OBRAS Holland
Artist in Residence
Nieuweweg 31, 6871CA Renkum
Netherlands

Introduction, guidelines and rates

WHAT’S IN THE NAME?
OBRAS is a Portuguese word for “work in progress”. Foundation OBRAS has to locations: the principal seat is in Evoramonte, Portugal and an auxiliary establishment is in Renkum, Holland. The two locations have similar goals: providing space, service, peace and hospitality necessary for effective working on art and science. Artists and scientists with professional standing are eligible for residence.
 
There are differences between OBRAS-Portugal and OBRAS-Holland. OBRAS-Portugal is a kind of art colony where up to 10 artists can be facilitated, while OBRAS-Holland can host only one person or an artist couple. OBRAS-Portugal is situated in a rural landscape, while OBRAS-Holland is in an urban setting. In Portugal the facilitation can be on a daily basis and cultural events can be organized, while in Holland you live and work largely on your own. And a difference is of course the climate. Holland has an oceanic climate with mild summer, moderately winter and rain (800 mm) evenly distributed over the year. In Portugal, the summer is hot and winter mild, while rain (600 mm) is largely concentrated in April and November.
 
COVID
COVID is still present, but well under control. There are no obligatory restrictions. You can contact us for a last update. 

ARRIVAL
When you come by airplane and arrive on Schiphol Airport, take the intercity train to Ede-Wageningen. At the counter on the train station at Schiphol you can buy an OV-chipcard and use it for all public transport. They will help you with uploading the card.  Twice per hour (xx.30 and xx.00) is a direct connection to Ede-Wageningen (it is line Utrecht - Nijmegen). Call Josien Jongejan (0031 317-319226, or 0031 6 53373801) as soon as you know your departure time from Schiphol and she will be waiting for you at the residence.
From Ede Wageningen to Renkum (8km) you can go by taxi, uber taxi, regio-taxi and public bus. Face masks are obligatory for all public transports.
The taxi and Uber taxi take about 15 minutes and cost around 30€ and 20€, respectively. The regio taxi takes 15-40 minutes (you join it with others) and costs around 14€. You have to book one hour in advance (0900-55 11 551).  The bus is 3.50€, has one transfer in Wageningen and takes 35 minutes to the bus stop “Nieuwe Weg/Dorpsstraat”. From there it is another 3 minutes’ walk.   
When you come from other directions then Schiphol airport you may contact us for travel advice.
In case you come by car you have a private parking place in front of the house. 
 
At arrival your local host: Josien Jongejan will welcome you and tell you all relevant ins and outs. Mutual expectations will be exchanged. Apart from working and living conditions she will discuss your preferred professional and social contacts. Josien will wear a face mask and expects you to do the same. 
 
ACCOMODATION
You will live in a stylish mansion, surrounded by a garden. You use the ground floor and part of the first floor. It has a glazed veranda, studio/atelier, a spacious kitchen / living room, a sleeping room (3,5 x 3,5 m) with two beds, a bathroom and toilet. There is an extra bedroom available on the first floor and you can choose at the beginning of your residency which of the two bedrooms you prefer. 
 
The working studio is 5 x 9m (3.60m high) and can be divided into two halves. One half can be used as office with a desk and office chair. The other half can be used, according to your wishes, either as a living room or a workshop. A wooden working table of 1.20 x 1,90 cm on trestles, two spotlights and some basic equipment are available. For musicians, composers and sound artists there is a good electronic piano (Roland FP-30X). A modest sound mix table and two sound boxes with amplifier will arrive soon.
For visual artists there are several places in and around the house and some basis equipment available, but there are also limitations. The floor in the studio has a wall-to-wall woolen carpet that must be covered on places where your work demands this. That also applies to other places in the house. Ask the direction of OBRAS for options and conditions for visual artists.
 
There is WiFi, cable-TV, radio, DVD, CD and a printer/scanner/copier. A modest set of books (art books, tourist guides and literature) are in the living room. Kitchen equipment (oven, microwave, induction cooking plate and so on) are available for preparing your own meals.  The tap water is of high quality and has a good taste. The bathroom has a bath and shower. Sheets, towels and blankets are available. You can use the laundry machine and dish washer.  
The house is surrounded by a garden with some terraces. In all times of the day and year there are sun and shadow spots. 
A well assorted super market and several other shops are on walking distance from the house. Bicycles are in the garage. 

General assistance, advice and support
Generally spoken we make sure that you have guidance and support when needed, but first of all OBRAS-Holland is largely a help-your-self place.
Josien Jongejan is your hostess and trouble-shooter. She lives 200m from the house: Veldheimweg 30,  6871 CD Renkum. Tel: 0031317-319226, mobile: 0031653373801. Email: josien.peter@gmail.com.
Josien will introduce you to the residence, inform you on art activities in the region and tell you the details on the heating system, laundry machine, garbage, use of bicycles and so on. She will do this wearing a mask and we ask you to do the same.  She will request a copy of your passport and two telephone numbers of relatives who we can call in case of emergency.
Josien will contact you around once per week, or more in case there is a reason for it. In her absence she will tell you who her substitute is. 
The three members of the  board of OBRAS are living in Holland and are all deeply involved in art. They are available for questions. Ask Josien for their contacts.  Josien can also bring you in contact with local artists.
Dependent of your personal wishes and on the situation concerning COVID we can organize an artist talk combined with shared dinner. 
At the last days of your residency Josien will share with you the results of your residency, inform you about cleaning and check details of your departure.
 
