A new residency just opened up in Dongguan, the city between Guangzhou and Shenzhen with a lot of history. Yan Garden, where the artist residency is located, is built around one of the oldest guesthouses of the city. Xiaoyao Xu caught up with Faith Yan via e-mail in May before visiting the residency in person on her second research trip.
CR: Hi, and welcome to China Residencies! Your artist residency at Yan Garden, called Young Yan Artists Program just opened this year, is that correct? Can you tell us why you decided to open an artist place in Dongguan?
您今年的艺术驻留是今年新开的。 能告诉我们为什么决定在那里开设艺术家居住地吗？
Faith Yan: Yes, this is our first open-call residence program in Yan Garden and even the first artist residency in Dongguan. We are concerned about the young artists and hope to provide them with a new platform and chances to work on what they want.
对的，这是燕岭园第一次驻地计划。东莞没有做过公开招募的驻地计划，我们希望能有一个开始，而且我们机构一直以来也非常关注青年艺术家群体，希望为他们提供新的平台和机会。
CR: So what is the relationship between the Young Yan Artists Residence and Yan Concept?
艺术驻留跟燕岭园的关系是什么？
FY: Yan Concept is the organizer of the residence program and Yan Garden is one of the project under Yan Concept. The program takes place in Yan Garden with working studios and living space.
燕岭园是这次驻地计划发起机构燕岭文化传播旗下的项目，驻地计划会在燕岭园落地，工作室和居住地都在园区里面。
CR: What is your role in the residency? How did you get involved? What is your responsibility for the artist's residence?
您在居住方面的角色是什么？ 您是怎么介入的？您对艺术家居住的责任是什么？
FY: We are fully responsible for the program from launching, initial preparatory work to implementation, and also the working capital.
从驻地计划的发起、前期的筹备到具体执行，包括项目资金都是我们负责。
The former guesthouse turned working studios.
CR: Can tell us some information about yourself and your background?
能告诉我们一些关于你自己和你的背景的信息。
FY: Yan Garden is a revitalized project which you can find many stories here. This place was first a university and then a sino-foreign joint venture called Yanling Guesthouse. The working studios for this program are located in the renovated Yanling Guesthouse. Yan Garden is an artistic experimentation space where we can organize art exhibitions and sharing forums in order to provide to creative young artists a place to showcase their talents, share ideas and interact with each other.
燕岭园是一个旧建筑活化的项目，是一个有很多故事可讲的地方。园区所在地曾开办过大学，也是东莞首批中外合资“燕岭宾馆”的旧址。目前工作室的空间，就是当初“燕岭宾馆”客房部的旧建筑改造成的。现在的燕岭园是一个艺术生活体验空间，一直以来我们也持续举办艺术展览和艺术交流会等活动，希望为有想法和创造力的年轻艺术家提供一个展示才华、分享理念、互动交流的多元化平台。
CR: Can you talk about the facilities available at the artist's site? For example, where is the studio of the resident artist?
您能谈谈艺术家现场可用的设施吗？ 例如，居住艺术家的工作室在哪里？
FY: Independent working studios and accommodation will be arranged to the artists in residence. They can also enjoy the facilities in Yan Garden which include a multi-functional room, meeting room, 2 exhibition halls and cafe. Also, we have office equipments such as printer or projector upon request.
我们会在燕岭园内为驻地艺术家提供独立工作室和住所。同时园区内的多功能厅、会议室、两个展厅、咖啡厅等公共空间和办公配套（打印机、投影仪等），驻地艺术家都可以申请使用。
The (future) artists' residence and the surroundings with some animal friends at Yan Garden residency (photo by Xiaoyao Xu).
CR: What are your requirements of experience for the artists who are applying?
您的艺术驻留是找有什么经验的艺术家？
FY: We have a rather clear requirement to the artists’ age and their specialization. Applicants aging from 18-35 whose interest and specialization in modern arts are welcomed to apply, no matter whether you are current students, a fresh graduate, full-time artist, curator, creative or art researcher. We hope that our applicants come with an original approach design and research.
我们招募的艺术家仅对年龄和研究创作方向有比较明确的要求： 18至35岁，以当代艺术为创作或研究方向。我们希望申请的艺术家是一直持续在坚持艺术原创创作和研究，有自己独立的创作和理念。无论是在校学生、应届毕业生、职业艺术家、策展人、设计创意工作者、艺术研究者等都可以。
CR: What does the place of residence provide? What should the artist arrange for himself?
居住地提供什么？ 艺术家应该为自己安排什么？
FY: We offer the artists working studios, accommodation and subsidy not exceeding RMB 20,000, and also guidance from our professional consultancy team, site visiting, assistance and coordination during the creative process. Artists are responsible for the visa fee, insurance fee, and any other fee and expenses created during the program. Personal laptop and materials needed for art creation have to be prepared by artists themselves.
