Call for applications by the Academy of the Arts of the World in cooperation with Un-Label
Application deadline: 15 October 2024
Jury meeting: mid-November 2024
Residency period: April – September 2025 in Cologne (hybrid residencies by arrangement)
As part of the Participatory Residency Program, the Academy of the Arts of the World (ADKDW), together with Un-Label, is inviting applications for a residency from April to September 2025. Based on a self-selected subject, an artist-in-residence will develop a participatory program for the Un-Label network and implement it in collaboration with the ADKDW team.
Who can apply?
The call is addressed to artists, activists and cultural workers with disabilities, or disabled artists, activists and cultural workers of all disciplines.
We are aware that different countries and languages use different terminology. Furthermore, People have different needs in terms of a language that suits them. Our approach is based on the social model of disability, which assumes that people are disabled by attitudinal and environmental barriers in society, not by their disability[s]. If you self-identify as disabled, neurodiverse or deaf, you are eligible to apply. The self-designation of the person is decisive. In particular we would like to encourage intersectional or multiple-marginalized people to apply.
Artists and activists whose artistic practice focuses on participatory formats are invited to apply. The program is specifically designed to be independent of genre and sees networking and community work as important components of artistic, cultural and/or activist work.
The residency is not only aimed at individuals. We also welcome applications from collectives. However, the planned budget for groups is identical to the positions mentioned above. If you are a collective, are interested in the scholarship and are not sure how the residency could be organized, please get in touch using the contact details below.
NOTE:
Due to the lack of space and accessibility of the apartment and the limited financial and personnel resources in the programme, we are unfortunately currently unable to accept people who require additional resources for permanent assistance (e.g. interpretation, work or mobilization assistance).
For example, the participation of deaf artists is therefore only possible with their own work assistance and knowledge of German Sign Language (DGS).
We are working on opening up the offer even more extensively in the future and equipping it with more comprehensive resources for accessibility. If you have any questions, please contact Hanitra Wagner and Paulina Seyfried by e-mail at residency@adkdw.org.
About Academy of the Arts of the World
The Akademie der Künste der Welt (Academy of the Arts of the World, ADKDW) is an international platform for contemporary art and public discourse in Cologne. With the aim of bringing non-European perspectives into dialogue with the European public, the ADKDW regularly welcomes artists-in-residence from all over the world to Cologne. The artists-in-residence present their work with their own events in the Academy’s program. In the course of the residencies, exhibitions, talks, workshops and much more are created which are regularly announced on the ADKDW’s digital channels.
About Un-Label
Un-Label works in the field of inclusive art and culture in the areas of consulting & knowledge transfer, artistic production, professionalization of artists and cultural workers, networking and lobbying as well as research. Un-Label shows that everyone can and should have access to culture, that inclusion and accessibility are achievable. In culture and therefore also in all other areas of life.
What we offer
The ADKDW and Un-Label provide rooms for work and events for a maximum duration of six weeks
by arrangement. In addition, the ADKDW provides the artists-in-residence with a non-barrier-free one-bedroom apartment with elevator and balcony for the duration of the program. Smaller support measures such as support in the bathroom, mobile ramps etc. can be provided if required. We provide office equipment and working materials as well as basic equipment for events.
Financial resources of the residence
- 2,000 € per month as a scholarship
- 8,000 € production budget
- 5,000 € for accessibility measures
- 5,000 € for work assistance or mentoring sessions
- 2,000€ travel costs (incl. visa, luggage and regional)
- 2.000€ documentation / public relations
It is important to us to provide a space for independent research and creative work. We support this with a strong local network that the artists-in-residence can draw on. The ADKDW and its partners also establish contacts in Cologne’s communities and art scene to make it easier to arrive, get to know each other and network.
What we expect
The Participatory Residency Program is looking for artists and activists who deal with intersectional, but especially anti-ableist and de- or postcolonial critique of power. The applicants’ practice should take the form of artistic projects with aspects of power critique, participation and involvement in a contemporary cultural environment.
The artists-in-residence are expected to design a series of participatory activities and plan and implement events with the community in Cologne. The activities and events should be explicitly developed together and the aforementioned target group should not be seen as mere recipients of the program.
The application
- should be submitted in German or English (PDF document, max. 4 pages with font size 11, line spacing 1.5) to: residency@adkdw.org
- should include a description of your project incl. accessibility measures (motives and approach), a financial plan costs for assistance staff or accessibility measures (template at the end of the call)
- and a timetable. The residency can also be held digitally in part, so please provide information on the desired attendance periods in Cologne
- can also include documents of your relevant projects, maximum 5 pages
- should include a list of requirements regarding accessibility, childcare, etc. as part of your Access Rider
- provide in addition to the description of the project the following information: Name, place of residence, date of birth, contact details (email address) and if available online presence (website, Instagram…)
Please send all application documents in one PDF document, a table of contents can be added as a cover sheet for a better overview
The project outline in your application should serve as a basis for further developing the project on site. Experience in working at the interface of social and artistic work and previous projects in this area are therefore desirable.
Guide to programming and planning
- Planning and development of participatory activities in consultation with the two partner institutions
- Organization and implementation of participatory activities with the support of the two partner institutions
- Creating a working atmosphere that is aware of power dynamics and actively tries to reduce/compensate for them
- The artists-in-residence can dispose of the project budget in consultation with the ADKDW team
- Collaboration with the ADKDW team to prepare a final report
- Participation in regular meetings and evaluations with the partner institutions
Tips for describing the project
- What is your experience of working with marginalized groups?
- What could your participatory activities look like in concrete terms and what barriers need to be considered?
- How do you position yourself and your work with regard to the objectives of the scholarship and the concerns of the partner institutions?
- Describe your own way of working: What are the means and preferred modes of expression of your work?
- How would you like to be supported by the partner institutions? What is important to you in terms of support from the partner institutions?
- How do you envisage the timeline for your scholarship and the project?
- What privileges/struggles do you encounter when practicing the art? What are the struggles of other members of the community when practicing art?
- How can you support other people in the community who are (potential) artists in your work?
These questions are merely a guide to help you with your application and do not necessarily have to be answered.
Contakt
Paulina Seyfried (she/her)
Consulting
Email: paulina@un-label.eu
Phone: +49 (221) 5501544