The Octopus Programme is a guided research-based educational programme that encourages artistic research and production-based collaborations across academies and art institutions; students and professionals; diverse presentation modes; and processes of research and documentation in different geographies. While the Octopus Programme functions as a support mechanism for emerging artists, the main objective of the programme is to accumulate experience-based collective and creative output by taking geopolitical, social, ecological, and educational urgencies and diversities into consideration.
Correspondingly, the programme intends to develop and point out new critical perspectives and standing points to process artistic research and practices. In this respect, by merging the viewpoints of academic entities and contemporary art institutions along with what they can provide such as mixed facilities and activities, the Octopus Programme would like to develop a progressive methodology by creating its autonomous network.
This call for the next phase of the programme is open to all Diploma Students, Master’s and PhD students at the University of Applied Arts Vienna, Konstfack University of Arts, Crafts and Design Stockholm, and artists from or based in South Africa, Palestine and Tunisia.
The programme includes will include peer-to-peer educational sessions, talks and tutorials by guest lecturers, online and class discussions, research field trips and work groups, collaborative production-based workshops in Birzeit, Istanbul, Johannesburg, Helsinki, Pretoria, Stockholm, Tunis and Vienna. Futhermore, guest artists and activities will accompany the programme.
Applicants should have oral and written proficiency in English and be able to travel abroad twice between June 2021 and June 2022 (5 to 7 days). The travel and production expenses of the winning participants are covered.
