Resolution of Biofriction open call for the residencies in Hangar.org, Galerija Kapelica / Kapelica Gallery, Bioart Society and Cultivamos Cultura.

Biofriction selection committee has decided, among the 133 valid applications received, to award the grant to:

Maddalena Fragnito https://www.maddalenafragnito.com/ and Zoe Romano https://zoeromano.eu/ (Kinlab)(Hangar)

Open Call Deadline Extended until the 5th of February!!

Open CALL Now!! Read on for all details of the call and application information!

Biofriction is a Creative Europe project led by Hangar in collaboration with Bioart Society, Cultivamos Cultura, and Kersnikova Institute committed to supporting Bioart and Biohacking practices. The title refers to the combination of biology, biotech, fiction, and arts as surfaces of friction, with particular attention to the emancipatory potential of biotechnology through interfaces in the context of artistic practices. This proposal seeks to address bioart and biohacking practices as triggers that challenge responsibilities as col1ective agents capable of making transitions between multiple levels of the political, material and conceptual organization, taking artistic practices and its performativity as a framework and condition of possibility. Understanding the combination of biology, biotech,(science) fiction and arts as a potential to perform what we call in general terms culture.

Within the framework of Biofriction, biology is not only understood as the natural sciences that study life and living organisms, including their physical structure, chemical processes, molecular interactions, physiological mechanisms, development, and evolution. Within Biofriction Biology is also understood as a field of discourse beyond the living world itself. In the context of this project, a special emphasis will be put at transhackfeminism as an approach (or as multiplicity of methods) to re-politicize feminism through (bio)practice.

The call is addressed to projects in the field of experimentation with biomaterials and living systems.

Possible topics: Decolonizing technologies; Queer, Feminist, Anti-racist and Anti-specist methods; Nature_culture continuum; Xenoecologies; Biopolitics, Necropolitics and Environmental Struggle; Human and non-human alliances and solidarity through DIY/DIWO/DIT biotechnology; artistic and cultural practices; Fiction, Storytelling and performative narratives; Biosurveillance and countertactics; Bioexperimentation based in open culture; Bio_sonic agencies; Measurements and materialdiscursive practices of (bio)mattering and engaging (bio)practices; Re-visit, re-think, co-design and co-develop processes; tools and technologies for biological experimentation and Radical Open Health, Life sciences.

*Please note that hese topics are not the only possible ones, they are indicative and do not exclude other topics and, perspectives or approaches.

The residency offers:

(i) Artist fee

(ii) Accommodation

(iii) Return travel costs

(iv) Research materials budget

(v) Access to Biolabs/Wetlabs facilities

(vii) Mentoring / tutoring by expert biotechnologist(s)

 

Partnership

Hangar, center for art research and production (Barcelona)

Bioart Society (Helsinki)

Kersnikova Institute (Ljubljana)

Cultivamos Cultura / Ectopia (Lisbon and Alentejo)

 

Applications must include:

(i)A residency proposal (maximum of two A4 pages); concept and content description + technical requirements with provisional timeline

(ii) A CV (maximum 1 page)

(iii) A PDF with 5 examples of your recent projects, with high quality images, relevant links and descriptions

Who can apply:

Researchers, artists, developers, hackers and members of collectives of all ages (over 18 years old) and nationalities * working in the field of bioexperimentation.

*Please note that the budget is adjusted to the cost of travel within the European Union. If the amount of your travel is higher than indicated, you should cover the remaining amount or look for other financing possibilities, for example travel grants.

Requirements for projects

The call is addressed to projects in the field of bioart, biohacking, experimentation with

biomaterials and biotech.

Infrastructure available for selected projects:

Hangar

Hangar has several laboratories for artistic experimentation and research. Each laboratory has one or more specialised technicians. These laboratories are:

– Interaction laboratory:

Hangar’s interaction laboratory has facilities, specialised machinery (development lab, welders, etc.) and specialised expertise in hardware and software (Arduino, Processing, PureData, etc.) for the development of technology and interactive art projects.

– Digital image laboratory:

Hangar’s digital image laboratory has the following facilities: computers for self-edition in a shared space, individual rooms for self-edition and edition with an external technitian of digital image and audio, equipment for scanning and digital printing, and audiovisual equipment.

– Construction workshop

Hangar’s construction workshop has the facilities and expertise for developing any type of pieces for creative projects, with any material or form.

