STARTS4AFRICA RESIDENCIES PROGRAMME – CALL FOR ARTISTS (€35,000 Grant)

STARTS4AFRICA is excited to announce the opportunity for artists to participate in the inaugural STARTS Residency Programme, which focuses on promoting innovation in Sub-Saharan Africa at the intersection of Science, Technology, and Arts.

By offering 6-month residencies, STARTS4AFRICA aims to foster art-driven innovation in four African countries: Senegal, Ghana, Tanzania, and Nigeria.

This groundbreaking initiative will enable artists to tackle regional challenges related to Food and Water, Digital Mapping and Speculative Landscapes, Culture and Coding, Wearable Technology and Smart Textile, Immersive Storytelling, Rethinking Sustainable Construction, and Speculative Urbanism.

+ Residency Programme
STARTS4AFRICA will provide support to selected applicants through a comprehensive programme that includes a 6-month residency starting in March 2024. Additionally, there will be multiple exhibitions and events throughout the residency period and beyond, until November 2024.

Each residency will span a total of 8 months, comprising a 6-month residency period and a 2-month outreach phase. The programme consists of five distinct phases.

Benefits

• A budget of up to €35,000 is allocated for artists residencies. This budget covers various expenses such as artist fees, organization and participation in artistic exhibitions/events, and other relevant costs necessary for the successful implementation of the project.
• These costs may include artwork/prototype production, among others.
• Additionally, artists will have access to resources and facilities provided by the Residency Host Institution.
• They will also receive assistance from the Local Expert Group and participate in an individualized Mentoring Programme that includes business-specific and tech/sci-related sessions.
• Furthermore, artists will have access to the Europe-wide S+T+ARTS network and will be able to participate in the S+T+ARTS4AFRICA Community events, both online and on-site.
• Selected artists may also have the opportunity to showcase their work in exhibitions, including the Ars Electronica Festival in September 2024 in Linz, as well as other festivals and venues.
• Lastly, artists will benefit from high-impact communication activities that aim to promote their artistic output and its innovation spillovers, providing them with visibility.

Expected Outcomes

• Expected outcomes from artists include the production of a tangible and visually appealing artwork or a functional or speculative artistic prototype that addresses a local challenge.
• Artists are also expected to provide a descriptive abstract of their art-driven innovation output and a development plan outlining the objectives, actions, timetable, and necessary setup for its implementation.
• In addition, artists are required to actively participate in online or on-site local/national events, masterclasses, and seminars. This participation serves two purposes: sharing their experience in the STARTS4AFRICA Residency program and promoting the results of their residency.
• Artists are expected to participate in at least six local/national events, as well as international events that will be discussed and agreed upon with the Residency Host Institutions.
• Furthermore, artists are expected to contribute to the dissemination and communication efforts of the Residency. This includes sharing posts on social media, producing articles to be shared on websites like starts.eu, and participating in written/audio/video interviews.
• Lastly, artists are required to contribute to the Impact Assessment Analysis conducted by the STARTS4AFRICA Consortium and the Residency Host Institutions.

Admission Criteria

To be eligible for the program, artists must either be nationals of the countries covered by STARTS4AFRICA (DR Congo, Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, and Tanzania) or permanent residents in any country in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Alternatively, artistic teams can consist of artists from both Europe and Sub-Saharan African countries.

Preparation & Submission

To participate in the STARTS4AFRICA Residencies Programme, proposals must be submitted online using the provided Online Form, which can be accessed through the Jotform platform. The Application Form consists of the following components:

1. Online form (accessible here): This section includes administrative information, declarations, and other relevant details.
2. Artistic Proposal: A Template document is available for download (here) and must be uploaded into the Online Form.
3. Curriculum Vitae: Your CV should be uploaded into the Online Form.
4. Portfolio: Your portfolio should also be uploaded into the Online Form.

It is crucial that you carefully review the Guide for Applicants, the description of your selected Challenge(s), and the instructions provided in the Online Form and Artistic Proposal Template. This will ensure that you successfully meet all the requirements outlined in the call.