Overexposed: Virtual residency programme

Sonic Acts is proud to announce the continuation of the OVEREXPOSED residency programme. With this renewed open call, we invite applications from artists and researchers working across the fields of environmental humanities with a special focus on pollution and experimental art and media.

OVEREXPOSED is part of a four-year research programme from Sonic Acts on the materiality of pollution and systemic and political issues related to the contamination of our environment. It is an opportunity for artists and researchers to expand their practice and develop new ideas and methodologies while being financially supported in their work. As it is still difficult for us to host residents physically, the programme accommodates 3 artists and researchers in a home-based residency scheduled to take place in November 2021.

About the residency
The residency enables artists and researchers to develop their practice around the core questions underlying the OVEREXPOSED programme – investigating pollution and its (unequal) effects on all things living and non-living. Previous residents, for example, have addressed overlapping ethnic and environmental struggles or looked at climate change and pollution in relation to different approaches to time. Using artistic research as an exploration of the connections between aesthetics, historical materiality and politics, the programme intends to create awareness about pollution and its interconnectedness on a planetary scale, stimulate thought and imagination about necessary steps and, of course, mobilise direct action.

Expectations
Residents are expected to present their research in three formats:
(1) As a text (between 4000 and 8000 words) to be published on one or more suitable Sonic Acts channels
(2) As a research journal that focuses on visual materials – field notes, photos, archival findings, etc. – to be published alongside the text
(3) As a public presentation, such as a lecture, concert or video screening, to be organised by Sonic Acts in collaboration with the resident

Duration & financial support
The residency lasts for one continuous month in November and each resident receives a total fee of €2.000 – this includes production costs during the residency.

Costs for public presentations as part of a Sonic Acts programme will be borne separately by Sonic Acts, while presentation dates will be arranged in consultation.

Applications
The OVEREXPOSED residency programme is intended for artists and researchers active in the fields of environmental, blue, animal and energy humanities, discard studies, disaster studies, waste colonialism, health care studies, postcolonial studies, geopolitics, media and experimental arts. Sonic Acts particularly welcomes applications from disabled, queer, non-binary and Black and Indigenous artists and researchers. There is no age limit for applicants and those younger than 35 years old are especially encouraged to apply. The programme is also open to collectives. Applications should include the following:

• Research proposal outlining the intended focus (max. 3000 characters – roughly one page)
• CV & portfolio, including contact information
• Biography
• Portrait photo

The (edited) biography and portrait photo will be used for the publication of selected residents on the Sonic Acts website.

Deadline
Applications should be submitted via Homerun in English before 1 September 2021. Please submit all your application documents as 1 PDF via Homerun.

Selected applicants will be notified by email by 30 September 2021 and the names of selected residents will be published at sonicacts.com. For more information, contact [email protected].