– Production laboratory:

Hangar’s production laboratory has the expertise and facilities needed for the complete production of artistic projects.

-Wetlab:

The wetlab is a space where hybrid practices that disrupt the generally established limits between science and arts take place from a transhackfeminist and critical review of the Science institution  perspective.

*During residence the selected artist will have the advice/accompaniment of Anouchka Skoudy. Doctor in biology from the University of Barcelona, she has devoted herself mainly to biomedical research in the area of microbiology as well as cellular and molecular biology. Some of the lines in which she has worked include the mechanisms of regulation of cellular contacts and the role of certain transcriptional factors in colorectal and pancreatic cancer. Another important line of work has focused on the differentiation of embryonic stem cells to pancreatic cells.

Bioart Society

The residency at the Bioart Society will be in two locations: at the SOLU Space in Helsinki and at the Kilpisjärvi Biological Station of the University of Helsinki in the sub-arctic part of Finland approx 1000km north of Helsinki.

Lab / workshops (biolab, fablab, workshop space…) With their SOLU Space, the Bioart Society can offer a workspace with basic tools and technology for diy productions and a space for dialogue and exchange. Specific technical needs for biology, electronics or fabbing will be covered through collaborations with Aalto University including Biofila laboratory, a bio-safety 1 laboratory for artists.

The Kilpisjärvi Biological Station offers a basic biological field laboratory with microscopes, centrifuges, incubators as well as biological field equipment and a library.

Exhibition space / gallery

The SOLU Space of the Bioart Society has 2 gallery rooms. One with 50m2 and one with 20m2.

Possible connections to scientific & research institutions: Kilpisjärvi Biological Station of the Univeristy of Helsinki; Helsinki Sustainability Science Centre of the University of Helsinki;  Institute for Molecular Medicine Helsinki;  Aalto University Biofilia – Base for Biological Arts;  Biocenter Oulu;  VTT technical research center of Finland; Independent researchers:

Cultivamos Cultura

The residency can take advantage of Cultivamos Culltura infrastructure at Sao Luis, Alentejo, or collaborations with our partners in Lisbon coordinated through Ectopia – Experimental Art Laboratory.

At Cultivamos Cultura there is access to experimental art facilities comprising (1) workshops with basic equipment for eletronics, and ; (2) laboratory for biology related work; (3) space for the development of performative work; (4) several exhibition spaces with different characteristics.

Residents are encouraged to take explore the social and natural environment: the village of Sao Luis, the surrounding southwest alentejo coast natural park, and the Atlantic coast.

In Lisbon, there is an established collabration with Ectopia – Experiemntal Art Laboratory that has a tradition in matching artists with research laboratories in the Lisbon area.

Resident artists will have access to an art consultant (Marta de Menezes, art director of Cultivamos Cultura) and a scientific consultant (Luis Graca, expert in biomedical research, Professor at the University of Lisbon Medical School).

Kersnikova Institute

Lab / workshops (biolab, fablab, workshop space…)

RAMPA Lab & BioTehna (within Kersnikova Institute – on premises) are departments that we might classify as maker / hacker spaces, fablabs, where we enable a meeting point (physical and conceptual) for artists, scientists, engineers, designers…

The difference in the spaces are that RAMPA Lab is more of a technology oriented (machine, robotics, programming), whereas BioTehna is a wetlab focusing on exploring life systems and performing scientific experiments. The meeting point is the so-called “Vivarium” that provides a cross-section of processes used in both above mentioned labs on projects and activities that address machine – plant – animal interactions.

The spaces offer materials and equipment; access to laser cutters, cnc machines, 3D printers, laboratory and programming equipment… Especially the BioTehna Laboratory is exceptionally well equipped with advanced microscopy equipment, professional incubators and laminars (clean chamber)… The laboratory is officially graded to allow investigation of genetically modified organisms. (Security Level 1)

Exhibition space / gallery

Kersnikova Institute is comprised of four main physical “departments”; Kapelica Gallery is the main art production platform for facilitating and showcasing contemporary art production in the field of hybrid art (art&science, bioart/art working with life systems) while the fore-mentioned laboratories are complementary spaces that complement the Gallery’s main objectives. The gallery space itself is a medium sized chapel (approx. 5mx17m) with all the accompanying infrastructure to host contemporary art exhibitions, including art&science artworks comprised of sophisticated materials and equipment.

