Call for submissions: InnovAIR residency programme in Malta

The projects should explore the concept of ‘Reset’ through the lens of the arts. They should answer the following questions:

• What are the scenarios if we could switch off reality and restart it?
• When and how should we start a resetting procedure?

They should also explore topics such as freedom of movement, well-being, sustainability, social trust, territory and spatiality in a post-pandemic world.

Two residencies will be granted for this programme in February 2021 for a total duration between one and three weeks each. The work would need to be developed and finalised from home or in studio while contributing to and enriching the capital city’s creative context.

“With many of us still working from home whilst others party, with those of us wearing masks watch others protest against their use as an infringement of their freedom, with an increasingly strong shift towards the digital which may or may not be permanent, the time is ripe for a reset of our reality,” Valletta Cultural Agency said. 

Once completed, the projects should be shared through different digital platforms to allow people’s online involvement and interaction. The exact date for the online sharing in February will be agreed with the artist(s).

Eligibility

The projects are accepted in the following art forms:

• Music (including composition)
• Animation, illustration and design
• Film
• Digital art
• Literature
• New media
• Photography
• Installation art
• Visual arts

Interested applicants should:

• Have reached 18 years of age at the time of the application.
• Be individual artists or groups of artists working together virtually.
• Have an artistic concept/idea/project to develop with an outcome that can be shared exclusively through online means.
• Be able to communicate adequately in Maltese and/or English.
• Be artists with a VAT number, or its equivalent, in their country of residence.

Requirements

• A completed application form attached at the bottom of the call.
• Timeline of actions
• Format and describe the final digital public sharing (presentation, lecture, performance, screening, digital booklet and a short tutorial, etc.)
• Any other document supporting the artistic proposal
• Copy of the artist’s ID card or passport.
• Artist professional CV and a short biography.
• A portfolio of related works for visual artists: images or video links.  
• A synopsis of previous works such as video links and reviews.
• A list of publications and professional acknowledgements.

All requirements should be sent as a PDF via email on opencalls@vca.gov.mt, mentioning InnovAiR: Reset as the email subject.

The selection process will take place between 16 and 18 January 2021.

The selected artists will:

• Sign a contract for service with the agency.
• Be required to regularly update the agency on the production and progression of work.
• Liaise with the agency staff to determine how best to present their final work.
• Be required to visually document all residency steps, making the agency’s material for promotion and marketing.

Note:

• As this is a competitive process, the proposals received will be evaluated by a specifically-appointed panel according to the timeframes indicated below.
• In case of third-party funding for the residency, candidates should indicate the name(s) of the funding partner(s) and the amount received.

Selection process

Priority will be given to proposals that are:

• Innovative in how they engage with the theme (10 points).
• Virtually Engaging and collaborative (10 points).
• Virtually Interactive and participatory (10 points).

The pass mark is 20 points.

Remuneration

The successful residents will receive remuneration based on the residency length and a marketing and promotional deal.

Remuneration for individual residents will be as follows:

• A week – €600 (about $ 700)
• Two weeks – €1 100
• Three weeks – €1 500

Remuneration for groups (two or more artists) is as follows:

• A week – €1 000 (About $1 200)
• Two weeks – €1 800
• Three weeks – €2 500

The submission deadline is 15 January 6pm CAT. 

View the original call here.

Interested applicants can download and complete the application form attached below.