OPEN CALL : CALLING WOMEN ARTISTS / CONSTRUCTING FUTURE CITIES

Through research, our organisation has found that these cities are often born out of male dominated, outdated, and unsuccessful modernist-led planning principles, which have served to perpetuate inequality and rupture the systems of justice and quality of life for billions of people. The city of the past can no longer be. A new generation of visionaries who reimagine cities is not only necessary, but urgent.
Despite the rise of female city leaders and professionals around the world and the growing expression of female voices in the built environment sector, gender inequality still exists in the ways cities are envisioned and planned.
As our world becomes more complex, intertwined and yet fragmented, open cultural exchange and understanding becomes more necessary. Our approach to research should therefore include new informants and mediums to engage with these complexities.
CONSTRUCTING FUTURE CITIES is a research programme, which will support 3 or more women artists to produce works which seek to interpret, engage and assemble these views and imagination, of young women in the built environment sector in Cape Town and London.
CONSTRUCTING FUTURE CITIES provides both an opportunity and platform for artists to contribute directly to the research of our organisation.
About
The overall programme is structured around:

1. for our organisation : the collection and research of the views young women in the built environment sector, about visions for cities, in Cape Town and London by our organisation
2. for the artists :
   discussions with the organisation (digitally, every second week) to discuss the research presented or collected by the organisation
   a 2 day visit to Durban to visit local projects, people and spaces
   a 5 day visit to Cape Town where artists will live together, share a studio space to produce/finalise their artwork and present their work at a public forum
   The visits to Durban and Cape Town provide an opportunity for collaboration and learning with the aim to inspire and allow the artists to meet new people, establish networks, contemplate new projects and to enrich their works. The programme for the artists is largely process-based, with the artists required to produce pieces/works (depending on the artistic medium) at the end of the programme, which they will present at a closing event.

Programme Structure
Eligibility: Women Artists (open to participants from around the world, transport only covered within South Africa)
The artists will be supported through :

• Accommodation in Cape Town (5 nights) and Durban (2 nights)
• Return flights from within South Africa (i.e a domestic flight)
• Meals during the Cape Town and Durban visit
• A ZAR 5,000 honorarium for the production of the works
• Transport to and from locations in Cape Town and Durban, including airport transfers
• Access to a basic studio work space for the Cape Town leg

The artists will be required to :

• produce 1 or more works ( all artistic mediums and media welcome )
• engage occasionally through Skype (or calls), as we share the research
• participate in the site visits and discussions in Cape Town and Durban
• be willing to be interviewed, and present their final art/visual pieces

Please note that artists will retain the rights to final ownership and distribution of their works, but Our Future Cities NPO will have rights related to the promotion (digital or other) and non-commercial distribution of the works subject to an agreement.
Key Dates
Please note that the final dates are subject to change.
Application Deadline: 31 March, 17:00 GMT+2
Durban: late April 2024
Cape Town: late May, early June 2024
Application Process
Applicants must include in their application:

• Contact Details : First Name, Surname, Contact Number(s), Email address, Physical Address, City (current), Birthdate
• Please share information about should include your artistic medium and may also recent work experiences, installations, exhibitions (Alternatively, a 2 page CV in PDF format)
• Artist’s Statement (500 words maximum) : What is your motivation for participating in CONSTRUCTING FUTURE CITIES?
• Provide a description of your proposed work for CONSTRUCTING FUTURE CITIES. Please include attachments that are relevant e.g. drawings, budget, concepts
• Portfolio (2/3 pieces) or link to website

Selection Committee to be announced shortly.
Please email all the necessary documents/ enquiries to arts@futurecapetown.com by 31 March, 17:00 GMT+2
http://futurecapetown.com/constructing-future-cities/