Call for Applications: Fluid Boundaries Project Residencies

Water is thus at the core of what this project aims for: to create a common space for transcultural and transdisciplinary collaboration through explorative processes, exchange, and reflection.

By bringing together participants from South Africa, Brazil, and Switzerland at the intersection of art, science, and indigenous knowledge systems, they respect each other’s situatedness and diverse cultural perspectives with a focus on decolonial practices.

They are indigenous/ancient knowledge convenors, scientists, and curators from South Africa, Brazil and Switzerland. To complement the group, they are looking for artists ready to engage and join the conversation with their expertise and perspective.

About the Brazil, South Africa and Switzerland residencies

• The residencies will take place from March to May 2025 simultaneously in the three partner regions
• The residencies’ unique settings open up the possibility for a transdisciplinary dialogue that is brought about by juxtaposing concepts and procedures, cultural knowledge and backgrounds
• The residencies offer the artists signifi cant time and space to develop a project idea and to critically refl ect as well as to explore a range of scientifi c topics, methods and technologies
• During the residencies the artists will be immersed in the research and developing their project alongside scientists of the respective research group
• There will be a coordinator at each research group available to the artist for more general issues
• Mentoring will be provided by the indigenous knowledge conveners and curator before, during and after the residencies, to facilitate, support and refl ect the artists’ and scientists’ process.

What they offer? 

• A workplace in the lab at the scientific institution in the respective partner region
• An immersive, intensive collaboration and exchange with scientists for a 3-months period
• Access to the facilities, infrastructure and technological equipment of the research group(s)
• Participation in meetings, conferences, field research, etc. (if offered during the residency period)
• Documentation of the residency
• Different outreach formats and possibilities to engage within science community and with a diverse public
• Mentoring and support by curators and indigenous knowledge conveners

About the Third Space Residency 

• In October 2025, the three artists, indigenous knowledge conveners, curators and representatives of the scientific research groups will come together in Lugano, Switzerland for a two weeks long Third Space Residency
• This format aims to create a common “Third Space” environment for sharing, developing and prototyping across disciplinary and cultural backgrounds
• The Third Space Residency will focus on interfacing, interacting and possible artistic outcomes from the process. The output(s) forms and materials are open and might include notes, sketches, rapid-prototypes, models, archives etc.
• Two field trips in the region are planned
• Travel expenses (roundtrip) are covered
• Accommodation is provided
• A per diem will be issued to each participant

The Residencies – What they expect from you? 

• A meaningful work relationship with the science lab based along the lines outlined of the submitted project proposal
• An immersion into the research of the science lab and a time spent fully committed to both residencies
• A written report at the end of the residency and documentation (photos, sketches, notes) and a prototype resp. a project plan to further develop the project. The written report illustrates and reflects the processes and results of the residency.

Conditions

• Brazil Residency 
  • Eligible are artists with Brazilian citizenship who are resident in Brazil or artists with non-Brazilian citizenship living in Brazil for two years or more
  • The artist commits to be present during both residency periods in 2025 in Brazil and in Switzerland
  • During the Brazil Residency, the artist will be working full time at the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ), Environment, Diversity and Health Research Group, Rio de Janeiro, exchanging with the researchers daily as well as participating in field trips
  • Duration of the Brazil Residency: three months from March to May 2025
  • Duration of the Third Space Residency: Two weeks of workshops and collaborative work with the other artists, the curators, scientists and indigenous knowledge conveners in Autumn 2025 in Lugano, Switzerland
  • Expenses for travel for both the Brazil Residency (1 roundtrip + local travel) and the Third Space Residency in Switzerland (1 roundtrip + local travel) will be covered
  • Accommodation in Brazil (if needed) will be provided
  • Accommodation in Switzerland will be provided
  • A stipend will be issued monthly during the three months Brazil Residency
  • A stipend also covers the artists’ attendance in a series of online meetings and the two-weeks Third Space Residency in Lugano, Switzerland. It will be issued after the Third Space Residency has ended.
• Switzerland Residency 
  • Eligible are artists with Swiss citizenship or artists with non-Swiss citizenship living in Switzerland for two years or more
  • The artist commits to be present during both residency periods in 2025 in Zürich and Lugano
  • During the Switzerland Residency, the artist will working full time at the Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (Eawag), Drinking Water Microbiology group, Dübendorf, exchanging with the researchers daily as well as participating in fi eld trips
  • Duration of the Switzerland Residency: three months from March to May 2025
  • Duration of the Third Space Residency: Two weeks of workshops and collaborative work with the other artists, the curators, scientists and indigenous knowledge conveners in Autumn 2025 in Lugano, Switzerland
  • Expenses for travel for both the Switzerland Residency (1 roundtrip + local travel) and the Third Space Residency (1 roundtrip + local travel) will be covered
  • Accommodation in Zürich (if needed) will be provided
  • Accommodation in Lugano will be provided
  • A stipend will be issued monthly during the three months Switzerland Residency
  • A stipend also covers the artists attendance in a series of online meetings and the two-weeks Third Space Residency in Lugano, Switzerland. It will be issued after the Third Space Residency has ended.
• South Africa Residency 
  • Eligible are artists with South African citizenship who are resident in South Africa or artists with non-South African citizenship living in South Africa for two years or more
  • The artist commits to be present during both residency periods in 2025 in South Africa and in Switzerland
  • Two scientific partners have been appointed in South Africa: the Water and Health Research Centre at the University of Johannesburg, and the Environmental and Water Science (EWS) Program, Department of Earth Science at the University of The Western Cape. The focus area of the former is water and microbiology, whilst the latter specializes in matters geohydrological. If feasible, your residency should be split between Johannesburg and Cape Town so, in conceptualizing your project, please allow for work within both these facilities, along with any other field work your artistic research requires
  • In addition, the curatorial partner is Tankwa Karoo Residency, so please make allowance for this two-week immersive experience (31st March – 14th April 2025)
  • Please take in account the text by George Mahashe, the South African Indigenous Knowledge Practitioner, in constructing your proposal
  • A detailed plan for the residency will be carried out in accordance with the chosen artist
  • Duration of the South Africa Residency: three months from March to May 2025
  • Duration of the Third Space Residency: Two weeks of workshops and collaborative work with the other artists, the curators, scientists and indigenous knowledge conveners in October 2025 in Lugano, Switzerland Expenses for travel for both the South Africa Residency (1 roundtrip + local travel) and the Third Space Residency (1 roundtrip + local travel) will be covered
  • Accommodation in South Africa (if needed) will be provided
  • Accommodation in Switzerland will be provided
  • A stipend will be issued monthly during the three months South Africa Residency
  • A stipend also covers the artists attendance in a series of online meetings and the two-weeks Third Space Residency in Lugano, Switzerland. It will be issued after the Third Space Residency has ended.

For more information, visit Fluid Boundaries.