making, based primarily on found photography and public image sources. In recent years, his work has taken him to the Internet to create provocative works that reflect the future of photography in a networked, global culture. His work is included in major museum collections and he is a recipient of the prestigious Mondriaan Prize of Holland, and was awarded a Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung grant by the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung in 2004. Schmid lives and works in Berlin.
> Schmid's Website
> About Schmid on Lensculture

Ivan Seal (GB) Ivan Seal works with installation using a diverse range of constructed and found materials. These have in the past included, drawings, a club full of empty beer bottles, low end base sine waves, dirt, chewing gum, crucifixes, mdf massaged with lead powder, oil paintings, quadraphonic sound systems, home made bongs, stochastic processed noise, a wasps nest and cigarette butts. Born in 1973 in Manchester, England, Ivan is currently preparing exhibitions for Berkeley Art Museum, Centre Européen d’Actions Artistiques Contemporaines, Strasbourg and is represented by Novembro Arte Contempoanea Sau Paulo.
> website

The workshops consist of lectures, technical presentations, discussions, guided tours, screenings, ending with weekly critiques. Accompanying the 3 workshops, Picture Berlin participants are engaged in a series of explorations of the city based on the theme SUBCULTURE.

A full description of the Summer 2010 program will be available soon.

The application deadline : 8 April 2011
The session date : 30 June - 31 July 2011
The program fee is 3,650 Euros.

Included in the program fee :

• Weekly organized lectures, meetings, presentations, critiques, workshops and film programs
• Shared accommodations in apartments
• Shared studio
• The Picture Berlin Handbook
• 3 German basic language classes
• Museum and site visits
• 2 Exhibitions
• Transportation costs within the city of Berlin for the month
• Mobile phone or chip card if needed (some restrictions could apply)

The requirements for participation in this program are :

• The minimum age of 18
• Experience in photography
• A laptop and camera (digital or analogue)
• A valid passport that is valid for 6 months after the date of return

If you are a US citizen you do not need a visa if you plan to stay the length of the program (1 month). If you are not a US citizen you should contact your consulate to find out further information. If you are a US citizen and plan to stay in Germany longer than 90 days you need to contact the US Consulate and find out about a obtaining a visa.

Although it is helpful to speak German to participate in this program, it is not required.

The maximum number of participants for one session is 13 and the minimum number of participants is 5.

Here is a general list of books and films that are about Berlin and Germany to help get a feel for the city and the country.
Suggested reading list :

• Alone in Berlin, Hans Fallada
• A Woman in Berlin : Eight Weeks in the Conquered City, Anonymous
• A Women's Berlin : Building the Modern City, Despina Stratigakos
• After the Wall : Confessions from an East German Childhood and the Life that Came Next, Jana Hensel
• Berlin Blues, Sven Regener
• Berlin childhood around 1900, Walter Benjamin
• Goodbye to Berlin, Christopher Isherwood
• Russian Disco, Wladimir Kaminer
• Stasiland, Anna Funder
• The Fall of Berlin 1945, Anton Beevor
• The Ghosts of Berlin, Brian Ladd
• The Wall Jumper, Peter Schneider
• Weimer Germany : Promise and Tradegy, Eric D. Weitz

Suggested film list:

• Berlin Alexanderplatz, Directed by Rainer Werner Fassbinder, (1980)
• Cabaret, Directed by Bob Fosse (1972)
• Christinae F. - The Children from Bahnhof Zoo, Directed by Uli Edel (1981)
• Goodbye Lenin !, Directed by Wolfgang Becker, (2003)
• Herr Lehmann, Directed by Leander Haussmann, (2003)
• Run Lola Run, Directed by Tom Tykwer, (1998)
• Sommer vorm Balkon, Directed by Andreas Dresen, (2005)
• The Life of Others (Das Leben der Anderen), Directed by Florian Henckel (2006)
• Wings of Desire (Himmel über Berlin), Directed by Wim Wenders, (1987)

Please download the application form after January 2011.
There is no application fee.

What does the program fee include ?
The program fee includes; shared accommodations in an apartment, studio space, weekly organized lectures, meetings, presentations, critiques, workshops and film programs, The Picture Berlin Handbook, 3 days of a basic German language course, museum and site visits, and transportation costs for the month.

What is not included in the program fee ?
It is essential that participants bring their own laptops and cameras - analogue and/or digital. In addition, all participants should bring the equipment that supports their working practice.

What if I don't have Skype set up on my computer for the interview ?
If you don't have Skype, we can also arrange to do a phone interview. But Skype, with the video function is advisable because it gives us all a chance to get to know one another just a little bit. Skype is free. You can download it at www.skype.com.

Is there a pay plan that I can use ?
We are working on creating a pay plan but at this time the entire cost of the program must be received before you arrive.

