http://www.zero1.org/opencall/incubator
American Arts Incubator: Request for Qualifications for Artists
ZERO1 is where art meets technology to shape the future. Based in Silicon Valley, ZERO1 is a global hub for creativity and innovation. ZERO1 is calling innovative digital and mural artists with a passion for community-driven art and an interest in international travel to apply to participate in the American Arts Incubator.American Arts Incubator is an international arts exchange program being developed in partnership with the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA). The program sends artists abroad to collaborate with youth and underserved populations on community-based new media and mural art projects that bolster local economies, address a local social issue, and further social innovation. Artists will be working directly with ZERO1, U.S. embassy officials, and overseas partners to realize a series of public art projects that cultivate individual and community engagement and citizenship internationally. Participating overseas locations are: Laos, Mongolia, Papua New Guinea, and the Philippines. One artist or artist team will be selected for each location, and will be responsible for creating a public art project plus overseeing a unique microgranting program to facilitate community-driven art in that location. Artists will participate in a training session located at ZERO1’s headquarters in Silicon Valley in advance of traveling overseas, and will be expected to help document their experiences via an online project portal.
Participating overseas locations are: Laos, Mongolia, Papua New Guinea, and the Philippines. One artist or artist team will be selected for each location and will be responsible for creating a public art project plus overseeing a unique microgranting program to facilitate community-driven art in that location. Artists will participate in a training session located at ZERO1’s headquarters in Silicon Valley in advance of traveling overseas and will be expected to help document their experiences via an online project portal.
DATES OF PARTICIPATION
Program duration is May 2014 – August 2015. Core dates for participation include a week of training in San Jose, California, scheduled for Summer 2014. International travel will be 3-4 weeks in late 2014 or early 2015. Specific dates will be determined collaboratively by the Artist, U.S. embassy, and ZERO1.
WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR
We are seeking culturally sensitive artists with experience in public art, social practice, community building, teaching, and working abroad—preferably with a connection or strong interest to one of the participating countries (Laos, Mongolia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines). Artists need to be driven self-starters, comfortable working independently, and open to supporting local artists overseas to create collaborative artworks.
Artists must be U.S. citizens at least 18 years of age and currently residing in the U.S.
APPLY HERE!
To apply, please submit the following materials by Sunday, March 2, 2014 online at www.zero1.org/opencall/incubator_apply.
All submissions must be received in standard PDF format, (max 2MB each PDF file). Please use the following syntax for the filename: lastname_firstname_statement.pdf and lastname_firstname_cv.pdf.
PDF #1: Statement of Interest (two pages max) that addresses the following:
- Why you are interested in this opportunity
- A brief description (including title, year, location) of ~3 work samples of your past or current digital media and/or mural projects, preferably related to public art and/or social practice and community work (include URL links when possible).
- Links to additional work, if desired.
- Description of your international experience (e.g., teaching or facilitating groups in other countries, implementing community-driven art in other countries, living/working abroad, managing international projects virtually, etc.)
- Possible mediums for a public artwork you are interested in researching overseas.
- Which location you have a particular interest in or connection to and why — Laos, Mongolia, Papua New Guinea, or the Philippines (if no preference, please state why you’re interested in the opportunity more generally). Please note that applications that clearly articulate a rationale for a particular location will be deemed more competitive.
PDF #2: Current professional vita (two pages max), including e-mail and phone contact information for three references
ABOUT THE PROGRAM
American Arts Incubator is an international arts exchange program being developed by ZERO1 in partnership with the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA). Each Artist will develop and implement a project in the overseas location focused on a current and pressing community issue. In addition to the Artist creating a public art project, a core component of the American Arts Incubator is the program of workshops and development seminars that will be led by each Artist traveling overseas. ThisAmerican Arts Incubator workshop program will be structured to take advantage of the Artist’s particular area of expertise – such as mural design, augmented reality applications, or mobile gaming – and will focus on using art in creative and innovative ways to address selected social issues in the local community. From these “incubator” sessions, the Artist will facilitate the concept development and production of four collaborative, community-driven art projects during their time overseas.
As a key contributor to a global creative arts exchange program, the Artist has the opportunity to facilitate real, art-based social impacts in one of four underserved communities around the world. Artists are challenged to investigate how a specific community issue, such as women’s empowerment, HIV-AIDS prevention, social inclusion, conflict resolution, and environmental sustainability, can be influenced by digital media or mural arts projects.
Artists will be networked together via this Virtual Exchange–an online web portal that contains program information, artist bios, a community blog, and cultural information about participating countries–where they can post and share stories, upload community-led project proposals, and document the art-making process.
BUDGET
The Artist will receive $7,000 honoraria for participation, plus an additional budget to cover public art production costs overseas. This budget will be determined during a pre-travel proposal time period, based on approval by ECA, the respective U.S. embassy, and ZERO1. Airfare, accommodations, and basic travel costs also are covered by the program.
DEADLINE
All submission materials must be received via the online application by Sunday, March 2, 2014, 11:59PM Pacific Standard Time. There is no entry fee.
SELECTION PROCESS AND POLICIES
Submissions will be reviewed by a panel of arts professionals, including experts in both community engagement through the arts and the fields of new media and mural arts. The panel also will include at least one representative from ECA. The committee will recommend artists to the U.S. embassies in the four participating countries. ECA, in consultation with the U.S. embassies, will provide final approval of the participants. One artist or artist group will be selected for each country (4 total). Although artist preferences will be taken into account, ZERO1 and ECA will be matching artists with the countries to best meet the needs of the program.
Once selected, the Artist must agree and comply with the contract terms presented by ZERO1 for the duration of the program. ZERO1 has the right to accept or reject any responses received. Artists may submit only one application.
HAVE QUESTIONS?
Email coordinator[at]zero1.org, or visit http://www.zero1.org/opencall/incubator_apply to Sumbit your qualifications.
COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY
The work and well-being of ZERO1 are strengthened profoundly by the diversity of our network and our differences in background, culture, experience, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, and much more. We actively seek and welcome applications from people of color, women, the LGBTQ community, and persons with disabilities, as well as applications from researchers and practitioners from across the spectrum of disciplines and methods.