CALL FOR APPLICATIONS – CULTURAL & ARTISTIC RESPONSES TO ENVIRONMENTAL CRISIS

The climate crisis has arrived, impacting millions of people in different ways and degrees. However, it is the Global South that is disproportionately experiencing the most severe consequences of our climate collapse, revealing the deep-seated social and political inequalities within our societies.

Artists and cultural practitioners are actively responding to these ongoing crises. Through art and culture, they communicate and document socio-environmental injustices, initiating practices that nurture their communities and ecosystems while offering new perspectives and connections to envision possible futures. In one of the most challenging periods in our planet’s history, culture plays a vital role in envisioning a different path forward.

Cultural & Artistic Responses to the Environmental Crisis (CAREC) is a year-long program designed to accelerate community-based cultural practices that address climate justice and recognize the social, political, and economic dimensions of the environmental crisis. Through this program, we establish an interdisciplinary platform to support critical artistic work, connect engaged practitioners, foster cross-disciplinary exchange, and prioritize non-hegemonic forms of knowledge to envision alternative models of climate justice on a global scale.

CAREC brings together 12 mid-career artists and cultural practitioners (with approximately 8-15 years of relevant professional experience) along with four mentors, all working across various disciplines and environmental issues. Each artist receives a €10,000 award to develop a body of work based on their proposed concept outlined in their application.

To encourage collaboration within the cohort and support each artist in their individual practice, this program incorporates different forms of interaction, including workshops, guest talks, and peer-to-peer sessions. As participants are located in different places, most activities are conducted online. However, twice during the program, they come together in person for two Lab Weeks, which are intensive mentoring sessions lasting for a week.

Cultural & Artistic Responses to the Environmental Crisis Criteria for Selection

If the applicant fulfills the Basic Criteria for this application, their submission will undergo evaluation by external advisors and the selection committee, taking into account the following aspects: See the list of eligible countries

1. Originality: The work demonstrates innovation and artistic interest.

2. Transformative: The work addresses pressing social and political issues, challenging and provoking thought, with the aim of creating lasting change.

3. Context-specific: The work holds significance within the local context and remains relevant to it.

4. Inclusivity: The work aligns with the ultimate goal of fostering more inclusive societies, connecting people in ways that resist marginalization, oppression, and division.

5. Impactful: The award will have a tangible impact on the professional development, engagement, and overall influence of the individual’s practice.

6. Potential for acceleration: The individual shows potential to become a leader in the field, with work that is actively engaged and focused on relevant social issues within its specific context.

Cultural & Artistic Responses to the Environmental Crisis How to Apply

• To begin the application process, register an account on the Prince Claus Awards Platform and initiate a new submission for the Mentorship Award: 2024 – Cultural and Artistic Responses to the Environmental Crisis.
• Complete all mandatory fields and attach the necessary documents. You have the flexibility to edit and modify your application until the deadline. Please be aware that once you submit your application, no further changes can be made.
• After submitting your application on the Prince Claus Awards Platform, verify that you have received an automated email confirmation.
• The deadline for submissions is 21 March 2024, 17:00 CEST.
• Considering potential internet access issues, we recommend submitting your application well in advance of the deadline. Our online system may experience high traffic on the deadline day and closes promptly at 17:00, with no extensions granted.

Cultural & Artistic Responses to the Environmental Crisis Selection Process

The selection process aims to be fair and transparent, following specific criteria and procedures to evaluate all eligible proposals.

The process involves two phases:

Phase 1: Initial Review and Evaluation of Applications

The selection committee assesses all eligible applications based on the Basic Criteria and shortlists the most qualified submissions.

Phase 2: External Reviews

Shortlisted applications undergo evaluation by external advisors specializing in the call’s thematic focus, along with local experts familiar with the applicants’ context.

Shortlisted candidates must provide a reference for contact by the Prince Claus Fund team and may need to respond to additional inquiries.

Phase 3: Decision Making

Following the results of the external evaluations, the selection committee finalizes the selection of award recipients. Emphasis is placed on diversity, geographical representation, focus of work, level of engagement with the subject matter, and quality of practice.

All candidates will be notified of the decision on their application no later than the end of November 2024.

Phase 4: Contracting and Communications

The 12 successful candidates will be informed about the award and invited to join the program.

The Prince Claus Fund will provide the selected candidate with the contract, outlining details of the award payment, mentorship cycle schedule, and participation guidelines.

Upon signing the contract, the candidate officially becomes a participant in Cycle 4 of the Mentorship Award: CAREC, and preparations for announcing the new group and launching the program will begin.

Phase 5: Mentorship Cycle

The Mentorship Cycle is scheduled to commence in January 2025 and will continue until February 2026. Further interactions with participants may take place beyond this period for the development of publications and online platforms, set to be launched in May 2026.