March 1–April 30, 2019
KfW Stiftung and Akademie Schloss Solitude are happy to announce their cooperation with a new program to foster transdisciplinary and transcultural dialogue as well as critical reflection between the arts and sciences. With this interdisciplinary thematic call, Akademie Schloss Solitude—for the first time in its 30-year history—is expanding its profile with a content-related program. Artists, scientists and creative minds are invited to engage in a focused group conversation on the thematic frame of Mutations.
In the fields of biology and genetics, mutations refer to a change in DNA, the elementary code of life. Mutations occur as variation and alteration, as unforeseen transformation of material or environment. Mutations happen at the intersection of information and manifest in a modification of all aspects of life; in the physicality of living beings. In the environment and its ecological, social, and political conditions they apply to the formation of cultural spaces. Mutations hold an enormous potential for radical thinking and change. They contradict the existing order, challenging hierarchies and perhaps heralding the dawn of a new age.
Today’s ecological crisis and social inequalities pose serious structural challenges to all societies of today. Residence programs serve as an experimental space in which the participants observe, analyze, and challenge mutant processes. Through the lens of mutations we can assess and rewire these processes from the ground up. In this sense, how can we think about mutations in times of profound socio-political and ecological change? How can we unleash the diversity and multiplicity that is inherent to mutations? What does “mutation” mean in the interrelationship between artistic, social, and planetary work? In this sense, »mutations« serve as a subject to be explored from intertwining points of view, both scientifically and artistically.
The group of seven selected fellows will be committed to working on the topic jointly for the time span of nine months. They will contribute to Akademie Schloss Solitude’s internal program via monthly labs, and will also participate in public events. Accompanying mentoring will be offered during the entire stay of the residence.
Who can apply?
The open call is open to international applicants from all spheres of practice: Visual (visual arts and media), Aural & Physical (music and performing arts), Digital (digital art, gaming, digital journalism, digital publishing), Spatial (architecture and design), Textual (literature and language), Societal (education, mediation, theory), Scientific (humanities, social, natural and economic sciences).
The program addresses young professionals with different disciplinary emphases with a distinct interest in a transdisciplinary approach and a strong motivation for group interaction. We would particularly like to encourage artists from non-western knowledge backgrounds to apply for the fellowship. The conditions of the Akademie Schloss Solitude apply.
Residency
The duration of the residency is October 2020 to June 2021. All successful applicants are expected to spend the full nine months in Stuttgart to engage in the program.
The first six months of the residency are dedicated to an intensive dialogue between the fellows, in which they communally develop their practice, creating a platform for knowledge exchange. The collaborative approach to artistic research stands at the forefront of this phase. The following three months are dedicated to a development process in which the fellows expand their practice to engage with the public. The topical residency leads to a closing format (symposium, exhibition or other event, and a publication).
Application
Applicants are asked to register on the application website of the Akademie as of March 1, 2019 and to submit an abstract (max. 250 words), a portfolio of their work, and a concept paper/essay sketch related to the topic of “Mutations” (max. 1,000 words). The application deadline is April 30, 2019 (12pm CET).
KfW Stiftung is an independent non-profit foundation based in Frankfurt am Main which addresses the challenges facing society today. With the aim of raising awareness, encouraging people to take on responsibility, and shaping diversity in today’s globalized world, KfW Stiftung is active in four major areas: Environment and Climate, Social Commitment, Responsible Entrepreneurship, and Arts and Culture. The Arts and Culture program initiates various platforms for international contemporary arts, with a focus on non-European and non-western art. It initiates and funds projects such as residency programs for emerging artists and curators, or writers’ workshops.
Akademie Schloss Solitude runs an international artist-in-residence-program and has supported approximately 1,400 young artists from more than 120 countries since opening its doors in 1990. It creates a close-knit, global and transdisciplinary network of Solitude alumni that expands from year to year. Residencies at Akademie Schloss Solitude enable fellows to devote themselves to their research projects under favorable material and intellectual conditions. For them, the Akademie Schloss Solitude becomes a transdisciplinary learning unit, a platform for communal learning outside the formal educational system, a place which is open to a broader and more diverse public. By experimenting with artistic research practices and new formats, the Akademie aims to change societal processes and to stimulate intergenerational discourse.
