Yearly Archives: 2016

Call for Works: Tagore

ecoartscotland, Open Calls

This post comes to you from EcoArtScotland

THE SOIL IN return for her service
keeps the tree tied to her,
the sky asks nothing and leaves it free.

Fireflies, Rabindranath Tagore

Liz Adamson asked us to share that Professor Bashabi Fraser and Christine Kupfer are launching a new online journal called Gitanjali and Beyond, as part of their work at the Scottish  Centre of Tagore Studies.

Gitanjali and Beyond is a peer-reviewed open-access international journal, promoting creative writing and research on Rabindranath Tagore’s work and life, his circle and his impact. Tagore won the Noble Prize in literature (2013)

Call for artworks

We are looking for short articles with photos/ videos of artworks (painting, sculpture, photography, installation, performance art, new media etc.) for our new open-access online journal Gitanjali and Beyond, which publishes peer-reviewed academic articles, creative writing and art. Our upcoming issue is “Expression and relevance of Rabindranath Tagore’s spirituality in the arts, education and politics.” The artwork submissions do not have to directly relate to Tagore but should relate to aspects of his thinking related to this topic.

Rabindranath Tagore’s spiritual ideas are this-worldly and at the same time based on the belief in a deeper reality. His ideas were inspired by Hindu scriptures such as the Upanishads, Vaisnava, Baul, Buddhist and Persian traditions, the reformist involvement of his family in the Brahmo Samaj, and his encounters with ideas and people from around the world. At the same time, he creatively selected and reframed these ideas on the basis of his own revelations. Spirituality, for Tagore, touches every aspect of life and leads humanity to fullness and joy by connecting them with other people, with nature, and with spirituality. This connection is established through love, action and knowledge. Tagore’s spirituality has many social and political facets, as it encourages active involvement to make the world a better place by developing internationalism/cosmopolitanism, tolerance, and social engagement.

It is relevant for ecology as it embraces the connection and care for nature. He expressed all these ideas through his poetry and prose, through his educational and social endeavours, and through his art. Tagore’s ideas have been described as an artists’ religion, as they encourage creative interactions with the world.

Further inspiration can be found in his essays (e.g., https://fortunedotcom.files.wordpress.com/2014/02/sadhana-by-tagore.pdf) and in his poetry  (http://www.tagoreweb.in/StaticTOC/AlphabeticEnglishVersesIndex.aspx?ct=Verses).

Decisions on publications will be made by the Art Editorial Board of Gitanjali and Beyond, based on the quality of the work.

Please send your submissions to c.kupfer@napier.ac.uk until 17 April 2016.

ecoartscotland is a resource focused on art and ecology for artists, curators, critics, commissioners as well as scientists and policy makers. It includes ecoartscotland papers, a mix of discussions of works by artists and critical theoretical texts, and serves as a curatorial platform.

It has been established by Chris Fremantle, producer and research associate with On The Edge Research, Gray’s School of Art, The Robert Gordon University. Fremantle is a member of a number of international networks of artists, curators and others focused on art and ecology.

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Opportunity for Artists: Climart Commission

Creative Carbon Scotland, Open Calls

This post comes from Creative Carbon Scotland

This commission will run over a period of approximately 12 months and it is envisaged that some of this time will be spent in Norway facilitated by an artist’s fee and, where relevant, support from project partners. The final goal is the creation of a public artwork that embodies aspects of the research, creating a platform to test significance, affect and impact.

About Climart and the research

Communicating the facts of climate change is one of the most serious challenges of our era. Although there has been significant research about the visualization of climate change, research about the contribution of contemporary art has been scarce. The focus of Climart is to examine the underlying psychological mechanisms involved in both the production and reception of visual art and to use these findings in an attempt to unite the natural sciences to the visual arts. Ultimately, the project aims to identify effective communication methodologies that have the capacity to reach greater audiences, initiate discussion and potentially influence attitudes.

About the commission

This is an opportunity to develop new work that responds to an on-going psychological study seeking to uncover what methods of making most effectively communicate the science of climate change. Within this framework there is significant scope to develop the efficacy of art/science collaborations and make a high profile work with strong impact.

We are therefore seeking an artist who is interested in engaging fully with the work being conducted by the Climart project. This means that the commissioned artist will become an active member of the project, both benefitting from and contributing to the discourses of the team. In line with this, the artist will be expected to attend key activities, such as the yearly project symposiums, and negotiate inclusion in other relevant activities.

