Tag: De Appel

Open Call: Tilting Axis Fellowship 2025

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Nieuwe Instituut and Tilting Axis are launching the fifth iteration of the Fellowship program for applicants based in the Caribbean. The initiative aims to foster and support research based practices and stimulate mutual exchange between the Caribbean region and the Dutch cultural field. Together with the leading partners – Nieuwe Instituut and Tilting Axis – other cultural institutions including The Amsterdam Museum, De Appel, Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam, and Kunstinstituut Melly will engage with the selected applicant during the Fellowship.

About the Fellowship

This Fellowship focuses on applicants living and working within the Caribbean region offering the space to think through research and practice. The selected applicant will be based in Rotterdam at Nieuwe Instituut and will have access to other partner cultural institutions in Rotterdam and Amsterdam.

The Fellowship will be developed through independent research; individual support and interaction with the Research Department team at Nieuwe Instituut; monthly meetings to discuss thematic and methodological aspects of the project; and diverse collaborations with partner institutions.

Applicants are invited to submit a proposal that addresses their current investigations and research interests through the lens of architecture, design and digital culture.

Read more about the past editions of the Tilting Axis Fellowship with Fellow Sean Leonard in 2020-2021, Fernando Martirena and Anadis Gonzálezin 2021-2022, Israel Mapp in 2023, and Klieon John in 2024.

For whom?

A researcher, designer, writer, curator, or cultural producer based in the Caribbean region who is interested in building new links with cultural institutions in the Netherlands, and developing the research practice around themes related to architecture, spatial practice, design or digital culture.

Neither a curriculum vitae nor letters of recommendation are requested. The Fellowship is open to all degree-levels in design, architecture, and digital culture. Equal priority will be given to those without a degree or institutional affiliation who can also demonstrate a high levels of creativity, critical thought, and other potential in their respective fields. There is no age limit for applicants.

Artists who are residents of and based in the following countries can apply: Anguilla, Antigua, Aruba & Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Bonaire, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Cuba, Curaçao, Dominica, Dominican Republic, French Guiana, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Martinique, Montserrat, Puerto Rico, Saba, St. Barthélemy, St. Eustatius, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Saint Martin, Sint Martin, Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago, Turks & Caicos Islands, US Virgin Islands.

Resources offered by the Fellowship

  • Stimulate and visualise curatorial, design, and artistic realities coming from the Caribbean region;
  • Enhance knowledge exchange and collaboration with a cross-section of Dutch cultural institutions;
  • Network and exchange with a variety of platforms for professional experience;
  • Produce critical knowledge on inter-disciplinary exchanges as well as visual culture;
  • Offer practical support for travel to the Netherlands;
  • Engage with hosting and collaborating institutions to interrogate and challenge their institutional structures and methodologies;
  • Utilise the existing Tilting Axis network.

The Fellow will be invited to:

  • Make a series of presentations in Rotterdam & Amsterdam at host and partner institutions on their research/practice;
  • Produce a monthly text/sound/video/photo essay as potential options to be discussed with the fellow. The fellow’s research could lead to an installation, exhibition, or further events at partner institutions during or after the Fellowship;
  • Write a final reflective report on the Fellowship experience is required and will be posted on the websites of Tilting Axis and Nieuwe Instituut, with links to the partner institutions.

The Fellow is not expected to produce an outcome or finished artwork or product but will be encouraged to present their ongoing research interests to the public whilst in the Netherlands. The research will also be published via the Nieuwe Instituut and partner institutions’ websites, newsletters, or other publications.

Research Stipend and Travelling to the Netherlands

Nieuwe Instituut will grant a total stipend of €12,000 to cover living expenses and, in addition to the stipend, will cover one round-trip airfare from any country within the Caribbean to the Netherlands. Accommodation costs will be reimbursed to the fellow in the Netherlands for a maximum of €800 per month. Stipends may be subject to a withholding tax.

Government policies regarding visa restrictions will be adhered to. This means that Fellows who can only reside in the Netherlands for 90 days, will undertake their fellowship partly remotely.

