Apply and take part in a transnational project exploring colonial heritage across Europe

The project involves numerous countries including Cyprus, Spain, Italy, Portugal, the UK and Barbados

Cultural organisations and artists from 6 European countries (Spain, Italy, Portugal, Cyprus, the UK and Barbados) are collaborating in a transnational project financed by the Creative Europe programme of the European Union. Xarkis non-profit Cypriot cultural organisation, which has been organising the Xarkis Festival for the past 7 years, is participating as a partner in the project named “Contested Desires”.

The organisation is now inviting artists to apply for “Contested Desires” - an initiative exploring shared and contested Colonial heritage and its influence on contemporary culture. The project is a transnational capacity building programme for artists and producers engaging with communities and heritage spaces. With a focus on exchange and learning, the project will give unique opportunities for artists to explore shared heritage through research, workshops, residencies and exhibitions.

Nine artists from 6 countries

The project will engage nine artists to participate in this ambitious and collaborative project from January 2020 until September 2021. In Cyprus, two artists will be selected to take part in the project.

Working closely with producers, cultural experts and communities across a variety of local contexts, each artist from Cyprus will have the opportunity to be part of a number of activities including research, training and the production and presentation of new work in site-specific contexts and online.

The participating artists will attend a one-month residency abroad that will conclude with an exhibition, three capacity-building workshops, one digital training lab in the UK, an online presentation including the participation in a digital lab and a group residency and final exhibition of work in site-specific settings as part of the Xarkis Festival in 2021.

Each artist must be available to participate in and commit to all activities of the programme. The selected two artists from Cyprus will participate in either the joint residency in Lagos, Portugal, or in Barcelona, or in Newcastle, and a final joint residency in Cyprus. The call for participants is open until 18 November 2019.