How can payment for the program be made ? Can I use a credit card ?
We love Paypal because they don't charge enormous fees for money transfers ! It is our preferred from of payment, however we also accept International Bank Transfers or an International money order. Personal checks are not accepted, and Credit may be used through Paypal.

Can I get a refund if I want to leave before the end of the program ?
Although you are welcome to leave the program if you feel it is not working for you, regrettably we can not give any refunds at any time after holding your place in the program.

Are my airfare and food costs covered in the fee of the program ?
Airfare or other transportation to and from Picture Berlin are the sole responsibility of the participant. Each participant must also pay for their own meals while in Berlin.

Can I participate in part of the program ?
When you accept admission to Picture Berlin you are committing to the full term of the session. Because the program is very intense and is not only about your personal experience but also the common experience you have with the other participants it is not advisable to leave the program midway through.
We are developing shorter versions of this program. If you are interested, just contact us and we will be more than happy to give you more information.

How will my health insurance be affected ?
It is necessary for you to find out from your personal health care provider what if any additional charges apply while you are abroad. Each provider has different coverage. If you need assistance with this matter please contact us for information about international health care coverage.

Are there accommodations for students with disabilities ?
We are reviewing situations on a case by case basis, therefore please contact us if you need assistance with this particular issue.

Do I have to speak German to do this program ?
Speaking German is not required to attend the program. To assist in your general acclimation to the German culture we have arranged for a language trainer to provide a 3 basic lessons during the first week you arrive.

Can I get course credit at my college or university for this program ?
Picture Berlin is not directly affiliated with any art academies or universities. It may be possible for participants to receive college credit for Picture Berlin, however this process must be initiated by the individual student and we will help facilitate this in any way we can.

Will there be any equipment provided ?
Picture Berlin is about using the city as a resource. No equipment provided. We are here to help assist you in finding the best places and prices for working prints, exhibition quality prints and / or equipment rental when and if you are in need. We look forward to working with you as your projects develop and to help you find the best way to realize your work. As a result it is essential that each participant come equipped with a laptop computer and their favorite camera.

Are there labs that can develop analogue film in Berlin ?
There are plenty of labs throughout the city that can develop black and white and color film. Many labs have a 2 to 3 hour turn around. There are also many rental darkrooms available if you are interested in printing your own prints. Please note that most labs are not open on Sundays. The Picture Berlin Handbook has been created to be your guide to all the labs you might need while you are here during the residency.

Will my electronic equipment work in Germany ?
It will work but you will need to have a voltage adapter. If you are coming from the States, American voltage is normally 120 volts and German voltage is 220 volts. It is recommended that you get an adapter that is also a surge protector for your computer - but bring an extra adaptor for your mobile phone, or any other electronic equipment you might want to bring with you.

Do I have to do the project assignments ?
Yes, it is a part of the program to participate fully in the structure of the program. Therefore the assignments will also help you with ideas and thoughts about assembling a body of work for the final show. How you interpret the assignments are of course up to you.

What can I gain from this program that other programs wouldn't be able to give me ?
Picture Berlin is a unique chance to experience the international artistic community from the inside. The focus of the program is to have a feeling of what it is like to experience art and discussions about art in a context that might be new and unfamiliar to you, with people you do not know. The challenges of considering your artistic practice and simultaneously being exposed to cultural differences is an enriching experience which can further your work in leaps and bounds that might be astonishing. Participants create a portfolio ready for presentation after the program is completed, and have exhibition experience ready to put on their artist resumes. Also, each participant will gain insight in the way the European art scene works, ranging from an overview of the European artist residency network, to how to prepare a portfolio. You’ll also engage in discussions on contemporary art and gain a basic understanding of artistic practice happening in Europe today.

Although we are unable to offer full financial assistance, we are offering the chance for one participant to do the 2011 program at a reduced rate of 3,000 euros. This will be awarded to one participant based on their demonstrated need. Please email us for more information. We are looking forward to offering more financial aid in the future.

If you need assistance with funding we would like to recommend these sites :

• Mira's List
• DAAD
• Re-title
• Transartists

All donations and support will go directly into creating and maintaining scholarships for future participants of Picture Berlin. Any donation is welcome. Please contact us for further information.

You can donate via PayPal by using our email address : pictureberlin@gmail.com

Thank you in advance for your support !
April Gertler

Many thanks to Monochrom who sponsored the frames for Picture Berlin's Summer 2010 final exhibition, Last Call.

Picture Berlin
April Gertler
Kopenhagenerstrasse 4
10437 Berlin, Germany
+49 177 617 1652
info@pictureberlin.org


Photography Credit :
Charlie Jouvet : About, Support
Christian Schlicht : Overview, Faculty, Workshops, Program Information, FAQ's, Contact
April Gertler : Summer 2010, Application, Financial Assistance

Logo : Dani Gal
Website : Charlie Jouvet