ALLOCATION POLICY

  • Allocation panel
  • Target Group
  • Criteria
  • Waiting List
  • Allocation
  • Moving on

  • In 2003 we wrote the first version of our present allocation policy with the aim of allocating studios objectively and transparently. This policy was updated in 2015.

    We must say straight away that the allocation of a workspace is always specific to each applicant. In addition, an allocation policy is never finished. It evolves with the organisation and available studio spaces.

Allocation panel

We have appointed an independent advisory panel of experts from the visual arts sector who assess the individual dossiers and ultimately allocate the workspaces.

This panel comprises a minimum of 3 members, at least one of whom is an artist and at least one at work in higher art education or employed by a museum or gallery.

The current members of the panel are Liene Aerts (KASK), Isolde Vanhee (LUCA Arts) and Robin Vermeersch (artist who works at LUCA Arts).

Target Group

First and foremost NUCLEO focuses on visual artists. In exceptional cases other artistic disciplines, creative entrepreneurs and cultural organisations can also acquire a workspace. 

NUCLEO’s target group consists of professional visual artists: people whose intention is to perform their artistic activities in a professional capacity, in other words to build up an artistic career and if possible to derive their income from it. In any case, priority goes to visual artists.

NUCLEO’s intention is to focus especially on artists who are just starting out. It is from recently graduated artists that the greatest demand for workspace comes, since after their training they lose the studio they have been used to at college. What is more, their financial position at the start of their artistic caeer is particularly precarious. But for the synergy it creates and their exemplary role it is important that a building also accommodates more experienced artists. 

Nucleo also offers places to collectives engaged in mutual collaboration in terms of artistic production, reflection and/or presentations and hybrid art forms. 

Other artistic disciplines (performing arts, literature, etc.) can also exceptionally take accommodation in our buildings when the facilities lend themselves specifically to this purpose. 

Creative entrepreneurs can only be accommodated in NUCLEO’s studios if they work on artistic foundations and not purely commercially. 

Cultural organisations can also apply to NUCLEO if their work is related to NUCLEO’S outlook and is able to offer added value for the artists in residence. Organisations with purely commercial objectives do not qualify. 

Criteria

Visual artists: The artist’s practice must be based on a contemporary frame of reference where elements of research and reflection occupy a significant position in the artistic process. The works of art may be in a variety of media, and must display an intrinsic expressive power. It is the expressive quality of the work that takes priority, not the aesthetic aspect or the mastery of a technique. 

Creative entrepreneurs: The entrepreneur’s practice must operate on the basis of an artistic vision in which elements of experiment, research and exploration play an important part. This results in high-quality work that is not purely functional, but also incorporates a strong artistic component.

Cultural organisations: The organisation must operate on the basis of an artistic vision and have artistic objectives, or objectives that are in line with NUCLEO’s activities. The organisation must offer added value to NUCLEO in the form of possible presentations by or collaboration with resident artists.

The quality of work, the artist’s motivation and professionalism of artistic practice are of decisive importance in the assessment. For this reason we evaluate the prospects for development. Concrete plans for artistic creations may also play a part.

An admissible application consists of:

  • artistic CV
  • visual documentation
  • written context for the work (max. 500 words);
  • information regarding personal motivation for the application and what the studio will be used for

Your CV should contain the most important information about your artistic practice with an emphasis on the last 2 to 3 years. Lists of exhibitions (solo or group shows), events, commissions, awards, publications, sales etc., mentioning dates. Also state any extracurricular activities such as lectureships, advisory and committee functions.

The visual documentation should be at least 20 pictures of your work from the last 2 to 4 years, indicating title, year, dimensions and media used.

With written context for the work (max. 500 words) we expect an explanation of the work and your evolving artistic practice. Describe the content and artistic principles and how they are reflected in your work and in your practice. Describe, if applicable, any collaboration with others and what your part was in it.

In your motivation for the use of the workspace you inform us what the studio will be used for, intensity of use, your reasons for applying, and possible concrete plans for artistic projects,...

 

For organisations and creative entrepreneurs an admissible application consists of

  • the history and objectives of the organisation (max. 500 words) 
  • documentation of work and projects already carried out 
  • written context for the work and artistic principles (max. 500 words) 
  • reasons for the use of the workshop (e.g. what the workshop will be used for, intensity of use, reasons for applying, concrete plans for artistic projects, etc.)

Waiting List

Once the allocation panel has made a positive assessment you will be put on our waiting list Without being allocated a workspace within the next 2 years, you'll have to resubmit a dossier for the allocation panel.


When NUCLEO has to leave a building where you had your studio, you'll be put on our waiting list again until some other workspace becomes available for you.

Allocation

In general we simply stick to the order of applications on our waiting list. Minor modifications to this order are possible depending on whether the type of workspace and the artist’s expectations match. We endeavour to combine an interesting variety of disciplines in each building, as well as a mixture of experienced artists and those who are just starting out. Sometimes we make a special allocation for a specific building, for example when the spaces are extremely well suited to particular artistic disciplines.

Moving on

When a studio is assigned, the artist can use the space for a period of 5 years after the initial approval by the allocation committee. After this period, a dossier must be submitted again in order to request a second term of 5 years. Extension is in theory possible without restrictions.

When assessing the new application, the following elements are important: a qualitative artistic production, the evolution of the work during the past 5 years, exhibitions and other forms of communication with an audience, ambition and positioning of the artist, professionalism and entrepreneurship and the frequency of studio use.

If an artist leaves his studio on his own initiative before the expiry of the 5-year period, his application remains valid for 2 years from the date of initial approval by the allocation committee.