The Valletta Cultural Agency is seeking proposals from both local and international designers to participate in InnovAIR 2023 at the Valletta Design Cluster, a community hub for cultural and creative practice.
The residency offers designers time and space away from their usual routine to reflect, research and consider new ways of developing their practice. The VCA will help the designers establish connections with practitioners and communities who may be relevant to their work and provide access to a network of members from a wide variety of disciplines.
The residency is open to designers who are 18 years of age, coming alone or as a collective of not more than four practitioners.
About the residency:
InnovAiR2023@VDC will focus on the following objectives:
- to support projects linked to sustainability – supporting circular economy by adopting sustainable design practices
- to support community-focused projects engaging creatively with various social groups, through inclusive and empowering processes, including placemaking, education and knowledge sharing .
Duration: One to three months
Outcome: While each residency is unique, the VCA asks each designer to hold at the Valletta Design Cluster : A knowledge-sharing hands-on workshop open to participants from the local community, and/or an informal public event where the outcome of the residency is shared.
We provide
-Accommodation: a room within a communal townhouse in Valletta, as well as a well-equipped shared kitchen and bathroom. Persons submitting a joint application may be provided with a shared bedroom.
-Facilities: Access to the Valletta Design Cluster’s facilities including:
the Makerspace https://www.vca.gov.mt/en/the-makerspace/
the Food space https://www.vca.gov.mt/en/foodspace/
We do not provide
- Financial Support;
- Transportation
- Insurance
- Visa Arrangements: non-EU applicants will have to secure any Visas and documents required for travelling to, and staying in, Malta for the duration of the residency.
Selection
The VCA will accept proposals throughout 2023 for residencies taking place between May 2023 and April 2024.
Proposals are reviewed 4 times per year with submission deadlines on the 15th of the following months: May, August, November 2023 and January 2024.
Evaluation – an evaluation committee will assess the strengths and merits of proposals submitted. Applicants who obtain a minimum of 60 marks may be contacted by the VCA for an online pitch to present their proposal in greater detail. Following the online pitch, the VCA shall make a final decision on the selected applicants.
Priority will be given to applications which are:
- Innovative (in methodology, in thematic approach, in tools and technologies to be used) (max 20 marks)
- Clearly engaging with one or more of the residency objectives . (max 30 marks)
- Collaborative in nature, engaging with local practitioners in relevant areas and/or with the community of members at the Valletta Design Cluster (30 marks)
- Opening to discussion and interaction, and using in-person and online tools to engage with various publics and disseminate process and results (max 20 marks)
Publication of results: Final decisions shall be communicated in the first week of May 2023 / August 2023 / November 2023 / February 2024
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
- Candidates must submit all the requested information and documents listed in the Application Form to be considered eligible.
- The Designer retains full ownership of their work and may decide to retain or donate any tangible objects created during the residency. Any costs arising from retaining the object, including shipping, are the responsibility of the Designer.
- The VCA retains the right to make the final decision on the total number of selected applicants through each evaluation cycle, based on a number of internal considerations, which may include but are not limited to Public Health considerations, availability of residency space, and quality of applications received.
For any queries, please send an email on opencalls@vca.gov.mt
Apply by downloading this application form and sending the filled in copy to opencalls@vca.gov.mt.
