Open Call Creative Embassies (closed for now!)
International project in Europe, collaboration with another local artist from the other city, working process of 4 days, exhibition/performance on the last day, whilst the embassy is showing you around so you’re a local after the stay. Travel, overnight stay, daily fee are being paid for. Artist fee is 300 euros ex. VAT.
Hey! You’re an artist, right?
It’s vast out there, but you’ve found your place. You’re a loser, but a proud one. No matter how exciting big cities are, you feel there’s work to be done back home. Cause there’s just something about living in an underdog city. In Leeuwarden/Salford/Rijeka, everything seems reachable. Networks and communities are tangible, understandable, and connected. There’s a good feeling floating midair, and you’re working hard to catch it. It’s a struggle, sometimes a bit demotivating because often you find that the way things are set up is making it hard to get more training or experience. But you power on.
And guess what? There’s others like you. Smaller cities like ours are found all around Europe. There, interesting art scenes often experience the same issues as we do. Isn’t it natural to get to know each other, learn from each other, and get inspired by the things our scenes do best? Almost as if Europe was a tiny, cozy neighborhood, and tackling common challenges becomes as easy as borrowing a bit of flour from someone next door.
Well, get ready to knock on that door. Creative Embassies are looking for independent, emerging artists working in the domains of pop culture, who are proud of their cities, and who passionately include communities in the stuff they do.
Are you ready to travel?
WHAT IS AN EMERGING ARTIST?
Emerging Artists are interested in working in the creative industries and are either at the beginning of their career or are looking to begin a career in the arts.
IS THIS YOU?
Essential
Are you:
Living in one of the participating cities (Leeuwarden, Salford, Rijeka)
Interested in working in the arts, cultural events, and creative industries
Working with local communities
Able to get on with a variety of people of different ages and from diverse backgrounds
Non institutionalized
Working with disciplines within the domain of Pop Culture (performing arts, visual arts, community arts)
Able to work on your own and as part of a team
Between 18 - 35 years old
Able to travel to Salford, Rijeka and/or Leeuwarden
Formal
Finally, are you:
Out of full-time education
At the start of your working life
Legally allowed to work in the UK, HR and NL
Graduation from a conservatory, or art school is not a necessity.
The Creative Embassies of Leeuwarden in the Netherlands, Salford in the UK, and Rijeka in Croatia have some flour to share. Quite similar to normal embassies, but instead of diplomacy, we exchange art scenes throughout Europe. We feel that it’s your time to proudly represent your city and your scene in either of these cities.
Leeuwarden: Leeuwarden is a small city in the North of The Netherlands, in a province called Friesland. This neighbor is called stubborn and ‘nuchter’ and is always connected to water: through industrialization, nature and culture. There are some great art scenes that are here to stay, but sometimes we overthink it. Come and get us out of our shell!
Salford: Next door to Manchester, in the North of England, Salford is sometimes called a city of firsts or the other city. It inspired the song dirty old town and didn’t exist as a collection of places before the mid 1970s. From the Quays to the University, and Chapel Street to the Civic, it might not have a single centre overground but has a vibrant exciting underground.
Rijeka: Very Balkan, a bit Italian, seemingly European, and completely nuts. Rijeka is a small post-industrial coastal city in Croatia that blends, hosts and proudly shows literally everything that comes to your mind. We don’t know how it’s even possible, but it works. We’re kinda into breaking rules and mingling long into the night. Still, we could really use some new energy. Vidimo se!
During a four-day residency, you’ll have time to experiment and discover. Draw parallels between the cities, and connect with artists and cultural organizations to learn and tackle that which affects you both. But don’t worry, you’re not on your own in this weird “other” city. The Embassy will be your gateway into the scene. Think of it as a time to literally meet everyone and see everything, as well as produce an art piece together. At the end, the Embassy will be the stage of the final presentation of the collaborative work. This could be an exhibition, a performance, anything, really. Cause, the thing is – it’s about what you bring home to share. It’s about how your city, as well as your own practice, can grow.
SEPTEMBER 7th till 11th — The Creative Embassy of Salford, The United Kingdom
(During: We Invented the Weekend Festival)
OCTOBER 20th till 23rd — The Creative Embassy of Rijeka, Republic of Croatia
(Local Councils of Hartera, Kružna, and Tesla)
NOVEMBER 22nd till 27th — The Creative Embassy of Leeuwarden, The Netherlands
Underdogs for life!
Application
Sounds good?
Apply before the 31th of July by sending us an email with a short summary of what you’re doing and why you would love to go on this adventure with us.