Until September 13, 2023, STARTS4AFRICA is launching a call for hosts for its first residency program. This program will be entirely dedicated to promoting innovation in Sub-Saharan Africa at the intersection of science, technology and the arts.
S+T+ARTS is a European Commission-funded organization whose aim is to explore the many valuable perspectives offered by the intersection of technology and science from an artistic point of view. Through this holistic and innovative human-centered approach, the organization hopes to develop a new way of looking at business and research methods.
With a view to developing this idea of innovation at the crossroads of science, art and technology, S+T+ARTS focuses on projects and people who can make a significant contribution to this effort. The STARTS4AFRICA residency program therefore represents a means of supporting the realization of this new artistic perception. STARTS4AFRICA plans to fund 8 STARTS residencies hosted by African institutions, notably in Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, DR Congo and Tanzania.
Expected applicants must demonstrate their capacity and ability to provide support and resources such as access to various materials, technologies and physical facilities. They must also demonstrate their interest in topics such as:
- Food and water
- Digital cartography and speculative landscapes
- Culture and coding
- Wearable technology and intelligent textiles
- Immersive storytelling
- Rethinking sustainable construction
- Speculative urbanism
The residency program is particularly keen to welcome applicants from Ghana, Nigeria, DR Congo, Senegal and Tanzania. In addition, all interested artists are invited to participate in their artistic guest house.
Objectives of the STARTS4AFRICA residency program
The objectives set by this residency program are as follows:
- Ensure the S+T+ARTS residency of participants by funding 08 artistic residencies located in African technology institutions and other relevant local players, in the 5 target countries and in cohesion with the STARTS residency program;
- The establishment of a first pilot edition of the STARTS Prize for African artists and institutions in 2024, to reward innovative projects corresponding to the objective of crossing science, technology and the arts in order to make a significant contribution to economic and social innovation within the continent;
- The implementation of a mentoring program for STARTS residencies and its results;
- The organization of a STARTS4AFRICA networking academy to promote skills in digital and artistic innovation, geared towards broader local stakeholder participation and open to EU-AF collaboration;
- The promotion of dialogue and narrative construction on an equal footing between African and European artists and IHLs to address relevant societal challenges linked to the green and digital transition, as well as the fight against misinformation.
To ensure that the residency program runs smoothly, it will be organized into four phases.
- The reflection phase: this focuses on exchanging knowledge and defining common objectives for successful collaboration.
- The development phase: artists connect with researchers and creatives in research institute laboratories and corporate R&D departments for a moment of exchange.
- The evaluation phase: analysis of the potential impact of new ideas and scenarios on governments and companies.
- The production phase: the artist participates in the innovation process within the company or research institution, and is supported in the design of his or her artistic prototype.
The STARTS4AFRICA residency program offers many advantages. Participation in the guest house offers the opportunity to experiment with new methodologies and explore innovative co-creation processes with other artists. It allows you to increase your visibility and take advantage of numerous opportunities such as attending large-scale public events, while providing participants with an extensive network of esteemed experts in Europe and Africa. Host institutions participating in the STARTS4AFRICA residency project will be contracted and remunerated up to €25,000 with payments made in euros.
Residency eligibility criteria
In order to participate in this residency program, applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Reside in one of the following countries: Ghana, Nigeria, DR Congo, Senegal and Tanzania;
- Be a public or private organization with legal personality, e.g. non-profit organizations (private or public); public authorities (national, regional, local); international organizations; for-profit entities.
- Be a legal entity created no later than 2020;
- Be from the scientific or technological sector (such as research centers, universities, technology companies) with close links to the cultural and creative sectors and industries (CCSI) or be from the CCSI with an established network and access to scientific and technological entities/projects;
- Have the facilities, services and staff to host and provide advice as part of a STARTS4AFRICA residency.
Artists and other interested entities, even those not selected to participate in this first edition of the residency, will be integrated into the STARTS4AFRICA pool of key stakeholders and considered for future STARTS4AFRICA activities. Application to the residency program closes no later than September 13, 2023 at 23:59 GMT+1. Click here to apply.
