CREATResili – Open Call for Artists and Designers

Our project aims to use creative means, particularly social design, to empower marginalised groups, and raise awareness about pressing social issues. By harnessing the expertise of professionals from the creative, social, and e-commerce sectors, our goal is to develop and pilot a comprehensive methodology in social design that brings about measurable and positive change to people’s lives. More specifically, the project will contribute to the social and economic empowerment of women living in Kosovo who have suffered gender-based violence. 

About CREATResili

CREATResili is based on a social inclusion initiative launched by the Jahjaga Foundation in Kosovo, providing economic empowerment opportunities to survivors of gender-based violence through income-generating activities, like tailoring, weaving and apparel design. Building on the success of this initiative, CREATResili offers a comprehensive training and capacity-building program for artists interested in community-led design, with the possibility of applying their knowledge working alongside the beneficiaries of the Jahjaga Foundation. As such, the program has two components: 

In its first phase, 12 artists will participate in a seven-day Social Design Summer University in Hungary. The aim is to equip participants with the necessary skills and theoretical background to co-create with vulnerable communities in a safe and inclusive way. Through multidisciplinary lectures, workshops and one-on-one mentoring, participants will be guided through a creative process resulting in the development of 12 concept presentations, which will be showcased at a public pitching event. Following the training and prototyping phase, three designers will be chosen to proceed to the second project phase. They will adapt and co-produce their designs during a residency in Kosovo, scheduled between September and November 2024 (with a minimum commitment of 15 days over 2.5 months). 

During the residency, designers will collaborate with women employed by the Jahjaga Foundation to create a collection of textile and home goods items that will be marketed online on GjirafaMall, the largest e-commerce platform in the region. This way, the project will not only help vulnerable women become more self-sufficient and enter the field of creative entrepreneurship but also amplify their voices and raise awareness about gender-based violence. 

While only three artists will be selected for the residency, the Summer University is designed as a stand-alone training program that will benefit all 12 participants and equip artists with adaptable skills and insights applicable to their future endeavours.

CREATResili team

The project capitalises on cross-sectoral cooperation between various entities: a governmental humanitarian and development agency (Hungary Helps Agency), an artistic hub (Pro Progressione), an NGO working with marginalised women in Kosovo (Jahjaga Foundation) and a tech company and e-commerce platform (Gjirafa). MOME University’s Social Design Hub joins the consortium to provide professional support throughout the creative journey and provide a framework for adapting participatory research methods in the context of working towards resilient communities and gender equity. 

CREATResili, led by the Hungary Helps Agency, is co-funded by the European Commission under the Creative Europe Programme. 

Key Dates

• 5 April-31 May 2024: Application open
• 19 April 2024: Online Open House event and info session
• mid-June 2024: 12 selected participants are notified
• 26-31 August 2024: Social Design Summer University in Budapest, Hungary
• 30 August 2024: Public pitching event
• 31 August 2024: Three artists selected for Kosovo residency
• 16 September-30 November 2024: Residency in Pristina, Kosovo (min. 15 days per artist)
• 2025: Closing event in Pristina, Kosovo

Open House | Info session

Draft schedule: 

• 17:00-17:10 Project summary and timeline
• 17:10-17:35 Meet the team 
• 17:35-18:00 Intro session: Designing with vulnerable communities by Janka Csernák (MOME Social Design Hub)
• 18:00-18:10 Eligibility and application process
• 18:10-18:30: Q&A 

Here is the recording of the Open House event.

How to apply to CREATResili

All applicants must submit the following documents in English via the online application form:

• Personal statement (500 words maximum)

Please provide a personal statement outlining the following:
– Your previous experience and/or interest in social design, socially engaged art, or other inclusive, participatory creative practices;
– Your motivation for participating in the project;
– A brief overview of your proposed project idea or design framework. This may include the goals, scope, relevance, or themes you plan to explore in your creative work as well as your preferred medium / anticipated material needs (textiles, fabric, upcycled materials, etc.).

• Portfolio

Please include a link to your website and/or submit selected works that showcase your body of work.

• Up-to-date professional CV

Please include your relevant experience, qualifications and spoken languages.

All submissions must be sent digitally via the application form by 31 May, 2024, 23:59 (CET).
All applicants who are legal residents in the countries within the Creative Europe framework are eligible to apply. Here is a list of non-EU participating countries in the Creative Europe Programme.

What we offer

• 1-week comprehensive training and skills development in the field of social design, including modules on equitable and participatory research methods, creative storytelling, social innovation, prototyping, entrepreneurship practices, presentation skills and marketing 
• Cross-border and cross-disciplinary exchange with experts and fellow artists and practitioners from across Europe
• Honorarium of 500 EUR to develop a concept presentation for the pitching event at the end of the Summer University 
• Opportunity to present in front of an international body of experts during the pitching event
• Access to fully equipped facilities, workshops and lab spaces during the Summer University
• Opportunity to co-produce items with the Jahjaga Foundation beneficiaries during a 2.5-month residency in Pristina, Kosovo. (Open to 3 selected participants.)
• Honorarium of 3000 EUR/person for the 3 selected artists during the residency in Kosovo
• Access to Jahjaga Foundation’s textile workshop equipped with industrial sewing machines
• Exposure through CREATResili’s international dissemination and engagement activities
• Opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals and foster professional relationships within a community of social design practitioners

What we expect

• Participation: We expect selected artists to participate in all designated CREATResili events during the Summer University, including lectures, workshops, field visits and the public pitching event. 
• Concept presentation: Artists must produce a concept presentation by the end of the Summer University to be showcased at the public pitching event.
• Availability for residency: Artists that are selected for the Kosovo residency must be present in Pristina, Kosovo in the period between September and November 2024 and attend online mentoring meetings beforehand.
• Engagement: Artists must be committed to CREATResili’s objectives and unconditionally identify with the principles of equality, respect, empathy, and inclusivity in their creative work.

Selection:

Representatives from the partner organisations will individually assess the applications using a point-based ranking system, which will serve as the basis for selecting the 12 participants. The final selection will be made during a partner meeting based on the following criteria:

• Robustness of body of work/degree of experience
• Artistic quality of portfolio
• Motivation
• Relevance/alignment with project scope
• Long-term impact on applicant’s career trajectory
• Compatibility of artistic proposal
• Social impact and sustainability
• Residency potential
• Demonstrated professionalism
• Diversity 

All applicants will be notified of the selection results in June 2024.

 

Recommended reading

Haugh, H.M., Talwar, A. Linking Social Entrepreneurship and Social Change: The Mediating Role of Empowerment. J Bus Ethics 133, 643–658 (2016). 
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-014-2449-4

Kimbell, L. (2012). Rethinking Design Thinking: Part II. Design and Culture, 4(2), 129–148.
https://doi.org/10.2752/175470812X13281948975413

Mazzarella, F. (2023). Fashion Activism and Design for Social Change – The Making for Change: Waltham Forest Project. In: Earley, R. & Hornbuckle, R. (Eds.) Design Materials and Making for Social Change – From Materials we Explore to Materials we Wear. London, UK: Routlegde.
https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003260356 

Rugina, S. (2023). The influence of institutional context on women’s entrepreneurship in the Baltics. [Doctoral Thesis, Maastricht University]. Maastricht University.
https://doi.org/10.26481/dis.20230417sr

For further inquiries, please contact: marschall.livia@proprogressione.com (Pro Progressione)

CREATResili, led by the Hungary Helps Agency, is co-funded by the European Union’s Creative Europe programme under grant agreement No 101131281.