Eco-Craft: Science and Craft Collaboration
Artist and Scientist Submissions due March 29th, 2021 at Midnight
The Manitoba Craft Council invites artists, craftspeople, and scientists in Manitoba to submit expressions of interest in Eco-Craft. Eco-Craft seeks to include craft-based artists in the climate change discourse concurrently revealing how craft has an active role to play. In particular, we provide an opportunity to connect craft-based practitioners with scientists to understand, explore, communicate, and potentially find solutions to the problems connected with Manitoba in this global crisis.
Craft maintains a fundamental link to materials, place, and problem-solving. Historically, all items were tied to the local landscape, and this limitation provided both a resource and fostered ingenuity to address local problems. Craft, as something with its roots deeply embedded in functional object-making, creates local culture and responds to local needs. Its processes come from what is at hand, what is pressing, and it connects to the environment on all levels, drawing both resources and inspiration from it. Our project asks craft-based artists to connect their process to the current environmental crisis with a particular view to exposing the issues and responding through their materials.This is a chance to see the bigger picture and use your voice to bring others into the conversation.
Find submission guidelines for Artists and Scientists below.
Information for Artists
Artists and Craftspeople Online Submission Form: Here
SUMMARY
The Manitoba Craft Council is excited to invite craft artists and scientists to submit expressions of interest in Eco-Craft. Eco-Craft is a creative, cross-disciplinary project pairing artists and scientists to explore climate change. From a review of all applications, project organizers will select and pair eight craft artists and eight scientists working in environment-related research to participate in the project.
Participants will commit to monthly meetings with their science partner, monthly group meetings, and time spent individually on reading, research, and making. Contingent upon funding, the project will culminate in an exhibition at the C2 Centre for Craft.
THE UNIQUE ROLE OF CRAFT
For artists, Eco-Craft offers a unique opportunity to engage with the science of climate change in real terms and at a local level. It’s a chance to work with scientists to understand, explore, communicate, and potentially find solutions to the problems connected with Manitoba in this global crisis. We’re calling on you to bring your knowledge, experience, and resources to bear on climate change.
The role of the artist in Eco-Craft is to listen, connect, imbibe, cogitate, challenge, and reveal. We expect participating artists to be collaborative, inquisitive, thoughtful, and willing to ask questions of their science partner. You will not be an illustrator of your scientist’s work but rather find a place for your voice in the dialogue.
EXPECTATIONS
-Minimum of 6 partner meetings (or comparable contact) from May 2021 to January 2022
-Approx 6 artist group meetings for mutual support and learning from May 2021 to January 2022
-Individual time spent reading, researching, and making
-Anticipate dedicating at least 10 hours a month to Eco-Craft and related explorations
-Each artist-scientist pairing will be responsible to arrange meeting times and work out the details of their collaboration.
ELIGIBILITY
All Manitoba Craft Council members are welcome to apply. (Become a member here.) The artist must be primarily craft-based, ie. working in a traditional craft media including ceramic, fibre, metal, paper, recycled materials, stone, glass and wood. In addition, artists working in mixed media and across disciplines that are primarily craft-based in material and/or technique are welcome. Craft artists whose main work is functional, decorative, traditional or conceptual are welcome to apply.
SELECTION CRITERIA
Craft artists will be selected to participate based on the strength of their artwork, robustness of their art practice, and current engagement with environmental issues in their work. Project organizers will also be seeking to create a diverse group; craft artists at varying stages of their careers, working in a range of craft media, and from a diversity of backgrounds are encouraged to apply.
TIMELINE
Deadline to apply: March 29, 2021
Notification of result: April 15, 2021
May-December 2021: discussion/collaboration to unfold
January-August 2022: artists create new work and communicate with curator
September 2022: group exhibition at the C2 Centre for Craft
COVID-19
All group meetings and activities facilitated through the Manitoba Craft Council will be held in compliance with changing government guidelines and restrictions. This may include virtual meetings if in-person gatherings are discouraged or prohibited. Scientist and artist pairings are responsible for arranging appropriate precautions for their collaborative interactions.
SUBMISSION PROCESS
Interested artists must provide the following information and answer the following questions in a Google form found here:
– Contact Information
– Tell us about your background, training, and education as a maker (max 150 words)
– What has influenced your work? What experiences, mentors, artists, research etc. have informed, inspired, or progressed your creative work? (Max 150 words)
– What techniques and materials do you typically use? What compels you to use these materials and techniques? (max 150 words)
– What concepts, ideas or direction are you currently exploring in your creative practice? How will participating in Eco-Craft influence, impact or progress your creative work? (Max 250 words)
– How does your creative practice engage or connect with environmental, biological, or ecological topics? The connections can be through technical, material, or conceptual directions and may vary from the categories listed above. (Max 250 words)
– Attach CV
– 5 Images of past work
Information for Scientists
Scientists Online Submission Form: Here
SUMMARY
The Manitoba Craft Council invites Manitoba-based scientists to submit expressions of interest to the Eco-Craft project. Eco-craft connects craft-based practitioners with scientists to understand, explore, communicate, and consider solutions to the problems connected with Manitoba in the global crisis of climate change. We aspire to expand the climate change discussion and invite the public into the deeper discourse around climate science via an engagement with the arts.
ELIGIBILITY
Applicants may come from any scientific discipline as long as the work connects with climate science in some way. Please identify the connections between your research and climate science in your application. Candidates’ research should have a primary focus on Manitoba and/or national issues which directly impact Manitoba.
Ideal candidates are experts in their respective field with deep scientific knowledge and excellent communication skills. Applicants should hold a graduate degree in the relevant discipline or be enrolled in a relevant graduate program. (Please note, if you are currently in a graduate program, your supervisor must agree to your participation).
EXPECTATIONS
Scientists and artists have a commitment to arranging a minimum of 6 meetings from May 2021 to January 2022, or comparable activities and involvement, i.e. allowing artists to tag along on field study, have supervised access to the lab, sit in on a seminar, etc.
Meeting Requirements for all participants:
May 2021: Welcome meeting with all artists and scientists
January 2022: Closing meeting with all artists and scientists
TIMELINE
Spring 2021: formation of artist/scientist pairs
May – December 2021: discussion/collaboration to unfold
January – August: artists create new work for a group exhibition at the C2 Centre for Craft, Sept 2022.
COVID-19
All group meetings and activities facilitated through the Manitoba Craft Council will be held in compliance with changing government guidelines and restrictions. This may include virtual meetings if in-person gatherings are discouraged or prohibited. Scientist and artist pairings are responsible for arranging appropriate precautions for their collaborative interactions.
SUBMISSION PROCESS
Interested scientists must provide the following information and answer the following questions in a Google form found here.
– Contact Information
– Please tell us about your research and how it connects with climate science in Manitoba (max 250 words)
– Why are you interested in participating in Eco-Craft? (max 250 words)
– What opportunities can you provide for collaborating artists? (max 250 words)
– Attach CV
Need Help?
For assistance with your application please reach out in advance of the deadline:
[email protected] | (204) 615-3951
