OBRAS Holland
Artist in Residence Nieuweweg 31, 6871CA Renkum Netherlands Note: due to a renovation, OBRAS Holland is closed. It becomes available for residencies from August 2025 onward. Introduction, guidelines and rates OBRAS Art Residencies, location Holland. WHAT’S IN THE NAME? OBRAS is a Portuguese word for “work in progress”. OBRAS has two 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 8 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 small-scale 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) is 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. 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 the line Utrecht - Nijmegen). From Ede Wageningen to Renkum (8km) you can go by taxi, uber taxi, regio-taxi and public bus. Call your local host: 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. The taxi and Uber taxi take about 15 minutes. The regio taxi is cheaper but takes 15-40 minutes (you join it with others) and 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 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. 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. The living room is 5 x 9m (3.40m high) with a room divider in the middle. 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 stored in the garage. 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 art-photographers, there is background tissue in white, green and black, and an umbrella diffuser. For visual artists the residence has limitations. The living room cannot be used as a studio, while other spaces (the kitchen, veranda and study room on the first floor) can only be used for clean work. Ask the direction of OBRAS for options and conditions for visual artists. There is WiFi, cable-TV, radio, CD player 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, dish washer 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. Extra sheets, towels and blankets are available. You can use the laundry machine. The house is surrounded by a garden with some terraces. In all times of the day and year there are sun and shadow spots. Bicycles are in the garage. A well assorted super market and several other shops are on walking distance from the house. GENERAL ASSISTANCE, ADVICE AND SUPPORT Generally spoken we make sure that you have guidance and support when needed, but 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, Renkum. Tel: 0031317-319226, mobile: 0031653373801. Email: [email protected] 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 requests 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. You can also contact the direction of OBRAS (00351 968 547 771). They are deeply involved and well informed about most details of OBRAS-Holland. Josien can bring you in contact with local artists and tell you about meeting points for artists and art lovers. Dependent of your personal wishes 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
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. The heating hours can be programmed, but ask Josien for instructions. 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: [email protected] (webshop: kamera-express.nl). If you want to be absolutely sure about quality and brand, better bring materials with you. EMERGENCY 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 be 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. RATES FOR 2025
You will get an official invoice for all payments. Bank details for transferring your deposit and fee are in your invitation letter and on your invoice. You can pay with Paypal. Other pages of this website (www.obras-art.org) have 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 and Carolien van der Laan, and our local host: Josien Jongejan |