ShUM is a place of Jewish cultural creativity and innovation. For the first-time an artist-in-residence program has been created, supported by the state and the three cities, which is international in its call for proposals.
ShuM is an acronym out of the first letters of the medieval Hebrew names for the cities:
- Shin (Sch) = Shpira = Speyer
- Waw (U) = Warmaisa = Worms
- Mem (M) = Magenza = Mainz
In the Middle Ages, the Jewish communities in the cities of Speyer, Worms and Mainz on the Middle Rhine formed an association that deeply influenced the architecture, culture, religion and jurisdiction of the Central and Eastern European Jewish diaspora and continues to do so today.
The organisation SchUM is leading the process to nominate the Jewish communities of Speyer, Worms and Mainz as a UNESCO World Heritage site. In connection with this, the organisers are offering up to three project fellowships for the realisation of an artistic project that addresses the history of the ShUM communities and their religious, cultural and architectural legacy.
A public presentation of the completed project is sought (exhibition, concert, reading, performance, etc.). An artistic approach to the ShUM legacy, taking into consideration Judaism’s ideas, history and current position is required.
The call for applications is open to professional artists from around the world working in visual and media art, architecture and design, music and literature. The residency will last for 4 to 6 weeks and is scheduled between October 2021 and February 2022. The curator and artistic director and the respective cultural departments of the three towns will offer help and advice in realizing the projects by arranging contact to local artists and cultural institutions as well as with government offices, companies and organizations. Applications must be submitted in full by email by 1 July. More information about the open call can be found here.
