SPRING 2019

DECELERATOR RETREATS

SPRING 2019 DECELERATOR RETREATS

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Applications are now closed for the 2019 Spring Decelerator Program. Please subscribe to our newsletter to find out about future residency opportunities, and meet the 2019 Spring Decelerator cohort here.

The Strange’s “Decelerator” is a new retreat/residency hybrid offering Creative Internet People* the chance to do some focused reading, writing, and laptopping from a beautiful location in the Catskills.

Rather than emphasizing the making of new work, this program emphasizes the value of refueling and reflecting in order to gain strategic perspective on your larger vision. This April and May, one- to two-week residencies will be offered to imaginative and forward-looking creative practitioners whose work tends to be ambitious and, in a word, “strange”—radical, speculative, shifting, multi-faceted, non-binary, technically inventive, and perhaps ahead of its time. It is an invitation to step outside—both outside of your day-to-day life, and outside, literally, into the forest—and to be online in a more expansive space.

*Creative Internet People = an improvised term for those artists, curators, writers, designers, researchers, technologists, etc, who generally find it hard to articulate their “vocation,” but for whom the internet and/or computers play a central role in their work.

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PROGRAM INFORMATION

PROGRAM INFORMATION

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What the Decelerator program is

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• A free-of-cost, short-term residency/retreat hybrid in the Catskills for individuals or collaborative groups of up to 3 people. All residents will be provided with a comfortable space to live and work in. Residency dates and durations are flexible, but will generally last between one and two weeks, and will take place in April and May of 2019.

• A chance to devote a nice chunk of focused time to researching, reflecting, brainstorming, strategizing, and pushing ahead on a long-term creative undertaking. This opportunity is best suited for those working to evolve an ambitious project into its next phase.

• A reprieve and an oasis of positive energy. Strange HQ is a peaceful, tranquil space where respect and inclusivity are of paramount importance. All residents should expect to contribute to the shared Strange HQ experience by being open, generous, respectful, and caring—of the space and of each other.

What the Decelerator program isn't

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• An established program—spring 2019 is our first season! We are looking to host self-sufficient residents who are open to giving feedback on the in-development program, and who like the idea of being a part of something that's still coming together.

• An extremely social experience. Decelerator residencies will overlap in many cases, and there will often be 3+ residents at Strange HQ at a time. When this is the case, some shared dinners/excursions may be offered. However, residents should plan to enjoy some alone time while here.

What's included

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• Free lodging in one of our inviting and fully-equipped, wifi-enriched spaces: either the Studio House, Lily of the Valley cabin, or the Barn Loft (see the section below for additional accommodation information). All accommodations come with  comfortable necessities like linens, towels, shampoo, tea, etc. Computer monitors, keyboards, and some other technical equipment can be loaned out as needed.

• On-site creative encouragement. 1:1 mentorship sessions are available from Willa, the program's director, who is an experienced creative strategist, editor, problem solver, and superconnector. Daniel, The Strange's co-founder, will also be available for technical consultations on topics ranging from web technologies and personal computing to blockchains.

What's not included

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• Transportation. Strange HQ is a 2.5-hour drive north of NYC, and is best accessed by car. If you do not have access to a car, we are happy to help you with alternative travel arrangements, and pending our schedules, can pick you up from the nearby Phoenicia Trailways bus stop.

• Meals/groceries. All Strange HQ lodging includes access to a kitchen, and you should expect to prepare your own food while here. There is a grocery store a 10-minute drive away, as well as plenty of great restaurants in the area. Residents are also welcome to plan group meals together and cook in the communal barn kitchen.

• Dedicated studio space. We aim to specifically support creative practitioners with computer-and-internet-centric practices, and while there is plenty of table, desk, and couch space, private art studios are not offered. Residents should plan to bring all of the supplies and equipment they'd like to use while here.


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RESIDENCY ACCOMMODATIONS

RESIDENCY ACCOMODATIONS

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BARN WORKSPACE + LOFT

BARN WORKSPACE + LOFT

The Strange Barn has a large communal working/living space, a kitchen, and a bathroom on the first floor, which all residents will have access to. Upstairs, there is an open sleeping loft that accommodates up to three residents, which will be prioritized for collaborative groups, or for those who don't mind sharing a space.

The Strange Barn has a large communal working/living space, a kitchen, and a bathroom on the first floor, which all residents will have access to. Upstairs, there is an open sleeping loft that accommodates up to three residents, which will be prioritized for collaborative groups, or for those who don't mind sharing a space.

