Call for Artists to Submit Ideas for the International Project “Agents of Change: Art Mediation as Conversation”

The Latvian Centre for Contemporary Art and the Foundation for an Open Society DOTS invite artists to submit their ideas to a competition for the international project “Agents of Change: Art Mediation as Conversation”, which will be implemented over the next two years in Latvia, Estonia, Finland and Sweden.

The idea for the artwork must be based on the overarching theme “Conversation Is Possible” and be dedicated to one or more local community groups and the issues affecting them. Applications will be accepted until 8 January 2021.

“In a diverse and open society, different and even opposing opinions and systems of values inevitably coexist. Existing in close proximity to one another, opposing viewpoints may become mutually uncomfortable or unacceptable to their holders and give rise to conflict situations. Assuming that it is impossible to avoid larger or smaller conflicts, we invite people to think about a conversation that is possible between parties with different or even opposing views,” the project organisers explain the overarching theme of the artwork.

The project aims to broaden understanding of contemporary art as a socially engaging and dialogue-based creative process, taking into account the needs of local communities and addressing issues of importance to them. It is being implemented in four countries through cooperation among five organisations: the Arts Foundation (Helsinki, Finland), the Tallinn City Museum (Tallinn, Estonia), Tensta Konsthall (Stockholm, Sweden), the Latvian Centre for Contemporary Art and the Foundation for an Open Society DOTS (Riga, Latvia). The project is co-financed by the European Union’s Creative Europe programme.

An artist or artists’ collective may work in any artistic genre – visual, audiovisual, multimedia, performing arts or interdisciplinary. However, it must be taken into account that the selected idea for the artwork must be based not only on the overarching theme, but also on the issues affecting the community group or groups selected by the artist. This refers to people belonging to a particular local, cultural or social environment, or who can be distinguished according to formal or socially significant criteria (gender, age, origin, profession, etc.).

At the same time, it should be borne in mind that, in creating the artwork, the artist will have to collaborate with ten representatives of these community groups, who will also participate as mediators, or intermediaries, between the artwork and its viewers or visitors. They will be selected through a competition at the beginning of next year and involved in a special training programme for art mediators. The project organisers will be responsible for selecting and coordinating the art mediators, as well as producing the artwork.

Within the framework of the project, one artwork will be created and implemented in Latvia, and the artwork must also be suitable for being performed or exhibited repeatedly without the artist’s presence.

Applications for artworks must be submitted by 23:59 on 8 January 2021 by sending them to the email address lelde.pruse@fondsdots.lv, with “Agents of Change” and the title of the application indicated in the subject line. Applications submitted after the deadline will not be evaluated.

More information about the project, the competition and its regulations can be found on the website of the Latvian Centre for Contemporary Art at www.lcca.lv and on the website of the Foundation for an Open Society DOTS at www.fondsdots.lv.

Latvian Centre for Contemporary Art

The Latvian Centre for Contemporary Art (LCCA) is one of the leading non-governmental institutions promoting and supporting the development of contemporary art in Latvia. Through implementing international- and national-scale art events, the LCCA aims to educate and engage Latvian society in cultural diversity and the creation of an inclusive society, and to foster understanding of the importance of critical thinking. The institution conducts research, produces new works, and creates and maintains an archive of contemporary art.

Foundation for an Open Society DOTS

The Foundation for an Open Society DOTS is a non-governmental organisation whose mission is to strengthen the quality of democracy and foster a culture of dialogue in Latvia. In addition, the foundation seeks to stimulate people’s interest in and participation in public and political processes, as well as to create an engaging and inclusive environment for discussions, conversations and intellectual curiosity. The DOTS Foundation is the founder and organiser of the LAMPA Conversation Festival.

Additional information

Lelde Prūse

Project Director of the Foundation for an Open Society DOTS

Telephone: 26 466 509

Email: lelde.pruse@fondsdots.lv

Gundega Turnele

Head of Communications at the Latvian Centre for Contemporary Art

Telephone: 26 308 128

Email: gundega@lcca.lv