我们为艺术家提供包括工作室、在地住宿以及每期每人不超过贰万元的生活和材料费用补贴。也会提供与其他艺术家的交流活动和顾问团队的阶段性指导和交流，项目和周边环境介绍以及驻地过程中的其他支持和协调。艺术家需要自己负责签证费、驻地期间个人保险、补贴可能所产生的税费以及超出补贴之外的费用。笔记本电脑、艺术家创作所需要的材料等一些物品需自己准备或购买。
CR: Do the artists leave work once the residency is done? What are some of the must do’s for the artists as part of the residency agreement?
艺术家在他们居住后留下一件作品吗？ 作为居住协议的一部分，艺术家还有什么必须做的事情？
FY: Instead of requiring artists to leave us their final products, we require them to have a presentation showing their final process or product before the end of the residence period. The exhibition format will be proposed by the artists or arranged by the organizer which different genres of art could be presented in different ways. Other than that, the artists have to choose one day as an open day to hold a talk or a workshop or any other interactive session with the local community and residents. We hope that the artist can have an opportunity to interact with the surrounding community in the local area where the residency is located.
我们没有要求艺术家留下作品，我们是要求驻地艺术家在驻地快结束时做一次汇报展览，展示驻地创作的最终成果，展览会根据艺术家在申请表格里填写的形式进行或与我们沟通。不同的创作类型可以用不同的形式呈现。除了汇报展览外，艺术家在驻地期间要选择一天作为开放日，可以是讲座、工作坊等形式，目的是希望艺术家能与驻地所在地的周边小区人群有一个互动的机会。
CR: How do you make sure your open call and the residency program can reach local and international artists?
您如何提升您的艺术驻留以吸引本地和国际艺术家的申请？
FY: Having a residence program in Dongguan is already an attraction since there is no any continuous open-call residence program here. We hope that the Young Yan Artists Residence Program can offer a chance for artists in Dongguan and even in Greater Bay Area in China.
在东莞做驻地计划就是一个吸引点。这里之前并没有持续的公开招募的驻地计划，我们希望通过燕岭青年艺术家驻地计划，能够给对东莞或者大湾区感兴趣的艺术家提供一个这样的机会。
An old photo of the guesthouse.
CR: How many on staff are you at Yan Garden residency?
有多少人在艺术驻留工作？
FY: There are 6 members in the organizing committee with the backup from other departments.
目前团队有六个人，背后有其他部门的同事的协助。
CR: Can you tell us how you plan to connect artists to local creative scenes?
您能告诉我们您打算如何将艺术家与当地创意场景联系起来吗？
FY: We will arrange interactive activities such as site visits, open day and sharing for artists to learn more about local culture and environment. Participated artists get the initiative to decide a deeper understanding and interaction depending on their production process. We will try our best to assist them.
我们会通过考察、交流的方式和举行开放日等来为艺术家提供一个与当地小区人文和环境背景的了解和互动。但更具体和深入的联系，主动权在于艺术家，根据他们自己的创作方向去决定的。我们会提供力所能及的帮助。
CR: What opportunities do you have to offer artists to share their work with the public?
访问您提供艺术家与公众分享他们的工作有哪些机会？
FY: The artists can share their experience and art pieces in open day and exhibition, or interact with the visitors who come to Yan Garden.
会通过工作室开放日以及展览。艺术家也可以随时与到访园区的公众交流。
CR: Do you help artists in residence sell their work?
你帮助居住的艺术家出售他们的作品吗？
FY: We will consider to collect the artists’ products or their concepts to produce a final work if the final art piece or idea we think is aligned with Yan Garden.
如果驻地艺术家在驻地期间能创作出完整的作品，或者作品的创作概念是我们喜欢的，会考虑将作品留下或将创作概念做成真实作品进行收藏。
CR: Is there anything else you'd like to add about the program, your mission, or the opportunities you provide for artists?
您还有什么想补充的关于艺术驻留，您的驻留目的或您为艺术家提供的机会吗？
FY: There is a possibility to have a solo exhibition or further collaboration for outstanding artists.
优秀和突出的驻地艺术家，我们也会考虑为他们举办个展和提供更多其他合作的机会。
The exhibition space, one of the many spaces available for the artist.
CR: You also said that the artist must complete a seminar or open day at the place of residence. What formats or structures have you been considering?
您还声明艺术家必须在居住地完成一个研讨会或开放日。 您一直在考虑哪些格式或结构？
FY: The content and format of the open day will be initiated by the artists and we will coordinate the details and logistics with them.
开放日的形式和内容我们会交由艺术家作为主导，我们会与他们协商。