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STUDIO HOUSE

The Studio House is a quiet, private space for one resident to live and work in. It has a living and dining area, kitchen, desk space, wood stove and bathroom on the first floor, and a lofted bedroom upstairs, accessed by a spiral staircase. There is a stream that trickles by outside.

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LILY CABIN

Lily of the Valley is a 100-year-old hunting lodge. Downstairs it has a living and dining room, a kitchen, a bathroom, and french doors out to a wrap-around porch. Upstairs is a large bedroom, library, and desk space. Outside there is a stone fire pit and meditation garden. Lily will be prioritized for residents who may need to travel with family.

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For more info on the Strange HQ spaces and surroundings, see here.

For more info on the Strange HQ spaces and surroundings, see here.

For more info on the Strange HQ spaces and surroundings, see here.

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TIMELINE

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February 15: Applications due

End of February: Selected applicants notified

April and May, 2019: Flexible one- or two-week residencies take place

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SELECTION COMMITTEE

SELECTION COMMITTEE

SELECTION COMMITTEE

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A wonderful group of friends of The Strange has agreed to help select the inaugural group of Decelerator residents:

Lindsay

Lindsay Howard is an independent curator specializing in how the internet is shaping art and culture. She produced the 50th anniversary of the Experiments in Art and Technology program between Nokia Bell Labs and the New Museum. Currently, she manages Creator Initiatives at Kickstarter.

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Taeyoon Choi is an artist, educator, and activist. He co-founded the School for Poetic Computation, and has been a fellow at Data and Society Research Institute and EYEBEAM Art and Technology Center, among others. He's currently working on the Distributed Web of Care, and on research that takes a critical approach to technology, ethics, justice, and the concept of personhood.

Steph

Stephanie Pereira is the Director of NEW INC, the first museum-led incubator launched to support entrepreneurial creative practitioners working in the areas of art, technology, and design. Previously, she directed Creator Engagement at Kickstarter, and was the Associate Director of Learning & Engagement at Eyebeam.

alfredo

Alfredo Salazar-Caro is a multimedia artist whose work exists at the intersection of installation, documentary, virtual reality, and sculpture. Alfredo co-founded the Digital Museum of Digital Art, a project that functions as a virtual institution and exhibition platform dedicated to the promotion and distribution of new media art.

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DECELERATOR FAQs

DECELERATOR FAQs

DECELERATOR FAQs

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Is there an expectation around what I will work on or accomplish during the residency?

We expect Decelerator residents to work on strategic planning, project-related research, and other work that will help you slow down and make progress towards your overall creative vision. We understand that having the chance to unwind in a natural setting may encourage you to step away from your work at times, too, and this is fully encouraged! At the culmination of your time here, you will not be expected to present a completed project; however, we are looking to work with participants individually to document some of their progress in a new Strange HQ publication.

Wait, my work might be documented in a publication? What does that mean?

We are developing an experimental publication with an open-source mindset to share Decelerator participants' progress in ways that may help other creative practitioners take steps towards realizing their own long-term visions. We hope to work with this first round of program participants to develop the format of this publication, but of course will respect your privacy and work with you directly to determine what you'd be comfortable contributing.

If my application is accepted, how will the dates and duration for my residency be determined?

If you are offered a residency, we will work with you to individually coordinate the timing of your stay. Most residencies will last between one and two weeks, and will take place in April or May of 2019.

How will applications be reviewed?

All applications will first be considered by the program's director, and then a group of finalists will be reviewed by a selection committee (details above). We will prioritize diversity and inclusiveness when reviewing applications.

Does this residency cost money to participate in?

No, it is a free residency—meaning accommodations and participation in the program are fully covered. Residents will need to cover the costs of their own food, travel, and supplies while here.

Is there a stipend available for those who need help covering residency-related costs, such as travel and groceries?

Yes, a stipend of up to $300 is available to help cover travel and other costs—you can apply for it as part of the Decelerator application. We are committed to making this an inclusive program.

Is this residency accessible to those with limited mobility?

Unfortunately at this time, Strange HQ spaces are not accessible to those with limited mobility. We hope to improve accessibility in the future.

When will I know if I've been accepted?

We plan to notify selected applicants by the end of February.

For any questions not addressed above, you may reach out to [email protected].

For any questions not addressed above, you may reach out to [email protected].

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"The Strange's Decelerator residency is about slowing down and focusing, and in this sense it provided me with a much-needed 'breather' to be alone with my writing. It gives you the time and the space to not just think, but to be—something that can be hard to do in any other residency or space. It was one of my favorite residency experiences I've ever had."

Researcher and artist Caroline Sinders

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