Grey Projects (est. 2008) is a library, a residency apartment, a studio, and two galleries. Out of these spaces they generate curatorial and exchange activities. This usually means they make books, exhibitions, talks, residencies, reading groups and workshops. They are interested in new design practices, writing, curatorial research, and art propositions. They have been around since 2008, you can find Grey Projects now in Tiong Bahru, Singapore’s oldest public housing estate that’s also known today for its cafés, design studios, independent bookstores, Streamline Moderne architecture, and its art community.
Through the International Residency Programme, Grey Projects has hosted artists-in-residence from all over the globe since 2013. Artists staying with them will enjoy access to the library/workspace and the residency room. Depending on its availability, the studio space may also be vacant for use. As presentation opportunities and activities such as workshops and artist talks are independently determined with each artist, residency offers do not guarantee the culmination of an exhibition or any similar event.
Each residency period runs for a minimum of 4 weeks. Interested parties should write to Grey with a research residency proposal and a brief CV, and enquire about available periods and fees.
Their latest International Artist-in-Residence was Andrew Nicholls from Australia and past residents of the International Residency include Virgile Fraisse, Angela Tiatia, Stephanie Lai, Gemma Kearney, and Leanne Dunic. In line with their commitment to facilitating artistic exchange, Grey Projects also run a Residency Exchange Programme. In the years of running the Residency Exchange Programme, they have established long-term partnerships with important institutions overseas, such as the Taipei Artist Village, the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art Korea, and Akiyoshidai International Art Village (Japan). Through the Residency Exchange Programme, Grey Projects hope to position Singapore in the important global networks and connect the local community to other international communities.
Other than running a variety of residency programmes, Grey Projects has also curated over forty exhibitions and organized multiple artist open studios and events. They have featured prominent Singaporean artists such as Jeremy Sharma, Shubigi Rao, and the late Lee Wen. Many of our exhibitions also support emerging or under-recognised artists who go on to achieve critical acclaim.
Grey Projects has also been thinking of new ways to move away from the regular exhibition formats towards other forms of art and knowledge production. They are currently focused on research and event-based programming, which they carry out in collaboration with curators such as Savita Apte and Kenneth Tay. On top of that, Grey Projects are also looking at ways in which they can more meaningfully exchange with the community in their neighbourhood and are planning more socially engaged projects and programmes in the near future.
Grey Projects also aim to continue to expand their partnerships with more international residency spaces, and are always open to the prospect of forming new exchanges.