Open call
29 September 2021
Deadline
28 October 2021
Announcement
22 November 2021
Residency period
31 January- 28 February 2022
Exhibition
End of February 2022
The Istanbul Design Biennial initiates a new residency programme, which is an international and more inclusive rendition of the project Camekân (Display Window), created in 2018. The programme is supported by the EU's Common Cultural Heritage: Preservation and Dialogue between Turkey and the EU-II (CCH-II) grant and realised in partnership with the Karlsruhe University of Arts and Design (HfG).
The programme offers a residency for emerging designers from Europe and cities across Turkey outside of Istanbul, as well as experts in the design field from both Europe and Turkey, who will share their knowledge with the participating designers/artists in order to foster cross disciplinary and trans-regional collaborations and exchanges.
WHY THIS PROGRAMME?
Camekân aims to remove mental and physical boundaries, enhance intercultural dialogue between civil societies in Turkey and Europe, build strong connections, bring about permanent and meaningful changes in the design industry through cross-cultural interactions by establishing an international and sustainable network between emerging talents, key sector operators, players, and professionals. Setting the ground for co-creations in intercultural design, and widening the horizons of emerging designers while helping them shape their creative practice, the programme also seeks to achieve a positive impact on policy makers and current design education.
In 2022, in order to establish a direct link with designers and artists whose education is ongoing, Camekân will cooperate with the University of Arts and Design Karlsruhe (Staatliche Hochschule für Gestaltung Karlsruhe [HfG]), Germany. The latter regards interdisciplinary work as a core part of the university concept, leading to an open understanding of design as being lived: design not only as a creative element, but also as a social element, a social working practice and a way of artistically questioning existing social structures.
FOR WHOM?
Emerging designers who seek hands-on connectedness and global networking so as to gain mobility and visibility at a turning point in their professional progression; looking for opportunities to gain experience in business development, as well as a safe space for exchanging know-how and initiating long-term partnerships; a unique opportunity to come together with experts from the creative sectors in order to gain creative experiences across disciplines.
Camekân will pave the way for intercultural exchange and dialogue by bringing the participants together in Istanbul, a city that offers diverse, fruitful and dynamic ground for artistic production, nourished by both tradition and innovation.
DETAILS OF THE PROGRAMME
The programme will be led by the Istanbul Design Biennial, Jan Boelen (curator working across the fields of design, architecture and contemporary art and Rector of the Karlsruhe University of Art & Design (HfG)) and Mevce Çıracı (designer, partner at FIELDS and lecturer at the Bahçeşehir University). They will evaluate the open call applications and supervise the entire project period.
WHO CAN PARTICIPATE?
Eight emerging designers (four from Turkey, cities outside of Istanbul and four from Europe, University of Arts and Design Karlsruhe), either university students or young graduates, will be selected via an open call.
HOW LONG IS THE PROGRAMME?
Selected designers will attend a four-week residency period expected to run between 31 January - 28 February 2022 in Istanbul. Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts, which is the umbrella institution that organises the Istanbul Design Biennial, will tend to their travels and accommodation and facilitate their research and production processes throughout the residency period, providing them with the necessary contacts, material, space and assistance.
The programme will simultaneously host eight mentors/tutors/experts (four from Turkey, four from Europe) for two-week stays in Istanbul. The invited mentors will regularly meet with the selected designers /artists they will be paired with in order to discuss their practice and research throughout the creative process. The programme will also be enriched by eight open lectures by mentors from an array of fields. All the sessions will be held in English.
The selected participants will visit the city through guided tours, take inspiration from the local knowledge, crafts, materials (both natural and human-made), sounds, smells and images and will be requested to elaborate a theme/topic out of their explorations, to create a narrative. The outcome may focus on a space, a product, a person, sounds or moving images to be displayed through an exhibition which will take place in a prominent exhibition venue in Istanbul, at the end of the residency period, in February 2022.
APPLICATION CRITERIA
Being an emerging designer, either university student or young graduate, based in Europe or cities across Turkey, outside of Istanbul. Being open to collaborate and work in a multidisciplinary environment while connecting with the city and its creative heritage. Being able to commit to participate in the full period of an intense, diverse residency programme which will run between 31 January - 28 February 2022 in Istanbul and to produce outcomes in a short period.
Education in relevant fields of design include, but are not limited to: product design, sound design, new media design, communications design, and exhibition design.
The applications can be submitted until 23.00 (GMT+3) on 28 October, 2021.
All participants of the programme will be requested to produce proof of full vaccination or, if they are not vaccinated, PCR tests with a negative result maximum 48 hours prior to their participation. Negative test results will be required every 5 days throughout the course of the residency period.
SELECTION CRITERIA
Applicants should provide the following documents via the application form:
1. Contact information (name, address, e-mail, phone, and website).
2. A motivation letter including the project proposal and what the candidate would like to focus on during the residency period (Max. 5000 characters).
3. A portfolio of projects from past experiences (Max. 10 MB).
4. A biography including details of where the candidates are based (Max. 2500 characters).
A short interview will be held following the first selection process.
Click here to access the application form.