RULES of the HOUSE
 
  • The house is a non-smoking house and pets are not allowed.
  • Two bicycles of reasonable quality are available. We assume you to (let them) repair on your own costs in case of flat tire or other small reparations. The bicycles have appropriate lockers. Lock them always when you park them. We will request a contribution to substitution costs if they are stolen.
  • Cleaning the house you do yourself. At the end of your stay you can clean the house yourself (get it as clean as when you arrived). Josien will give you a to-do list and will check at the end. Or you can let us do this, for which we charge 50 €. 
  • If you break something, renew if possible, in any case inform Josien.
  • Lock the house and close windows at night and when you leave the house.
  • Residents must have an international medical insurance and a third party insurance. The Centre does not accept legal responsibility for the resident.
 
HEATING THE HOUSE
The house has a central heating system with thermostats on most radiators. You can change the temperature with the wall thermostat in the living room and in addition with the valves on the radiators. Although the heating hours can be programmed, most easy is to turn the thermostat in the living room on at the period that you need (the heating up takes not more than 15 minutes and the cooling down after turn down one hour or more. As you pay yourself for the costs of heating it is good for you (and the environment) to heat the house only when you need it.
 
INTERNET ACCESS
The house has a Wifi connection. At arrival we give you the password.
 
PHONE
The House has no land-line available. We request you to use your cell phone (consider buying a mobile phone or a Dutch sim cart.  Landlines are available in some public spaces.
 
ARTISTS MATERIALS
Most professional art supplies you can buy in Arnhem at Gerstaecker / Peter van Ginkel. The shop is  in the Steenstraat 36A,  Arnhem (0031 (0) 26 442 33 34). www.gerstaecker.nl.
For photographers the Kamera Express is a good shop. Kronenburgsingel 20, Arnhem; Tel.: 0031 (0) 85 – 888 80 13; www:  arnhem@kamera-express.nl (webshop: kamera-express.nl).
If you want to be absolutely sure about quality and brand, better bring materials with you.
 
EMERGENCY
At the beginning of your residency we request you to give us two telephone numbers of relatives who we can call in case of emergency. We also need a copy of your passport.
Important phone numbers and emergency info will be given and explained to you at arrival. Residents must be aware that medical facilities are on 5 km (doctor) and on 10 km (General Hospital in Ede, including First Aid) from the residency. If you need medical assistance we will assist organising this. For a visit to a medical centre you have to bring your passport and insurance card. You can pay on the spot with credit card or cash.
If you have any symptom that may relate to Corona, Josien will tell you where you can have a test.
 
Rates for 2023
 
  • 135 € per week for 1 person. For a couple, or two artists it is 210 € per week. Couples must apply individually. These rates apply to artists and scientists and for a minimum of 4 weeks.
  • In case you wish to invite a friend or a relative to stay with you a part of your residency, you have to indicate this on your application form. The staff of OBRAS will inform you about the conditions and the daily rate for it.
  • For gas, electricity and water you pay on the basis of your use, to be checked on the meters in the house. Be aware that heating can be costly in winter. The prices for 2023 are1.50 € per m3 for gas, 0.45 € per KWh for electricity and 1.05 € per m3 for water. At this moment the prices are very fluid. We will inform you before you decide to accept our invitation for a residency in case we have to adapt the rates.
  • Contribution to service costs: 50 € per week.
  • To conclude your reservation you pay a deposit: 120 €. Your deposit will be subtracted from your bill at the end of your stay. If your cancellation is longer than 4 months in advance we return your deposit. Instead of a deposit you can also send us (minimum 4 months in advance) a copy of your plane ticket.
  • The rent must be paid in the first days of arrival.
  • Cleaning the house at departure you do yourself or you can let us do this. In that case we charge 50 € for it. 
 
You will get an official invoice for all payments.
 
Bank details for transferring your deposit and other payments are:
 
Stichting OBRAS
Nieuweweg 31, 6871 CA Renkum, The Netherlands.
IBAN: NL23INGB0009353219.  BIC (= Swift Code): INGBNL2A. 
Address of the bank: ING N.V., Postbus 1800, 1000 BV Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
 
OBRAS also has PayPal.
                                
Our website: www.obras-art.org has several photo galleries showing details of the residency and its surroundings. But do not hesitate to contact us for more information.
 
We look forward hosting you!
 
The daily board of OBRAS:  Ludger van der Eerden, Carolien van der Laan
Your local host: Josien Jongejan

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