Residency Program
Ashru Archive hosts an annual residency program designed to support both local and international researchers and artists whose work engages with history, culture, and interdisciplinary practices. The program is conducted at the Archive’s dedicated residential facility, providing participants with an environment conducive to research, reflection, and creative production.
The residency is awarded through an open call process. Interested applicants are invited to submit detailed proposals outlining their intended research or artistic projects. Submissions are reviewed by an international jury composed of scholars, curators, and practitioners with relevant expertise. Based on the merit, relevance, and feasibility of the proposals, the jury selects candidates whose work aligns most closely with the Archive’s mission and resources.
Through this program, Ashru Archive seeks to foster meaningful engagement with its collections while encouraging critical inquiry into socio-cultural histories, local traditions, and contemporary interpretations of heritage.
Resident Artist
Reina Rodina van der Meer
Reina Rodina van der Meer, a performance artist and musician from the Netherlands, was the first resident artist at Ashru Archive. Her engagement with the cultural landscape of Kushtia began in 2017, when she participated in the CRACK International Art Camp, where she was introduced to Baul music and philosophy.
Building on this initial exposure, she later applied to the Ashru Archive Residency Program and was awarded the fellowship. During her residency from 5 to 30 January 2019, she undertook an in-depth exploration of Baul traditions, conducting field research across various villages in the Kushtia region. Her work combined direct engagement with Baul practitioners and study of relevant materials within the Archive’s permanent collections.
As part of her residency activities, a presentation and performance by Reina Rodina was organized on 26 January 2019 at the Department of English, Islamic University, Kushtia. This event provided an opportunity to share her research insights and artistic interpretations with an academic audience, fostering dialogue between local cultural practices and international artistic perspectives.