[artinfo] open call for participants from the disciplines of architecture, art, data visualisation and science

[Art&Education]

Architecture Ukraine 2015, 
open call for participants

IZOLYATSIA. Platform for Cultural Initiatives
Naberezhno-Luhova str., 8
Kyiv, 04071
Ukraine

<http://www.izolyatsia.org/en/>www.izolyatsia.org

  IZOLYATSIA is pleased to announce its annual residence program. We 
are now accepting proposals from architects, artists, data 
visualisers and scientists wanting to explore the notion of 
architecture via the prism of inventive interventions within the 
urban context.

For the summer 2015 program, Eastern Ukraine is chosen as a case 
study and the network of cities adjacent to but not within the war 
zone. The program is designed to raise social awareness, through 
physical and digital interventions. We are looking for all forms of 
creative expression that would in one way or another improve the 
lives of the people in these cities.

The residency will be hosted in IZOLYATSIA's site in Kyiv, but 
throughout the eight-week period, frequent research trips, reviews, 
events, lectures and workshops will take place. The data collected 
and analysed will reveal and define the scope of the proposals. 
Participants are asked to take a step back, study and gather data on 
the makeup of the urban conurbation and to investigate an aspect of 
social 'fabric' or 'phenomena'. Careful examination of all of the 
layers will reveal the immense complexity of an urban system. The 
residency program provides the logistical framework in partnership 
with educational and cultural establishments. Understanding the 
context in a holistic way provides the necessary setting for an 
unexpected positive 'thought shift'. The final proposals or systems 
shall be built or established through classical or digital 
fabrication methods.

The applicants are asked to submit a project proposal based on one or 
more of the keywords in the context of 'architecture' and the site, 
together with a data visualisation concept.

Site context
The applicants are expected to have knowledge of the case study city 
and Ukraine, or show an active interest in developing one. We shall 
select eight proposals, and IZOLYATSIA will enable the study within 
the local context and provide support throughout the residency 
period. Participants must be aware of the critical issues affecting 
the future of industrialised cities in eastern Ukraine. There is a 
looming and very real problem. The decline of industry and historical 
purpose prompt an urgent need for new identity and function reflected 
in their socio-economic demographic and the built environments that 
support these structures. Future cities will be 'smart' connected 
conurbations, efficient and energy conscious, serviced by modern 
infrastructure and environmental systems dedicated to limiting 
pollution. Creative capital and 'soft power' may be a driver for 
future prosperity and renewal...or not! Whatever the case, 
authorities need to understand what they have.

Publication and exhibition 
At the end of the program a pop-up exhibition will be put together to 
mark the end of the residency. This will consist of data 
visualisations, well-defined research themes and initial findings. 
However during the following year, participants can implement their 
projects as a part of a larger analysis / publication / exhibition on 
the outcomes of the inventive process.

Jury
The residency program and the participant projects will be judged by 
international and local experts and academics from the fields of 
urban design, science, sociology, arts and architecture.

Submission requirements and process
To apply please send the following (in pdf format only) 
to <mailto:residency at izolyatsia.org>residency at izolyatsia.org
- Letter of intent, with a project proposal idea
- Personal statement (500 words)
- Current CV and a selection of portfolio work (seven pages approximately)
- Documentation of other relevant work (up to three pages)

The finalists of the open-call will be invited for an interview via 
Skype on June 4, 2015. Successful applicants will be informed on June 
6.

Host offers:
- Travel
- Communal accommodation
- Stipend for living and production expenses
- Simple studio space
- Support by local volunteer-assistants
- Exhibition / publication as the concluding stage of the program

Host expects:
- Dedicated participation in the research project
- Collaboration with curators
- Collaboration with other residents
- Resident-led educational event for the local community
- Production of final piece at the end of the residency-period