Artist Criteria

  • A commitment to collaborating with cross-disciplinary partners.
  • An ability to create artwork that reacts and responds to discourse and research information.
  • A track record of project management toward a public outcome.
  • A commitment to oversee the completion of a final artwork, and participate in activities around public engagement, feedback and legacy.
  • An engagement with the issue of climate change.

Aims

  • To test how scientific data is best embodied in an artwork; how can this be translated into affective processing?
  • Stimulate debate about the effects of, and our effect on, climate change
  • Create an artwork that will having a lasting effect on the viewer; provoke discussions about positive change.
  • Engage new audiences with both the thematic and contemporary art and climate change.
  • Attract audiences to the site of the artwork and augment Trondheim’s ambitious art in public spaces programme.

The following are of note:

  • The work will be semi-permanent (approximately one year) and may travel / be re-sited in other locations.
  • A public space in Trondheim will be the first location of the work. It is not necessary for the artist to identify a specific site, as this will be negotiated in partnership, but the commission should be considered for a high-traffic, public space, as opposed to an art gallery or museum.
  • The work can be exterior or interior. If exterior, there should be a realistic approach to the challenges posed by the Norwegian climate.
  • Additional platforms for the work, including on-line sites, mobile apps, etc are encouraged.
  • There is no specification regarding media, although the commission should aim to reflect sustainable methods of making, notably the proposal should not be environmentally damaging.

 Budget

  • Artists fee
  • Production and installation costs
  • Transport/delivery of work
  • Travel and accommodation expenses in relation to time spent in Norway (as negotiated)

TOTAL BUDGET: NK 550,000 (approx. 57.000 Euro)

 Eligibility

Applicants must have previous experience of collaborative working methods and experience in realising public art projects / commissions. A good level of English for communicating with the research team is essential.

To Apply

As the purpose of this commission is to appoint an artist to create a new work in response to on-going research, in the first instance, Climart is seeking ‘expressions of interest’ that demonstrate the artist criteria (outline in ‘About the Commission’ details).

Please submit an ‘Expression of Interest’ in the form of a single PDF in English language by 14th March 2016 adhering to the following format:

  •  Biographical Sketch (200 words)
  • To include, where relevant, how your practice relates to thematic of climate change
  • Your proposed approach to the commission and projected outcomes (300 words)
  • Please outline what methodologies and structures you may use to work with the Climart Project, giving where possible your ideas for potential artworks.
  • Images – up to 5 images (documented works, stills etc) of previous works.
  • CV including links to further reading, imagery, video etc

A shortlist of five proposals will be selected. Each shortlisted artist would be given NK 10,000 to work up a final proposal and to attend interviews, including travel.

 Expressions of interest are to be sent to climart@svt.ntnu.no within 14th March 2016 (23:59 CET).

Important note:

At the stage of “expressions of interest” no questions can be answered. Shortlisted artists will have the opportunity to ask questions until the 4th April 2016. After that date, no direct contact between submitting artists and the jury is allowed before the proposals have been submitted and evaluated by the jury. Questions must be sent in written form (email to climart@svt.ntnu.no,  not telephone) and answers + questions will be circulated to all shortlisted participants, to ensure that all are working with the same information.

MORE INFORMATION: http://www.climart.info/#!artist/cvz9

The post Opportunity for Artists: Climart Commission appeared first on Creative Carbon Scotland.

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Creative Carbon Scotland is a partnership of arts organisations working to put culture at the heart of a sustainable Scotland. We believe cultural and creative organisations have a significant influencing power to help shape a sustainable Scotland for the 21st century.

In 2011 we worked with partners Festivals Edinburgh, the Federation of Scottish Threatre and Scottish Contemporary Art Network to support over thirty arts organisations to operate more sustainably.

We are now building on these achievements and working with over 70 cultural organisations across Scotland in various key areas including carbon management, behavioural change and advocacy for sustainable practice in the arts.

Our work with cultural organisations is the first step towards a wider change. Cultural organisations can influence public behaviour and attitudes about climate change through:

Changing their own behaviour;
Communicating with their audiences;
Engaging the public’s emotions, values and ideas.

Go to Creative Carbon Scotland

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Green Arts Initiative Report Now Published!

