First Europe – Open Call for Testing Artists (Serbia, Hungary and Italy)

First Europe Project’s aim is to bring prehistoric society closer to contemporary audiences by placing the unique European archaeological heritage of Lepenski Vir, Serbia in a new context. They will explore three themes with new interpretations, focusing on social relations, issues, and processes that are still evolving today.

The project will connect past and present, and the artistic creation will focus on:

• re-imagination of human impact on the environment;
• rituals, as they are a feature of all known human societies;
• Lepenski Vir’s cultural heritage, characterized by unique stone sculptures and architecture.

These topics will serve as the basis for the so-called “Opera Hackathons”: a new creation framework methodology for the live performances. The selected artists will join to the Test Residency to work with the artistic leadership and core artists of the project on an intensive artistic creation that will be presented as a live performance at the end of the residency.

First Europe aims to promote and celebrate European archaeological heritage with a special focus on the fascinating archaeological site of Lepenski Vir in Serbia, which formed one of the oldest settlements in Europe, hence the name of the project: First Europe.

What they will provide?

• Exposure through First Europe’s dissemination and engagement activities, such as announcements, networking and events, social media, video and photo documentation, and general promotion of First Europe’s work through its large partner network.
• A cross-border and cross-disciplinary opportunity for exchange and artistic enrichment with fellow artists across Europe, including a residency and testing with partners and collaborators, and workshops in Audience Development.
• Artist development support and in-depth knowledge of First Europe’s core topics, provided by experts and facilitation by the Artistic Leadership.
• Honorarium for the selected artists: 1500 EUR.

What they ask from participants?

• Participation: They expect that selected artists will participate in First Europe’s events, rehearsals and performances of the Opera Hackathon in Lepenski Vir during the Test Residency and on the tour in July.
• Attendance: The selected artists are expected to attend and engage in online meetings, interviews, webinars, consultancy sessions, and progress reviews and contribute to the project’s reporting.
• Engagement: Artists must be committed to First Europe’s objectives. As success depends on the activation and engagement of European audiences, artists are encouraged to support First Europe’s general communication by using their personal and professional communication channels and networks as well.
• Commitment: A contract with the First Europe Consortium, open to the artists’ proposals, will define the terms and conditions for the co-creation. In any case, any participant artist will be asked to grant all necessary rights for the dissemination of the creative work and performances directly related to this Project.

Tour with 3 performances in 3 Country

• Serbia, Novi Sad – 12 July
• Italy, Lecce – 15 July
• Hungary, Kapolcs – 22-23 July

Who is eligible?

• Applicants (18+) that are legal residents in Serbia or Hungary or Italy
• Must be able to easily communicate in English.
• Experience engaging with local communities through participatory and/or co-creative methods is desirable, but not mandatory;
• Artists working in any field of art who could be inspiring and flitting well into the concept. If you are visual artist, multimedia artist, dancer, multiinstrumentalist, be free to apply.

For more information, visit Pro Progressione.