Open call Spaceship Earth⁠

Throughout history, many artists, designers, writers, philosophers, engineers and filmmakers have dreamed about the future. How will today’s creatives complement these dreams? With the open call “Spaceship Earth” we invite artists, designers and visual storytellers to imagine the most daring, most promising, most inspiring new ideas about the changing relationship between humans, nature and technology. We challenge them to dream of a more inclusive and sustainable world. A world in which biology and technology merge. A world in which humans and planet earth enter a new evolutionary phase. A world worth living in.

Welcome to Spaceship Earth

Spaceship Earth tells the story of the future of evolution of humans on planet earth. After all, humanity is the unlikely result of 4 billion years of evolution on this planet; from self-replicating molecules in Archean seas, to eyeless fish in the Cambrian deep, to mammals scurrying from dinosaurs in the dark, and then, finally, improbably, ourselves. But we are not the end of this story, as evolution goes on.

Spaceship Earth explores the next evolutionary stages of planet earth. Launching in the Evoluon, the building resembles a spaceship; yet we acknowledge planet earth as our mothership. Therefore we inhabit the building as a facility in which we train all humans to work together as a harmonious crew for the future generations to come. Spaceship Earth exists over four concentric rings that form circular balconies inside of the Evoluon. Each ring carries artistic projects that invite the audience to discover, unfold and engage with the next stages of evolution:

Stage 1: Geosphere

Where did we come from? How did the earth originate? The first ring narrates the origin of the universe (13 billion years ago) and earth (4.5 billion ago). Here we learn about the big bang, the formation of quarks, atoms and molecules. It is the foundation of everything. It is the ground on which our futures are built. What will we leave behind?

Stage 2: Biosphere

What is life? How did it evolve on top of the geosphere? The second ring tells the story of the origin of life. From the very first cell to the creation of vertebrates. It’s an evolutionary tale that you might find in a natural history museum—instead of a technology museum—but understanding the impact of technology is indispensable knowledge. How will life evolve from here?

Stage 3: Technosphere

What is technology? How is it changing life? The third ring brings to light the transformative impact of technology on our planet. Technology is more than the latest smartphone or computer and is currently estimated to weigh over 30 trillion tons. Technology is an evolutionary force, it is our next nature. What will become of humans as we evolve under the selective pressures of technology?

Stage 4: Mindsphere

What does this all mean for your personal life as a human on this planet? Will we live with artificial intelligences? Is there a planetary consciousness emerging? How to navigate this world as a human being? The fourth ring discloses the most psychologically deepening stage of evolution. A personal journey inwards, where the audience will find their role and meaning as a member of Spaceship Earth.

Call for projects

With the open call “Spaceship Earth” we invite artists, designers, scientists, writers and visual storytellers to imagine the most daring, most promising, most inspiring new ideas about the changing relationship between humans, nature and technology. We are looking for :

1- Thought-provoking ideas that demonstrate a clear link to either the geosphere, the biosphere, the technosphere or the mindsphere. Project: New Evoluon.

2- Unconventional ways, yet tangible experiences that invite the audience to discover, unfold and engage with the next stages of evolution; the project must include an interactive component in which the audience can discover, learn and grow in their own personal ways.

3- Innovating projects that apply methods, approaches or tools from (speculative) design and (bio)technology; machine learning; synthetic biology; biomimicry; robotics; …etc.

Who can submit

Artists, designers, journalists and visual storytellers with a keen interest in socio-cultural implications of technology, who graduated in the field of art, design and technology (at either the master’s or bachelor’s level). You can participate individually, or with others.

What to submit

Each participant can submit only one application for this call. The application consists of:

Completed & signed
application form
including project idea.

Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Portfolio of previous work (max 10 slides)

Upload requirements:

Upload PDF files of your completed application form, your CV and portfolio
You can convert Word documents with a PDF convertor
The maximum file size for each of these individual files cannot exceed 4MB
The application must be written in English or Dutch
The applications can be submitted by using the online registration system.

If you did not receive a confirmation by email (even though on the website it stated that your application was successful), it’s likely an error occurred. If so, please contact us via opencall@nextnature.net

Special conditions

Special conditions that apply to the award :

The realization fee of €15.000, combined with the timeframe of 9 months, is sufficient to realize a first prototype of the project. If the prototype is successful, we continue to project into final financing & realization.
Emerging (bio)technology must not be crucial for the realization of the project. Backup solutions should be available.
If selected the designer/artist becomes a Next Nature fellow.