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What we are doing

Open Call
Deadline: July 10, 2023

All applicants, whether selected or not, will receive a response to their applications by September 5, 2023.

Orbitals is a program that takes four curators and arts researchers to an international location in the Global South to learn about a different artistic context than the ones they are familiar with and share their knowledge with their communities. During the one-week guided research trip, the participants, along with members of Mophradat’s team, meet and share experiences with peers from the art scenes they are visiting. Past editions of Orbitals visited in Mexico City (2018), Delhi and Chandigarh (2019), and São Paulo/Rio De Janeiro (2022).

This year’s edition taking place between December 4 to 14 (exact dates to be confirmed), will be an introduction to the art scene in Dakar, Senegal. The participants will travel together for a program of meetings with artists and curators, as well as visits to art organizations and initiatives. Mophradat will provide flights, travel insurance, accommodation and per diems, and reimburse visa costs.

Specific eligibility criteria

In addition to complying with the general eligibility criteria that you can read here, please note the following:

  • Applicants must be from or living in the Arab world
  • Applicants must be curators, researchers in a field of contemporary arts, and/or artists whose practice extends into forms of public programming (all disciplines are welcome)
  • Applicants must have at least eight years’ professional work experience in a field of contemporary arts, and be able to demonstrate prior experience working on international projects, exchange, or collaboration in their home country or abroad
  • Applicants must be engaged in a specific project that they are developing
  • Applicants must be available to participate for the entire duration of the trip, and commit to taking part in all its activities and complete schedule
  • Applicants must provide their CV, and a portfolio including documentation of three previous projects.

Process

  • All applicants, whether selected or not, will receive a response to their applications by September 5, 2023.
  • Shortlisted applicants will be invited for an online conversation to elaborate on their interests before a final selection is made.
  • Selected applicants commit to participate for the entire duration of the trip, and take part in all its activities and complete schedule
  • During the trip or shortly thereafter, the group of participants commit to produce a collective narrative in a format of their choosing that reflects on their trip with the aim of sharing their experience with a broader arts community.

*Please note that due to the high volume of applications and the confidentiality of the selection process, Mophradat cannot provide individual feedback explaining why an application was not selected.

Application

In order to prepare your application, you may already see the questions here.
You can only apply by filling an online form here.
Any material sent by email will not be considered.

For any questions, please email grants [at] mophradat [dot] org.

Orbitals is implemented as part of the project “Future Acts”, which is partially supported by the Federal Foreign Office, Germany, and with additional support by Teiger Foundation.