ADKDW Residency
Participatory Residency Program
5-month fellowship in Cologne for the creation of a participatory program
The Participatory Residency Program
The Participatory Residency Program is aimed at artists and activists who work with participatory art forms and want to develop an interactive program for local scenes and communities in Cologne. Workshops, film screenings, readings or open-mics are intended to address in particular multiple-marginalized individuals and groups who are excluded from discourses in mainstream society, e.g. because of their origin, religion, class and/or sexual orientation.
The ADKDW organizes the Participatory Residency Program twice a year in cooperation with changing local partner institutions. The aim of the program is to strengthen the social participation of marginalized groups and to support the actors in giving artistic expression to the reality of their lives.
The ADKDW implements the Participatory Residency Program 2024 in collaboration with baraka, a meeting place for BIPoC, refugees, people with migration histories and/or experiences of racism who identify as lesbian, gay, bi, trans*, inter*, non-binary or queer. More information about ADKDW and rubikon can be found here: rubicon köln and adkdw.org.
Open Call: Participatory Residency Program 2024
Period: July 2024 - November 2024
Fellowship fee: 2,000 EUR / month
Project budget: 1,500 EUR / month
Application deadline: 15 12 2023
Selection interviews: January 2024
Who can apply?
As part of the Participatory Residency Program, ADKDW invites an Artist-in-Residence from July to November 2024 to develop a participatory program for the baraka network based on a self-selected theme and to implement it in collaboration with the ADKDW team.
The call is aimed at BIPoC, refugees who identify as lesbian, gay, bi, trans*, inter*, non-binary or queer and who were not born and raised in Germany. People aged 30 and older are eligible to apply, and we especially encourage older FLINTA* people to apply.
Artists and activists whose artistic practice focuses on participatory formats are encouraged to apply. The program is specifically geared to be genre-independent and understands research, networking, and community work as important components of artistic, cultural, and/or activist work.
Through the collaboration with baraka, the focus is on intersectionally marginalized BIPoC, refugees, people with migration history, who locate themselves in the LGBTQIA+ (lesbian, gay, bi, trans*, queer, inter* and asexual) spectrum. We would also like to encourage people to apply who describe themselves as disabled or have had experiences of exclusion due to their social background. A connection to Cologne and/or North Rhine-Westphalia is desirable. Regardless of residency status, people residing in Germany and Austria are eligible to apply.
The scholarship is not only aimed at individuals. We also welcome applications from collectives. However, the budgeted amount for collectives is identical to the positions mentioned above. If you are a collective, interested in the fellowship, and unsure of how the residency might work out, feel free to get in touch using the contact information below.
What we offer
ADKDW and baraka provide space for working and for events. In addition, ADKDW provides the Artists-in-Residence with a (barrier-free) apartment in Cologne for the duration of the program.
We provide office equipment and working materials, as well as basic equipment for events. In addition, a project budget of max. 1,500 euros per month is available. Travel expenses can be settled separately upon agreement.
It is important to us to provide a space for independent research and creative work. We support this with a strong local network that the artists-in-residence can draw on. In addition, the ADKDW and its partners establish contact in Cologne's communities and art scene to facilitate arriving, getting to know each other, and networking.
What we expect
The Participatory Residency Program is looking for artists and activists who engage with intersectional and anti-, de- and postcolonial critiques of power. Applicants' practice should take the form of artistic projects with aspects of power critique, participation, and involvement in a contemporary cultural setting.
The application should include an outline of the proposed project and a timeline. With the collaboration between ADKDW and baraka, the program focus is on working with BIPoC, refugees, people with migration history who identify as lesbian, gay, bi, trans*, inter*, non-binary or queer.
Artists-in-Residence are desired to design a series of participatory activities and plan events with the community and implement them in Cologne. The activities and events should be explicitly developed together and the mentioned target group should not be understood as mere recipients of the program. The project outline in your application should serve as a basis for further developing the project on site. Experience in cooperation at the interface of social and artistic work and previous projects in this field are therefore desirable.
Guidelines for programming and planning
- Planning and development of participatory activities in consultation with the two partner institutions.
- Organization and implementation of the participatory activities with the support of the two partner institutions
- Creating a working atmosphere that is aware of power dynamics and actively seeks to reduce/compensate for them
- The Artists-in-Residence can dispose of the project budget in consultation with the ADKDW team. They will be supported by the ADKDW team in managing the budget
- Collaboration with the team of the ADKDW to prepare a final report
- Participate in meetings with the partner institutions
The application
- The application can be submitted in writing (PDF document) or as an audio document to: residency(@)adkdw.org
- It should include a description of your project (motives and procedure) (text: PDF document max. 3 pages at font size 11, line spacing 1.5; Audio: max. 9 minutes)
- If available, you can additionally attach documents of your relevant projects, max. 5 pages
- If necessary, send us a list of requirements regarding accessibility, childcare or similar
- In addition to the description of the project, the following information must be provided: Name, place of residence, date of birth, contact details (email address) and if available online presence (website, Instagram...)
- Please send all application documents in one PDF document, you are welcome to add a table of contents as a cover sheet for a better overview
Tips for the description of the project
- What are your experiences working with marginalized groups?
- What could your participatory activities look like in concrete terms?
- How do you position yourself and your work in relation to the goals of the grant and the concerns of the partner institutions?
- Describe your own working methods: What are the means and preferred modes of expression of your work?
- How would you like to be supported by the partner institutions? What is important to you in terms of support from the partner institutions?
- How do you envision the timeline of your fellowship and project?
- What privileges/struggles do you encounter in pursuing the arts? What are the struggles of other members of the community in practicing the arts?
- How can you encourage other people in the community who are (potential) artists in your work?
These questions are only a guide to help you with your application and are not required to be answered.
Application deadline: December 15, 2023
Selection committee: Baraka and ADKDW
Personal interviews: January 2024
Final Decision: February 2024
Start of scholarship: July 2024
Applicants can contact Hanitra Wagner and Paulina Seyfried (ADKDW residency co-leads) with their questions: residency(@)adkdw.org
