La Wayaka Current announces a call for artists for Desert 23’S. Open to interdisciplinary artists, musicians, writers, scientists, activists, and others. Join an artist led expedition and residency program. Reconnect with wild and remote natural environments and learn from ecology and indigenous culture. Participants are encouraged to be resourceful and work with local methods, materials, basic tools, and equipment within the community and isolated natural environment.
Click here for the application / registration
Deadline: 20 Jun 2019
Desert 23°S presents a rare opportunity to research and develop new artistic and creative practices in one of the driest environments on our planet. It is within an indigenous community inside a national nature reserve of diverse flora and fauna. This otherworldly region closer resembles the surface of Mars than Earth. It offers optimal conditions for astronomical observations and preserves ancient archaeology beneath the sands. Within the dry landscape lives an unbelievably diverse and rich ecosystem that remains due to the knowledge of indigenous groups who fight to protect the area from exploitative, water-intensive extraction and mining.
Artists will be able to work more independently on their self directed practice alongside the program. Artists come with an open and willing attitude, assist in the responsibilities of the resident community. and are respectful towards the local nature and communities wishes.
Reduced Program Fee from: *£399 a week
Full Program Fee from: *£567 p week
Price Includes:
- Accommodation: *£17 p day
- Food / 3 meals and potable water: *£14 p day
- Artist support, location guides, and creative and technical support: *£18 p day
- Guided visits to archaeology / meteorite museums and observatory: *£27 p visit (full program only)
- Local transfer from nearest airport: *£21 each way
- Program w/ local indigenous collaborators: *£28 p session
- Research excursions in surrounding area: from *£35 p excursion (full program only)
- Logistics support: bike rental / laundry / local town transport supplies service (weekly): *£7 p day
*Price with LWC Financial Aid.
Desert 23’S Artist Benefits
Desert 23’S is a fluid, site-responsive program which introduces creatives to the local ecology and culture as well as contemporary socio-political issues and historical contexts of the area, whilst presenting reciprocal benefits for local communities both socially and economically through the program’s presence and exchange.
In the fifth year of operation, the program cultivate spaces in remote environments that nourish and encourage space for personal and professional growth. Learn and experiment creatively. Gather and find new inspiration in a remote, vast place far from structural or institutional frameworks and limitations.
Though this program, engage with new ecological and cultural perspectives of our time in a multitude of ways. Promote necessary dialogues and understanding between remote areas of this planet to others worldwide.
La Wayaka Current is an artist-led initiative responding to an increased loss of connection to the natural world. We have led over 30 expeditions for artists to work remotely in remote natural environments in a nurturing and experimental space. We have hosted intl. exhibitions and talks about this work.
Duration of Residency
Take part in Desert 23’S between 3-6 weeks (enquire for longer or shorter stays) during the following time periods:
- June 3 – June 24, 2019
- Aug 30 – Sept 20, 2019
- Sept 27 – Oct 18, 2019
- Oct 25 – Nov 15, 2019 (full capacity / waiting list only)
Participants will live together in a shared house in a small Desert Oasis, sheltered from the vast desert, within an Indigenous Community, inside the National Reserve of Flamingos. Rooms will be shared between 2-3 (private rooms may also be available on request prior to arrival). Bedding will be provided. Participants will be encouraged to use the outdoor vast desert environment as their studio and daily interactions with local culture and ecology as their source of learning and inspiration.
About La Wayaka Current
La Wayaka Current is a non-profit artist-led organisation without the means to support artists fully financially. They offer financial aid on all programs and support and guidance when applying for funding from other institutions or crowdfunding. Over 80+ artists have been able to fund their residency and travel with international arts funding through support, many for the first time. La Wayaka Current is happy to talk to artists and guide them on this process. Funds generated from our on the ground expeditions go to sustain the project, the workers involved, and into the remote communities shared with, supporting infrastructure, community, outreach, and conservation of remote places.
For more information, contact contact@lawayakacurrent.com.