NOMAD SPIRIT: OPEN CALL FOR ARTISTS FROM FINLAND, AUSTRIA, FRANCE AND GERMANY

Project Description
Nomad Spirit – International Program invites Austrian, Finnish, French and German artists to apply for a two-week public art program, to be held in Ulaanbaatar and Deren Soum, Dundgobi Province, Mongolia, from Sep 20 to Oct 4, 2024. The festival aims to raise public awareness of climate change and its impact on the cultures and lives of ordinary people through organization of inspirational public art events and creative activities. The project will select 4 international and 4 local artists and will facilitate their collaboration with the local community.

The program will be implemented in two locations 1) World Garden Mongolia near Ulaanbaatar, and 2) Deren Soum in Dundgobi province. Established in 2011, World Garden Mongolia is a reforestation project in Bayanzurkh mountain, located in the outskirts of Ulaanbaatar city. With the participation of the local and international community, the organization has managed to plant over 13,000 trees since 2011 and aims to create a children’s camp and summer educational center in the reforestation area. Established 100 years ago, Deren soum is a secondary administrative subdivision in Gobi area, located 250 km from Ulaanbaatar city. Around 450 people live in the administrative center. The cultures and economic activities of nomadic people living in Deren soum area has been severely affected by climate changes during the last decades. Overbreeding of animals has also contributed to the severity of water scarcity in this area.

Funded by EUNIC*, the Nomad Spirit – International Program was initiated by EUNIC Mongolia and its implementing members, the Alliance Francaise Oulan-Bator, the Austrian Embassy in Beijing, the Finnish Embassy in Beijing and the Goethe-Institut Mongolia and will be implemented by the Mongolian Contemporary Art Support Association and its affiliate Nomadic Red Corner International Residency.

Duties of Artists:
The selected artists will be divided into 2 groups and will work together with the project team and the local communities to design and implement public art events and creative activities in 2 designated locations. Artists are expected to create artworks such as mural painting, site specific installations or present media works or performances to the public, with the participation of the local communities. The project will encourage artists to use discarded and handy materials to create art objects, but will also cover some production costs, such as paint, if necessary. The project will provide space and equipment for the presentation of media works or performances.

Selection Criteria:
– Experience in public art focused on environmental and social issues. Forms include, but are not limited to, mural paintings, street art, site-specific installations, and interactive performances,
– Ability to communicate in English,
– Openness to different cultures, people, and conditions,
– Artists living and working in Austria, Finland, France, or Germany,
– Availability for two weeks (Sep 20 to Oct 4, 2024, dates might change slightly)

A jury consisting of the project’s curatorial team and representatives of the funding organizations will select one artist per country. Selected artists will be notified by the end of March 2024.

The programme offers:
– International travel cost (economy class)
– Accommodation, food, and transportation during stay in Mongolia
– Travel insurance and visa fees (if applicable)
– Production cost
– Renumeration of 1,000 EUR (gross)
– Networking with artists and institutions relevant to the project

How to Apply:
Please send an email to nomadspirit2024@gmail.com along with all documents (in English) in one PDF (max. 10MB):
– Short biography (200 words),
– Detailed Curriculum Vitae,
– Letter of motivation, indicating the location where you want to work,
– Portfolio including artworks or projects that represent the candidate’s artistic practice.

Note: Please mention “Application for Nomad Spirit” in subject line

Timeline:
Feb 20 – Mar 15th, 2024: Open Call
Mar 15th, 2024, 23:00 (Mongolian time): Application Submission Closing
Mar 15th – 25th: Jury Selection of Artists
Mar 30th, 2024: Winners announced.
Sep 20th – Oct 4th, 2024: Realization of project in Mongolia

Information about implementing organizations can be found:

Mongolian Contemporary Art Support Association
Nomadic Red Corner International Residency
Goethe-Institut Mongolia
Alliance Francaise Oulan-Bator
Austrian Embassy in Beijing
Finnish Embassy in Beijing
EUNIC

*EUNIC – European Union National Institutes for Culture – is Europe’s network of national cultural institutes and organizations, with 39 members from all EU Member States and associate countries. EUNIC – European Union National Institutes for Culture – is Europe’s network of national cultural institutes and organizations, with 39 members from all EU Member States and associate countries. EUNIC Mongolia aims to develop strong and sustainable ties between cultural stakeholders in the European Union and Mongolia by engaging in activities that are driven by the global challenges we have to respond to together.