UMAG

Founded in 1961 as the home of the former Technical University of the State, the University of Magallanes (UMAG) is a public entity with a solid tradition in the Chilean university system. It develops teaching, researching and outreaching activities, aimed to the development of the southernmost region of the country. It currently has an enrollment close to four thousand students, focusing its activities on the University Campus of Punta Arenas where its four faculties and the Institute of Patagonia are located, in addition to carry out activities in the university’s centers of Puerto Natales, Porvenir (Tierra del Fuego) and Puerto Williams. The UMAG intends to be a national and international model of knowledge generation in Patagonia, Tierra del Fuego, Sub-Antarctic and Antarctic territory, prioritizing areas such as human settlement in high latitudes, Antarctic and subantarctic biodiversity, energy and environment.

FACILITIES

The university has an important infrastructure that can be used for the purposes of an artistic residency focused on the relationship between art and science. The institution has bio-laboratories dedicated to the study of macroalgae and terrestrial vegetation, as well as facilities dedicated to Chemical, Electrical and Computer Engineering. It also has historical archives on Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego, housed in the Institute of Patagonia. It has spaces for meetings and events, such as the Ernesto Livacic auditorium and the American Corner local office.

RESIDENCES

Since 2016, the University has implemented residency programs for the research on arts and sciences for local, national and international artists. The residencies consider a one month stay of the artist-in-residence in the region of Magallanes and Chilean Antarctica. Each residency will count on a team formed by resident artists, students and scientific advisors.

The research residency program on arts and sciences at the University of Magallanes is aimed to highlight the processes involved in research and artistic creation. It is expected to reveal the links and impacts that arise from the interdisciplinary research team, understanding this as a training experience for artists, students and scientists.

RESIDENCES MODALITIES

The University of Magallanes has prioritized the following lines of research for the residencies:

Antarctic and Subantarctic Science: study of the biodiversity of terrestrial and marine ecosystems, and earth sciences in the Subantarctic ecoregion of Magellan and the Antarctic continent.

Human population and regional identity from high latitudes: considers, from a present and historical perspective, the realization of studies and generation of knowledge regarding native peoples, as well as contemporary studies of the inhabitants of the extreme southern zone.

Energy and Environment: generation, processing, optimization and efficient use of energy for the Magallanes and the Chilean Antarctic Region. It also considers relevant atmospheric studies in the region, such as the weakening of the ozone layer, and the increase in ultraviolet radiation and aerosols.

According to the research needs, the program considers transfer to one of the regional provinces, where the UMAG university centers are located in Cabo de Hornos, Puerto Natales and Porvenir. The Antarctic Continent is not included.

DURATION

The residency considers a one month stay of the artist-in-residence in the Magallanes region.

RELEVANT INFORMATION

The flight to Punta Arenas takes an approximate time of 3 and a half hours, and 4 hours 45 minutes with a stopover in Puerto Montt. The climate is temperate, cold and rainy, without a dry season but with microclimates. Temperatures average 8 degrees Celcius annually, but in summer they range between 10 and 18 degrees. Rainfall averages 450 mm per year and increases considerably in autumn and winter. Winds can exceed 80 kms. per hour, especially in spring and summer. It is recommended to bring warm clothes and waterproof shoes at any time of the year. It is also necessary to use sun protection, be it clear or cloudy, and sunglasses due to the great UV radiation as result of its proximity to Antarctica.

The residency will take place at the facilities of the University of Magallanes, with its labs, library and spaces for events available to the artist-in-residence. Additionally, it is possible to make field trips within the Punta Arenas commune, if they are relevant to the project that the artist is carrying out. Transfers to the communes of Puerto Natales, Porvenir and Puerto Williams, where the University of Magallanes has operational facilities, could also be evaluated.