Crossovers Programme

This Fellowship is part of the Nieuwe Instituut’s crossovers programme that aims to stimulate the international exchange of knowledge and research through collaborative fellowships, events, exhibitions, and publications involving designers, researchers, and partners across the world. Broader alliances can contribute to cultural and political change, and eventually to policy adjustments.

Apply

The Open Call for 2025 is available from May 30, 2024, with a deadline for submission on June 30, 2024. Proposals should be submitted to ta-fellowship@nieuweinstituut.nl with the subject Tilting Axis Fellowship 2024<name>.

To be considered, proposals should include the following information:

  • An introductory video, max 3 minutes, in which applicants introduce themselves, their initial project idea, and what inspired them to apply.

  • A written proposal of max 1000 words in which applicants detail: a statement of intent which should explain the applicant’s research focus and its methodology, highlighting its connection to architecture, design, or digital culture; the relation between their interests and at least two of the hosting partners and institutions; the proposal should be content-driven and can be based on already existing research or offer new projects; a proposed working calendar with availability to take up the fellowship from February – July 2025; Relevant documentation of previous work (maximum 10 works), and/or links to audio or video files (maximum 5 minutes) in PDF format with an accompanying caption list.

Proposals should be written in English and applicants must have a working knowledge of English. While we understand that English proficiency may vary or that English may not be the applicant’s first or primary language, unfortunately, we are unable to offer translation support at this time. Applicants with specific questions are encouraged to contact ta-fellowship@nieuweinstituut.nlabout the availability of any support service.

Selection process

Proposals will be considered by an international committee including the Tilting Axis and the Nieuwe Instituut teams and representatives from the partner institutions including curators, academics, and museum professionals.

The review committee includes:

  • Tijn van de Wijdeven, Nieuwe Instituut

  • Holly Bynoe, ARC Magazine, Sour Grass and Tilting Axis co-founder

  • Annalee Davis, Visual Artist, Founding Director of Fresh Milk, Sour Grass, and Tilting Axis co-founder

  • Jessy Koeiman, Curator of Collective Learning, Kunstinstituut Melly

  • Mark Raymond, Director of the Graduate School of Architecture at the University of Johannesburg in South Africa

  • Lara Khaldi, Direct at De Appel

  • Imara Limon, Curator, Amsterdam Museum & Silke Kamp, Curator-in-Training, Amsterdam Museum

  • Charl Landvreugd, Head of Research and Curatorial Practice, Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to an online interview with members of the selection committee. Candidates must hold the dates July 10th and July 11th, 2024 for the interview.

Read more about the Tilting Axis Fellowship and the call for applications on the website of the Nieuwe Instituut.

 

Klieon John selected for Tilting Axis Fellowship 2024

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In 2019 Nieuwe Instituut joined forces with Tilting Axis to offer a Fellowship to an applicant based in the Caribbean. We are delighted to share news that Klieon John, from St. Kitts and Nevis, has been selected as the fourth recipient of the Tilting Axis / Nieuwe Instituut Fellowship. Klieon will begin his Fellowship at Nieuwe Instituut in Rotterdam starting February 2024 and will thereafter continue research and activities through August 2024.

See the announcement on the Tilting Axis website here.

Klieon John, from St. Kitts and Nevis

With over fourteen years in the media industry, Klieon John is based in St. Kitts & Nevis where he works as a writer, filmmaker, and creative director. His work in public relations, advertising, and brand development has expanded regionally to include Jamaica and Trinidad & Tobago. Klieon founded the film production and curation studio Twin-Island Cinema in 2019 which is dedicated to research, development, and the preservation of Caribbean history and culture through design and visual storytelling.

Selected project

Klieon John’s project, Nieuwe Bohío: An Immersive Digital Retrospective on Indigenous Caribbean history, culture, and mythology, is a research and design project that seeks to embark on an immersive journey into the Indigenous Taíno and Kalinago cultures of The Caribbean region, with the ultimate objective of creating a cinematic and transformative virtual reality experience. The findings will serve as the foundation for an eclectic spectrum of practical applications including architectural research, sustainable community planning, and the development of an interactive Augmented Reality (AR) experience. By examining the traditional architectural techniques, use of materials, and spatial organisation principles of our Indigenous peoples, we can integrate their cultural elements into contemporary design practices and create physical and digital spaces that pay homage to our indigenous legacy while addressing urgent contemporary challenges like climate change and economic instability.

Jury comments on the selected proposal

St. Kitts and Nevis-based Klieon John will use the Fellowship as a birthing space to develop his research integrating archeological findings, architectural research, sustainable community planning, non-western architecture and the development of an interactive 3D video game universe. Klieon’s examination of traditional architectural techniques, materials, and spatial organisation principles will form a foundation from which these cultural elements will be integrated into contemporary design practices, informing the proposed digital space honouring Indigenous legacies while responding to the urgent and current challenges of the climate emergency and economic crises. His research will explore the integration of gameplay elements with storytelling techniques to effectively convey mythical themes within the game format while encouraging active user engagement and an appreciation for indigenous cultural heritage.

The jury felt that Kileon’s interest in growing his understanding of virtual reality game design as a way to think about the region’s past and potential futures. His submission responds to the moment in compelling ways involving issues of interpretation, conservation, preservation and ethical considerations relating to understanding and working with Caribbean Indigenous narratives and knowledge systems. The jury was inspired by Klieon’s ambitious submission and his goal to create a transformative virtual reality experience informed by the indigenous Taíno and Kalinago cultures of St. Kitts & Nevis and the wider Caribbean. Furthermore, the jury recognised Klieon’s proposed methodology to consult with Indigenous communities and cultural experts to ensure respectful representation while maintaining ethical approaches to working with these communities in the region.

General jury comments on the open call

The members of the jury were impressed by the wide range of themes approached by the projects, as well as the relevance and timeliness. Applicants submitted a wide cross-section of projects from all four linguistic territories of the Caribbean. Proposals included various working methodologies and mediums such as architecture, design, dance and performance, sound work, virtual reality, digital design, and archival research. The projects represent the creativity and power of the work developed by makers and practitioners in the Caribbean, which highlighted the urgency of continued dialogue and collaboration with the region, as projects found resonance in cross-national focuses. Submissions included proposals concerned with topical themes such as sonic landscapes, AI, linguistics, Nation language, folklore, vernacular architectures, indigeneity, the marine environment, Afro-Caribbean spirituality, ritual, and queer futures.

Selection procedure

The Fellowship is supported by the Nieuwe Instituut as lead partner and host, and will include collaborations with the Amsterdam Museum, De Appel, Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam and Kunstinstituut Melly. Between the announcement of the open call on the 15th of May 2023 and the deadline on June 23rd 2023, Nieuwe Instituut and Tilting Axis received 24 eligible entries in response to the open call from eleven countries across the Anglophone, Francophone, Hispanophone, and Dutch Caribbean region including The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Cuba, Guadeloupe, Jamaica, Martinique, St. Kitts & Nevis, Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The proposals were reviewed by a committee composed of the following members:

  • Ramon Amaro, Senior Researcher, Nieuwe Instituut

  • Holly Bynoe, ARC Magazine, Researcher, Sour Grass and Tilting Axis co-founder

  • Annalee Davis, Visual Artist, Founding Director of Fresh Milk, co-founder of Sour Grass and Tilting Axis

  • Jessy Koeiman, Curator of Collective Learning, Kunstinstituut Melly

  • Mark Raymond, Director of the Graduate School of Architecture at the University of Johannesburg in South Africa

  • Lara Khaldi, Director, De Appel

  • Imara Limon, Curator, Amsterdam Museum & Lateesha Verwey, Curator-in-Training, Amsterdam Museum

  • Charl Landvreugd, Head of Research and Curatorial Practice, Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam

The meeting was chaired and moderated by Nieuwe Initituut program manager, Joyce Hanssen and Nieuwe Instituut researcher Federica Notari.

Proposals were evaluated on the basis of their research proposal, considering their methodological approach and connection to the themes of architecture, design or digital culture; as well as their proposal’s interest in the hosting partners. Four candidates were shortlisted and invited to an online interview with members of the selection committee on July 3rd 2023. Following the interviews, the committee selected Klieon John (St. Kitts & Nevis) as the recipient of the Fellowship. The other shortlisted candidates were Simone Garcia (Cuba), Celine Choo Woon Chee (Trinidad and Tobago) and Matthew McCarthy (Jamaica).

Open Call: Tilting Axis Fellowship 2024

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Nieuwe Instituut and Tilting Axis are launching the fourth iteration of the Fellowship program for applicants based in the Caribbean. The initiative aims to foster and support research based practices and stimulate mutual exchange between the Caribbean region and the Dutch cultural field. Together with the leading partners – Nieuwe Instituut and Tilting Axis – other cultural institutions including The Amsterdam Museum, De Appel, Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam, and Kunstinstituut Melly will engage with the selected applicant during the Fellowship.

About the Fellowship

This Fellowship focuses on applicants living and working within the Caribbean region offering the space to think through research and practice. The selected applicant will be based in Rotterdam at Nieuwe Instituut and will have access to other partner cultural institutions in Rotterdam and Amsterdam.

The Fellowship will be developed through independent research; individual support and interaction with the Research Department team at Nieuwe Instituut; monthly meetings to discuss thematic and methodological aspects of the project; and diverse collaborations with partner institutions.

Applicants are invited to submit a proposal that addresses their current investigations and research interests through the lens of architecture, design and digital culture.

Read more about the past editions of the Tilting Axis Fellowship with Fellow Sean Leonard in 2020-2021, Fernando Martirena and Anadis González in 2021-2022 and Israel Mapp in 2023.

Watch a video introduction to the Open Call here.

For whom?

One researcher, designer, writer, curator, or cultural producer based in the Caribbean region interested in building new links with cultural institutions in the Netherlands, and with an interest in developing their research practice around themes related to architecture, spatial practice, design or digital culture.

Neither a curriculum vitae nor letters of recommendation are requested. The Fellowship is open to all degree levels in design, architecture and digital culture. Equal priority will be given to those without a degree or institutional affiliation who can also demonstrate a high level of creativity, critical thought and other potential in their respective fields. There is no age limit for applicants.

Artists who are residents of and based in the following countries can apply: Anguilla, Antigua, Aruba & Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Bonaire, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Cuba, Curaçao, Dominica, Dominican Republic, French Guiana, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Martinique, Montserrat, Puerto Rico, Saba, St. Barthélemy, St. Eustatius, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Saint Martin, Sint Martin, Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago, Turks & Caicos Islands, US Virgin Islands.

Resources offered by the Fellowship

  • Stimulate and visualise curatorial, design, and artistic realities coming from the Caribbean region;
  • Enhance knowledge exchange and collaboration with a cross-section of Dutch cultural institutions;
  • Network and exchange with a variety of platforms for professional experience;
  • Produce critical knowledge on inter-disciplinary exchanges as well as visual culture;
  • Offer practical support for travel to the Netherlands;
  • Engage with hosting and collaborating institutions to interrogate and challenge their institutional structures and methodologies;
  • Utilise the existing Tilting Axis network.

The Fellow will be invited to:

  • Make a series of presentations in Rotterdam & Amsterdam at host and partner institutions on their research/practice;
  • Produce a monthly text/sound/video/photo essay as potential options to be discussed with the fellow. The fellow’s research could lead to an installation, exhibition, or further events at partner institutions during or after the Fellowship;
  • Write a final reflective report on the Fellowship experience is required and will be posted on the websites of Tilting Axis and Nieuwe Instituut, with links to the partner institutions.

Research Stipend and Travelling to the Netherlands

A total stipend of €12,000 will be granted by Nieuwe Instituut to cover living expenses and in addition to the stipend, Nieuwe Instituut will cover one round-trip airfare from any country within the Caribbean to the Netherlands. Accommodation costs will be reimbursed to the fellow for the period of stay in the Netherlands for a maximum of €800 per month. Stipends may be subject to a withholding tax.

Specific details about the position will be discussed with the selected applicant. Developments around COVID-19 and/or the restrictions imposed by governments including visa restrictions will be taken into account. The Fellowship might be undertaken partly remotely for applicants who are only able to reside in the Netherlands for 90 days given visa stipulations.

Crossovers Programme

This Fellowship is part of Nieuwe Instituut’s crossovers programme that aims to stimulate the international exchange of knowledge and research through collaborative fellowships, events, exhibitions, and publications involving designers, researchers and partners across the world. Broader alliances can contribute to cultural and political change, and eventually to policy adjustments.

Application process

Applicants for the Fellowship are invited to develop an independent proposal clearly outlining their areas of research/practice while also highlighting their interests in some or all of the partner organisations. The proposal should be content driven and can be based on already existing research or offer new projects. The Fellow is not expected to produce an outcome or finished artwork or product but will be encouraged to publicly present the ongoing research interests whilst in the Netherlands. The research will also be published on an ongoing basis via Nieuwe Instituut and partner institutions’ websites, newsletters, or other publications.

Proposals will be considered by an international committee consisting of the Tilting Axis and Nieuwe Instituut teams along with representatives from the partner institutions including curators, academics, creative practitioners and museum professionals.

Apply

The Open Call for 2024 is available from May 12 2023, with a deadline for submission on June 23, 2023. Proposals should be submitted to ta-fellowship@nieuweinstituut.nl with the subject Tilting Axis Fellowship 2024/ .

In order to be considered, proposals should include the following information:

  • An introductory video of max 3 minutes in which applicants introduce themselves, their initial project idea and what inspired them to apply.
  • A written proposal of max 1000 words in which applicants detail: a statement of intent which should explain the applicant’s research focus and its methodology, highlighting its connection to architecture, design, or digital culture; the relation between their interests and the hosting partners and institutions; a proposed working calendar with availability to take up the fellowship from February- July 2024.
  • Relevant documentation of previous work (maximum 10 works), and/or links to audio or video files (maximum 5 minutes) in PDF format with an accompanying caption list.

Proposals should be written in English and applicants must have a working knowledge of English. While we understand that English proficiency may vary or that English may not be the applicant’s first or primary language, unfortunately, we are not able to offer translation support at this time. Applicants with specific questions are encouraged to contact ta-fellowship@nieuweinstituut.nl about the availability of any support service.

Selection process

Proposals will be considered by an international committee consisting of the Tilting Axis and Het Nieuwe Instituut teams along with representatives from the partner institutions including curators, academics, and museum professionals. Find a full overview of the jury members here. The review committee includes:

  • Ramon Amaro, Senior Researcher, Nieuwe Instituut
  • Holly Bynoe, ARC Magazine, Sour Grass and Tilting Axis co-founder
  • Annalee Davis, Visual Artist, Founding Director of Fresh Milk, Sour Grass and Tilting Axis co-founder
  • Jessy Koeiman, Curator of Collective Learning, Kunstinstituut Melly
  • Mark Raymond, Director of the Graduate School of Architecture at the University of Johannesburg in South Africa
  • Lara Khaldi, Direct at De Appel
  • Imara Limon, Curator, Amsterdam Museum & Lateesha Verwey, Curator-in-Training, Amsterdam Museum
  • Charl Landvreugd, Head of Research and Curatorial Practice, Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to an online interview with members of the selection committee. Candidates must hold the dates July 4th 2023 for the interview.

 

Jury Report: Tilting Axis Fellowship 2023

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In Fall 2019, Het Nieuwe Instituut joined forces with Tilting Axis to offer a Fellowship to one mid-career or established applicant based in the Caribbean. Barbadian multi-disciplinary designer and architect Israel Mapp has been selected as the recipient of the Tilting Axis /Het Nieuwe Instituut Fellowship 2023. Israel Mapp will begin the Fellowship at Het Nieuwe Instituut in Rotterdam starting February 2023 and will continue his research and activities through July 2023.

See the announcement on the Tilting Axis website here.