Creative Carbon Scotland

This post comes from Creative Carbon Scotland

The GAI report showcases the work that Scottish artists and arts organisations have been doing to affect their carbon footprint and environmental sustainability, and highlights their plans for action over 2016.

GAI-Rosette-11 GAI-Rosette-4

In a year where the Green Arts Initiative doubled in its membership, the report highlights what our members have been doing to reduce their environmental impact, and they efforts they have gone to in order to extend environmental sustainability to their artists, audiences and staff members.

GAI-Rosette-8 GAI-Rosette-2

In October 2015 we hosted our first annual conference for GAI members, with over 20 speakers from the green arts community, and carried out a major survey to find out more about our members, and what help them achieve their sustainability goals. We learnt a huge amount the community, and have since planned a programme of resources and events over 2016 to help support our members.

Read the report to find out more!

Read the 2015 Green Arts Initiative Report

 

The Green Arts Initiative is a networked community of Scottish arts organisations committed to reducing their environmental impact, and exploring how the arts can contribute to a more sustainable Scotland. Find out more about the Green Arts Initiative, and become a member, here.

 

The post Green Arts Initiative Report Now Published! appeared first on Creative Carbon Scotland.

———-

Creative Carbon Scotland is a partnership of arts organisations working to put culture at the heart of a sustainable Scotland. We believe cultural and creative organisations have a significant influencing power to help shape a sustainable Scotland for the 21st century.

In 2011 we worked with partners Festivals Edinburgh, the Federation of Scottish Threatre and Scottish Contemporary Art Network to support over thirty arts organisations to operate more sustainably.

We are now building on these achievements and working with over 70 cultural organisations across Scotland in various key areas including carbon management, behavioural change and advocacy for sustainable practice in the arts.

Our work with cultural organisations is the first step towards a wider change. Cultural organisations can influence public behaviour and attitudes about climate change through:

Changing their own behaviour;
Communicating with their audiences;
Engaging the public’s emotions, values and ideas.

Go to Creative Carbon Scotland

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Report on Mull Artists’ Residency 2015 Published

Creative Carbon Scotland

This post comes from Creative Carbon Scotland

In March 2015, we invited twelve artists of different disciplines to join us for our second Arts & Sustainability Artists’ Residency. Stephanie de Roemer and Allison Palenske have produced a report for us reflecting on the events and outcomes of Mull 2015.

The residency was structured around a weekend-long discussion on the extraordinary and ambitious UN Sustainable Development Goals and aimed to:

  • Provide artists with the space and stimuli to consider how environmental sustainability could drive new ways of working;
  • Collectively develop artists’, Creative Carbon Scotland’s and Comar’s to think about how environmental sustainability can be engaged with in different artistic practices on practical and conceptual levels;
  • Nurture and build a creative community of practice which embeds environmental sustainability at its core.

mully.1 copyRead the full Mull Report 2015 here 

More information on the project and its outcomes here.

The twelve artists participating in the Mull 2015 Residency: Alice Cooper, performer/theatre maker;  Hannah Imlach, visual artist; Hector MacInnes, composer/musician; Holly Keasey, socially engaged visual artist; Jean Lanteri Laura, photographer; Kevin Dagg, sculptor; Niroshini Thambar, composer/musician; Rebecca Sharp, writer; Saffy Setohy, choreographer/dancer; Sam Cook, visual artist; Thomas Butler, composer and Vivian Ross Smith, visual artist.

The residency was facilitated by Professor Mike Bonaventura and documented by Stephanie de Roemer. The residency was supported by Comar and funded by Creative Scotland.

The post Report on Mull Artists’ Residency 2015 Published appeared first on Creative Carbon Scotland.

———-

Creative Carbon Scotland is a partnership of arts organisations working to put culture at the heart of a sustainable Scotland. We believe cultural and creative organisations have a significant influencing power to help shape a sustainable Scotland for the 21st century.

In 2011 we worked with partners Festivals Edinburgh, the Federation of Scottish Threatre and Scottish Contemporary Art Network to support over thirty arts organisations to operate more sustainably.

We are now building on these achievements and working with over 70 cultural organisations across Scotland in various key areas including carbon management, behavioural change and advocacy for sustainable practice in the arts.

Our work with cultural organisations is the first step towards a wider change. Cultural organisations can influence public behaviour and attitudes about climate change through:

Changing their own behaviour;
Communicating with their audiences;
Engaging the public’s emotions, values and ideas.

Go to Creative Carbon Scotland

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