Organizer Information
City as Living Laboratory (CALL) is a pioneering non-profit organization that brings together artists, scientists, and urban residents to co-create sustainable solutions for pressing environmental challenges across climate, equity, and public health. CALL focuses its long-term initiatives on communities disproportionately impacted by environmental degradation, turning local infrastructure and hidden ecological systems into platforms for civic action and collaborative learning.
Title & Description
Water // Ways Cloudburst Initiative (Corona, Queens).
This open call invites local creators to develop socially engaged, community-rooted art projects in collaboration with the neighborhood of Corona, Queens, and the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). The initiative uses a combined framework of art and science to address "cloudbursts"—sudden, catastrophic rainstorms that overwhelm urban infrastructure and spark severe localized flooding. Because Corona's low-lying topography and historical redlining make its high density of basement housing critically vulnerable to flooding, this project aims to empower residents, elevate community narratives, and catalyze sustainable action.
Project Mechanics:
This is a milestone-based, long-term opportunity focused on building public trust. Selected artists will spend over a year engaging with community members, working alongside environmental scientists, and designing public-facing interventions that culminate in a final public realm artwork or project.
Categories
Visual Arts, Installation, Social Practice / Community Engagement, Digital / New Media, Sound Art, Performance, and Interdisciplinary Research.
Eligibility
- Residency: Open exclusively to professional artists who live or work in Queens, New York.
- Practice Focus: Must demonstrate experience or a deep structural interest in environmentally-based art, community collaboration, and public realm execution.
- Collaboration: Must be comfortable cooperating directly with scientists, public utilities (DEP), and diverse immigrant populations.
- Language (Preferred): Bilingual capabilities (Spanish/English) are highly preferred to reflect the core demographics of the Corona community.
Program Benefits and Awards
- Financial Package: A preliminary milestone-based budget of up to $5,000 USD covering both artist stipends and final production fees.
- Institutional Access: Structured connections to leading climate scientists, regional environmental data, and municipal city planners.
- Administrative Framework: Comprehensive management support, venue facilitation, and community network introductions via the CALL infrastructure.
Fees
- Application Fee: None (Free to enter).
Application Requirements (Digital Submission Only)
Applicants must complete the digital registration and attach the following elements:
- Portfolio: A PDF portfolio document or a direct link to a comprehensive professional website showcasing past public or community work.
- Curriculum Vitae (CV).
- Statement of Interest: A brief written description outlining your specific interest in the Water // Ways Cloudburst Initiative and details on how your ongoing practice aligns with CALL’s ecological mission.
- References: Names and contact coordinates for two (2) professional references.
How to Apply?
Submit your dossier through the official Google Form application portal managed by the organization. Apply to the CALL Queens Artist Open Call.
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: Sunday, May 31, 2026 (End of Day).
- Project Start Date: Early Summer 2026.
- Project End Date: Extended running throughout Summer 2027.
Location
United States, Corona, Queens, New York.
Additional Details
CALL emphasizes project execution that moves "at the speed of trust," meaning timelines can maintain flexibility to ensure genuine community integration. Projects must strictly engage the general public and cannot be restricted to private spaces or interior settings.