Possible connections to scientific & research institutions:  Institute of Oncology Ljubljana National Institute of Biology;  Biotehnical Faculty;  Biotechnical Educational Centre Ljubljana;  National Institute of Chemistry; Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology; IJS (Institute Jožef Stefan); Institute Service of Slovenia for Transfusion Medicine; KAMBIČ Laboratory Equipment

Duration:

The residency program has durations ranging from 15 days to 2 months.

The time-periods will depend on the needs of the project as well as the place where they are carried out (Hangar, Bioart Society, Cultivamos Cultura or Kersnikova Institute). The residency might be split in two phases if the proposed project requires a long-term work on biological materials.

Conditions:

*Please note that fees vary depending on the standard of living of each location.

Biofriction will provide to the beneficiary:

Fees:

Hangar (Bcn) 350 € per week

Bioart Society (Helsinki/ Kilpisjärvi) 500 € per week, 35€ daily allowance, free accommodation and travel up to 1000€ to Helsinki and Kilpisjärvi

Kersnikova Institute (Ljubljana) 1500€ fee for residency (lump sum regardless of the duration), up to 2000€ for subsistence, free accommodation, and travel up to 800€

Cultivamos Cultura (Lisbon/ Sao Luis) up to 750€ fee for residency ( 250€ per week up to 750€), free board and accommodation while at Cultivamos Cultura, and travel up to 500€. A producing budget up to: 2000 €

Kersnikova Institute (Ljubljana); up to 4000€ for materials (and equipment). Extra funds may be available for the project presentation in a form of installation

*Please note that the amount indicated is the maximum per residence, and the amount may vary depending on the needs of the project.

Working space: included in all locations

Commitments of the selected project:

Please note that commitments vary depending on where the residency is taking place

• To contribute with a workshop and/or presentation of the project during the period of the residence (Bioart Society, Hangar, Kernsikova and Cultivamos Cultura .)

• To submit an evaluation and final report of the residence

• To mention Biofriction with the logo and a link to the project website in the communication of the project.

Selection process:

The application must be done by sending the required documents via email. Each candidate can submit a single project.

Personal data:

Name

Last name

Full address

Phone number

Email

Repeat email

Birthdate

Do you represent a collective? ***

*** If you represent a collective, please provide only the biography and curriculum of the

collective.

IMPORTANT: Applications not including the required information and / or exceeding the limits of extension won’t be accepted. The selection committee may contact the shortlisted candidates for an interview.

Selection Committee:

The selection process will be formed by researchers, artists, cultural agents specialized in bioart and biohacking as well as representatives of the partnership.

Evaluation criteria draft:

The selection committee will evaluate the projects according to:

– The alignment of the proposal with the objectives and themes of the call.

– The qualities, relevance and interest of the project in relation to the context of the themes proposed in the call.

– The precise identification of the grassroots collective/artists/agents (scientists and other experts) that will be involved in the project.

– The feasibility and potential development of the project in the context of Biofriction

– The ability of the project to generate and / or link critical mass along the process.

– The commitment of the applicant with the open documentation of the project and with opening and sharing the process

-To promote equal career opportunities for bioartists and biohackers coming from underrepresented countries in the EU cultural scene

– Gender equality non binary-discrimination

– Criteria regarding gender, functional diversity and migrant communities

Calendar

Deadline for submission of applications: January 29, 2020

Results of the selection process: Mid-February 2020: interviews with pre-selected and results of the open call for residency

Please send the documents/information/questions to: Laura Benitez Valero (laura@hangar.org) and Ludovica Michelin (ludovica@hangar.org).

 

 

Biofriction will open a call to receive expressions of interest for participation in the project residencies. The deadline for receiving applications will be open from December 18 to December 31, 2019.

Biofriction is a Hangar project led by researcher Laura Benítez Valero. The project partners are Kersnikova Institute (Ljubljana, Slovenia), Bioart Society (Helsinki, Finland) and Cultivamos Cultura (Lisbon, Portugal).

Biofriction is committed to the practices of Bioarte and Biohacking as promoters of change in the relationships between artistic practices, science, technologies and society.

For more information, consult the call that will be published in this post from December 18.

            

The Biofriction project has the co-financing of: