Open Call to lead Creative Impact Lab Amman 2023 | Leonardo/ISASTwith Arizona State University

Open Call to lead Creative Impact Lab Amman 2023

Dates or Deadline: 
16 February 2023 to 9 April 2023
Organized by: 
Leonardo/ISAST
Contact: 
Christiana Kazakou

APPLICATION DEADLINE EXTENDED TO APRIL 9th

Open Call to lead Creative Impact Lab Amman 2023

A six-week hybrid creative exchange that utilizes community-driven digital and new media art projects to address a local social challenge.

Leonardo is seeking a U.S.-based artist to lead our hybrid Creative Impact Lab in Amman, Jordan. The lab is a continuation and evolution of our strategic partner ZERO1’s Creative Impact Lab, an innovative model for cultural exchange. The lab will engage 20 Jordanian participants to address the social challenge of creative industries. Exchange activities will take place from September through November 2023 with precise dates to be determined in consultation with the host partner, IDare for Sustainable Development.
 

The Challenge

The cultural and creative industries generate jobs for disadvantaged population groups and make an important contribution of approximately three percent towards the global economy. Their innovative power extends into other branches of the economy and pioneers tomorrow’s world of work. This gives the creative economy the potential to drive inclusive development in the long term.

Despite the economic and social potential of the cultural and creative industries, and a large number of creative talents in the Middle East, there are few such opportunities. There is a lack of governmental support, needs-based training opportunities, strong interest groups, and suitable financing models and market access.

The creative economy exemplifies one of the many intractable social challenges we face today, which are complex, interrelated, and impossible to solve with the expertise of a solitary disciplinary specialty. Addressing these ever-deepening challenges requires a transdisciplinary approach that draws on diverse perspectives and proficiencies from collaborators. Creative Impact Labs aim to create a space for this type of collaboration and provide an opportunity for youth to creatively empower themselves while gaining skills-based, professional training that broadens their perspective and expands their network.
 

The lab consists of four activity phases:

  1. Artist Talk: a presentation by the U.S. artist introducing the participants and the public to their creative practice.
  2. Workshops: a workshop series led by the U.S. artist which leverages their specific area
    of expertise and may also involve guest speakers. In parallel, the topic of creative industries is explored through frameworks of the arts, the sciences, social entrepreneurship, and community engagement.
  3. Project Development: Participants prototype artworks that apply workshop skills to address creative industries.
  4. Panel Review and Virtual Exhibition: the lab culminates in a public panel review wherein Jordanian and U.S. experts provide feedback on participant project prototypes. Projects are revealed to a wider public audience at a virtual exhibition opening. 

*All sessions will be conducted in English with the support of an Arabic interpreter.

Eligibility

  • U.S. citizens residing in the U.S.
  • Mid-career or established artists working with new media and/or digital art.
  • Experience with teaching, facilitation, group collaboration, and/or social practice.

Who We’re Looking For

The ideal candidate will have experience addressing creative industries and youth empowerment in their work. Leonardo is seeking innovative digital and new media artists who have demonstrated the qualities below:

  • Social Engagement: Artist has shown a commitment to their communities and have a practice that has addressed social and/or environmental challenges.
  • Collaborative Leadership: Experience facilitating dialogue and leading diverse groups towards collective goals through teaching, workshops, social practice, artistic collaboration, or other outreach activities.
  • Cultural Sensitivity & Adaptability: Experience working in international and/or intercultural contexts.
  • Strong Project Management & Communication Skills: Artists are independent self-starters, familiar with virtual collaboration tools, and responsive to the needs of multiple stakeholders.
  • Artistic Excellence: A strong record of artistic accomplishments that demonstrate innovative use of digital and new media.

*Proficiency or fluency in Arabic is preferred, but not required.

Budget

Airfare, accommodation, and per diem are provided for the overseas portion of the exchange. The lead artist will receive a USD $5,000 fee for preparation, facilitation, and reporting, plus an assigned budget for lab production costs. The final production budget amount is determined during the project proposal phase and requires Leonardo approval.

Diversity

Leonardo is committed to diversity and encourages applications from BIPOC, women, the LGBTQIA+ community, and persons with disabilities, as well as applications from researchers and practitioners from across the spectrum of new media disciplines and methods.
 

Application Deadline Extended: Sunday, April 9th 2023 at 11:45pm PDT

If you require support to complete your applicationplease email  admin@leonardo.info.

APPLY NOW

Creative Impact Lab Amman (2023) is a Leonardo international exchange supported by the U.S. Embassy in Jordan and hosted by IDare for Sustainable Development

About Leonardo

Fearlessly pioneering since 1968, Leonardo serves as THE community forging a transdisciplinary network to convene, research, collaborate, and disseminate best practices at the nexus of arts, science and technology worldwide. Leonardo serves a network of transdisciplinary scholars, artists, scientists, technologists and thinkers, who experiment with cutting-edge, new approaches, practices, systems and solutions to tackle the most complex challenges facing humanity today.

As a not-for-profit 501(c)3 enterprising think tank, Leonardo offers a global platform for creative exploration and collaboration reaching tens of thousands of people across 135 countries. Our flagship publication, Leonardo, the world’s leading scholarly journal on transdisciplinary art, anchors a robust publishing partnership with MIT Press; our partnership with ASU infuses educational innovation with digital art and media for lifelong learning; our creative programs span thought-provoking events, exhibits, residencies and fellowships, scholarship and social enterprise ventures.

About IDare for Sustainable Development

IDare for Sustainable Development is a not-for-profit organization established in October 2013. As a social venture, the core of IDare's actions are based on social marketing (community change behavior) from the early stages of idea development to the successful achievement of the desired impact.

IDare believes in youth as the driving force towards development in its comprehensive sustainable concept where social, economic, and political dimensions are equally respected. IDare exists to be the platform for the voice and efforts of young active citizens in transforming their societies to achieve remarkable success in all their endeavors.

About US Embassy in Jordan

The U.S. Embassy in Amman strives to foster mutual understanding between the people of the United States and Jordan. This mission, implemented by U.S. embassies around the world, is overseen within the Department of State by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA).

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