Open call is now closed and participating artists are announced here.

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Open call for artists and cultural practitioners for one-week research residency and summative exhibition

Application deadline: 15 May 2017
Successful applications announcement: 22 May 2017
Important dates: One week in September (residency) and 21 October 2017 (exhibition opening)
Location: England
Apply to: aisforappleproject@gmail.com

Project introduction:

A is for Apple is an art project that looks at how Brexit will affect apple farming in England and artists are invited to respond to what is happening. Even though Brexit is getting a lot of media coverage, the crisis that farming finds itself in because of it is scarcely mentioned. People will be affected by this drastic change including farmers, seasonal migrant workers and us as consumers. We want to understand and tell these stories. For us apples are a useful vector to explore English heritage, seasonal migrant worker issues and agricultural practices. This is an opportunity to open up this conversation, to understand the effects of the impending policies and to question food production. This art project is centred around three core questions: How do we imagine a humane future for farming? What are appropriate interventions to farming processes? What relationships will be affected?

Artists’ role and eligibility:

The project is open to up to 4 artists who work within but not limited to the fields of digital art, installation, interactive art, performance, photography, poetry, sound art, video art, writing and cross-disciplinary mediums. We also encourage practitioners from different fields such as arts, ecology and natural sciences with research interests and creative approaches to apply. The artists will have to be willing to take on a research-based approach. Artists must be above 18 years of age and based in England. Artist collectives are eligible to apply.

Selected artists will each be staying in one apple farming location (e.g. Faversham in Kent or Kingsburi Episcopi in Somerset) for a week in September for a research residency at a working apple farm. We will collaborate with four different types of apple farms including a mass producing farm, a cider farm, an organic farm and a conservation apple orchard. At the end of each residency, the artist will be required to lead one workshop that will be open to the public. The artists will also participate in a summative exhibition in London in October. The exhibition in London will display the works that the artist will have developed through their research, events and workshop at their apple farm.

Project outcomes:

In addition to the week-long residencies at apple farming locations and the summative London exhibition, there will be a symposium bringing together farmers, seasonal workers, artists and individuals within the fields of arts, ecology and natural science. A is for Apple will also create a publication that will consolidate the artworks, discussion and human stories found along the way. There will also be a short documentary that will follow each artist’s research residency at their farm.

Support that the artists will receive:

Selected artists will each receive £450 honorarium for participating in the project, and up to £150 for materials fees. Travel expenses will be covered and organised for the week-long residency at apple farming locations.

How to apply:

To apply please send your portfolio to aisforappleproject@gmail.com. Applicants must also submit a one-page statement of interest including research intentions, proposal for activity during the one-week residency and preferred artistic medium. Deadline for application is 11:59 PM (GMT) on 15 May 2017.

All applicants will receive a response by 22 May 2017.

If you have any questions regarding your application please email us at aisforappleproject@gmail.com