Rural Residency for Contemporary Art
RUC
IN SIMPLICITATE LIBERTAS
WHO WE ARE
RUC is an international artist residency project, welcoming artists, musicians and writers from all over the world.
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RUC supports multicultural dialogue and interdisciplinary exchange between international artists and local traditions in a rural dimension that offers artistic time in solitude and exchanges between peers. Sited in a remote location, RUC's isolated beauty is the ideal environment for intellectual work and creates optimal conditions for concentration and creativity, international exchange, friendship, and mutual understanding.
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RUC is also the ancient name given by locals to our estate and means terraced garden on the rocks.
OUR VALUES
Discovering rural life
Cross-cultural understanding
International exchange
OUR MISSION
RUC believes that experiencing the ancestral magic of rural life in the Alps may enhance inspiration and support creativity through reconnecting artists to the natural world and to their genuine self.
WHERE WE ARE
RUC is located in the Italian Alps, in Lombardy, in the Valcamonica valley. Milan is 1 hour and 30 minutes away by car or public transport. The international airport of Milan Orio al Serio can be reached in 40 minutes.
OUR HERITAGE
Because of the uniqueness of its prehistoric engravings carved in the rocks, Valcamonica was the first Italian site to be listed among UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1979.
On the southern side, the valley flows into the beautiful lake Iseo where the breathtaking fishing island Montisola was chosen in 2016 by Christo for his installation The Floating Piers. On the nothern side, the valley is topped by the largest glacier of the Italian Alps, the Adamello National Park.
RUC is located very near to prominent Roman archaeological sites, and the nearest villages count an ancient Roman open air theatre and the ruins of a temple dedicated to the goddess Minerva.
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During the Second World War these mountains witnessed some of the most crucial battles of the Italian Resistance against Fascism. The history of RUC is indissolubly intertwined with those events.
OUR ESTATE
RUC is a private estate on the ills that hosts a tiny rural community immersed in vineyards and woods.
On the property there are five country houses creating a spiritual hamlet. Among these, Casa Mia, an ancient rural mansion restored with the creativity of a contemporary artwork, is the seat of our no-profit and Villa Amati, an early XX century characteristic villa, is the vacation home where our artists can enjoy priority for their accommodation.
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All RUC artists will enjoy full use of the property and all of its amenities, gardens, courtyards, and common spaces.
OUR VINEYARDS
We are grateful and proud of Agricola Vallecamonica that greatly manages our vineyards. Residents can discover more on the production thanks to tastings and workshops with the winemaker in person.
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A UNIQUE STORY
RUC's special climate conditions have incredibly preserved its vineyards from phylloxera: today our vineyard is older than one hundred years and it is one of the rare varieties in Europe not grafted onto American vines.
The wine production uses the depths of several nearby Alpine lakes as cellars to create a simply unique wine in taste and history.
OUR RESIDENCY PROGRAM
Art, Archaeology, History, and Craftsmanship
Nature and Wilderness Discovery
International Dialogue
IN SIMPLICITATE LIBERTAS
'In Simplicitate Libertas' is RUC's exclusive 1 week residency retreat during which a small group of selected international artists will experience the ancestral magic of rural life in a small community.
During the residency, in addition to focused studio and en-plein air time, workshops and cultural trips will be organized to discover the main historical-artistic treasures of the area. The week will culminate in a pop-up art exhibition event at the Galleria Caffè del Corso to showcase residents' work created during the residency.
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The residency session last 1 week, and always start on Wednesdays. Participants may make special arrangements with RUC to stay longer if desired on an individual residency stay.
Guests are welcome and do not need to be artists.
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This residency is an extraordinary opportunity to visit one of the most beautiful regions of Italy and invigorate your creativity by interacting with other artists, with history and with nature!
INTERNATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS
Since 2019, Crit Lab by artist Patricia Miranda, is bringing groups of artists from the USA to experience a special residency program between the Venice Biennale and RUC.
Check out the Crit Lab RUC 2024 program online.
Started in the summer 2022, the partnership with the Misztal von Blechinger Foundation, based in Poland and operating in the Italian Alps, encompasses restorations and maintenance of RUC’s buildings and exhibition projects in Italy and abroad.
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RUC Alumni are prioritized to submit a proposal for a show at the Future Tense Gallery in Minneapolis (Minnesota, USA), founded by artist Eyenga Bokamba.
In the summer 2023, RUC announced a new partnership with the Boynes Emerging Artists Award. Based in Australia, the award was created in 2019 to support, promote, connect and most of all give opportunities to emerging artists all around the world, enhancing the profile of young and/or undiscovered talent.
RUC has proudly hosted the winning artists of the 7th edition of the prize for a 1 month long residency in August 2023.
OUR OPEN STUDIO
For all artists attending a residency at RUC, we also offer the opportunity of renting our ‘Open Studio’ at a subsidized rate: a spacious bright working room in the Caffè del Corso Art Gallery, located in the village of Cividate Camuno and reachable in walking distance from RUC.
This would also be the location for a pop-up opening event to present your works at the end of the residency.
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RUC’s partner art gallery, the Galleria Caffè del Corso, is located in walking distance from the residency and dedicated to RUC’s Alumni and to other international artists who may wish to join the project. The gallery hosts artists talks and art presentations at the end of the residency periods at RUC, and also personal and group exhibitions.
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APPLICATION
SUMMER 2025
The residency is open worldwide to visual artists, musicians, and writers.
Applications are accepted every year on a rolling basis for residency periods from May to October (1-2 weeks).
Please provide the following: artist statement, résumé, and a link to your website or social media.
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Our committment in supporting our artists is ongoing, and we are delighted to suggest you to check funding opportunities at the Lighton International Artists Exchange Program.
We are happy to assist artists seeking grants or other forms of funding in their home country or institution, by providing an invitation letter when a candidate is accepted.
Fotoshootings at RUC are possible for those artists wishing to document their residency time and/or the art works created.
Please contact our partner photographer Andrea Ferro for more information and prices.
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We welcome artists from all over the world, and encourage foreign applicants by helping them with all logistical matters.
For artists travelling extensively throughout the country, we are happy to recommend a stop-over at our family Agriturismo Podere Amati near Bologna, on the main highway and railway hub between southern to northern Italy.
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Thank you!
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RUCÂ is a member of the most prestigious networks of international Artists Residencies worldwide
