ARTeCHÓ Fellowship Programme

ARTeCHÓ – Art, Economy & Technology – Unleashing the potential of Crypto Art and other tech tools for European creative industry, regions and society is a European flagship initiative created by five European institutions: SERN – Startup Europe Regions Network (Belgium), Baltan Laboratories (Netherlands), FZC-Etopia Center for Art & Technology (Spain), Frankfurt School Blockchain Center (Germany) and MEET Digital Cultural Center (Italy).

The main goal of ARTeCHÓ is to create a peer-to-peer learning community for artists to learn more about the technical side of the art-making process and its intersection with new technologies, Crypto Art, blockchain, and NFT marketplaces.

To do so, ARTeCHÓ is launching this European call for participants to select 15 artists and designers to join a 7-month Fellowship Programme consisting of a blended approach with online meetings, training, mentorship, inspirational sessions, and a 2-week physical residency. During the 7-month programme, selected fellows work on their proposed projects and present them to the public at the end of the trajectory. The Fellowship Programme focuses on digital productions but does not exclude other forms. The selected fellows will receive a grant of €10.000.

ARTeCHÓ will combine artistic talent with technological exploration, bringing together experts and recognised artists to share their knowledge with emerging creative practitioners and provide them with inputs to grow artistically and professionally. During the Fellowship Programme, each participant will learn about this field and its current discourses and apply this knowledge in a project developed under the guidance of mentors and in exchange with the fellows, speakers and the institutions involved.

The underlying approach of the Fellowship Programme is to explore these decentralized technologies while being critical towards their economic and ecological implications. Furthermore, the intention is to artistically expand the topic of decentralization beyond the merely technological aspect. To critically implement this approach and intention in the ARTeCHÓ program, we will include in our inspirational sessions contributions that highlight the role of art for decentralized technologies, the empowerment and speculation of NFTs, the ecological costs of crypto art and the social implication of the blockchain for alternative economic models, to name a few.

PROGRAM OUTLINE

The aim of the Fellowship Programme is trifold: to discuss the use of decentralised technology in art; to reflect on how these technologies could contribute to different ways of living; to develop and present a project around these themes.

The fellowship will run from April – October 2023.

WHO CAN APPLY?

We are looking for artists and/or designers working with decentralised technologies, cryptocurrencies and/or NFTs, or who have the ambition to do so. In order to be eligible, proposals must be presented by a single applicant meeting the following criteria:

● Be an artist and/or designer, , working with decentralised technologies, cryptocurrencies and/or NFTs, or with the ambition to do so.
● Be established in one of the 27 EU Member States or non-EU participating countries that, on the date of the publication of the call, participate in the Creative Europe Programme.
● Be registered as a legal entity – this means that you are registered in the Chamber of Commerce and have a VAT number.

We ask artists and/or designers to apply individually (even if you are part of a collective or artist/designer duo). For 3 of the 15 spots available we prioritise artists and/or designers with no experience with decentralised technologies or who are just starting in this field.

HOW TO APPLY
You can apply by filling out this form with the following information/materials (in English):
• Your motivation letter (max 1 page)
• Your CV (max 2 page)
• A portfolio highlighting max 5 of your projects most fitting to the topic of this call
• A short proposal of the project you want to work on during the fellowship (max 1 page)
• A portrait picture of yourself