Barbadian multi-disciplinary designer and architect Israel Mapp

Procedure

The fellowship is supported by Het Nieuwe Instituut as lead partner and host, and will include collaborations with its partners, the Amsterdam Museum, De Appel, Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam and Kunstinstituut Melly. By the deadline for the application on May 27th 2022, Het Nieuwe Instituut and Tilting Axis received 9 eligible entries in response to the open call, from eight territories in the Caribbean region: Barbados, Cuba, Curaçao, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Suriname, The Bahamas, and Trinidad & Tobago.

All the proposals were reviewed by a committee composed of the following members:

  • Aric Chen, Artistic and General Director, Het Nieuwe Instituut

  • Setareh Noorani, Researcher, Het Nieuwe Instituut

  • Iyawo (Holly Bynoe Young), Sour Grass and Tilting Axis co-founder

  • Annalee Davis, Visual Artist, Founding Director of Fresh Milk, Sour Grass and Tilting Axis co-founder

  • Jessy Koeiman, Curator Collective Learning, Kunstinstituut Melly

  • Mark Raymond, Director of the Graduate School of Architecture at the University of Johannesburg in South Africa

  • Huib Haye van der Werf (Interim Director), Director at De Appel

  • Inez van der Scheer, Junior Curator of Contemporary Art, Amsterdam Museum

  • Charl Landvreugd, Head of Research and Curatorial Practice, Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam

Submissions and interviews were evaluated based on their ability to present a clear proposal outlining their thinking, projected investigation, and how the fellowship would expand and enrich their practice. Four candidates were shortlisted and invited to an online interview with members of the selection committee on 22nd June 2022. Following the interviews, the committee selected Israel Mapp as the recipient of the 2023 fellowship. The other shortlisted candidates were Dayana Trigo Rames (Cuba), Jorge Pablo Lima (Cuba) and Miguel E. Keerveld (Suriname).

General Comments

The members of the jury were impressed by the spirited and dynamic nature of the projects, as well as the ambition of the applicants. The set of applications showed a variety of working methodologies and media, ranging from installations and architectural designs to the role of curating as an artist and various forms of social, political and symbolic public engagements and activism.

The jury was pleased to have received applications from applicants based across three linguistic territories of the Caribbean. Submissions responded to urgent themes including the climate emergency, colonialism, social consciousness, material cultures and architectural innovations found in nature, histories and literature.

The shortlisted projects investigated the nature of pathology in design, knowledge building within collective and co-creative practices, the role of architecture within ecology and embodied knowledge along with exploring non-extractive material considerations in the era of climate emergency.

Comments on the Selected Proposal

Israel Mapp’s proposal “Above Oceans” was supported unanimously during the interview process because of its considerations around material cultures and their connection to tangible and intangible heritages. The clarity expressed along with his poetic, empathetic and human-led explorations made his exchange with the jury memorable. In addition, Mapp was able to expand on his idea of creative placemaking in a meaningful way connecting several of his unique interests to the strengths of each partner institution.

This opportunity to engage in more intimate and nuanced ways with partner institutions is something that is very attractive to the legacy of the Fellowship. His inquiries and curiosities deal with the very real eco-challenges that are being faced by every Caribbean nation. “Above Oceans” points to material culture as praxis and identity and the urgency around forming community and institutional support using generative, open and humanist value systems.

His ambition includes embracing new learning through the introduction of labs which will create a growing reference library and continued opportunity to develop resources that can bring more wholeness and unification to the creative landscape of Barbados through exchange and co-ideation/co-creation. Collectively the jury was thrilled by Mapp’s interest in reworking clay, fibres from native flora, and limestone found in colonial architectural forms, and in re-presenting these materials in ways that will engage in an ethos connected to a regenerative circular design, that will involve creating more adaptive spaces that embody unlearning and transformation for these urgent times.

On receiving the news that he had been awarded the fellowship, Mapp shared this statement with the jury:

“Above Oceans is not the beginning, it is a point along an exploratory journey for me recognizing and acknowledging how landscape influences Barbadian identity. I truly enjoyed developing the “Above Oceans” proposal for the Tilting Axis Fellowship. It was a process of introspection and discovery working towards an alignment of love, joy, my talents and interests, and the needs of community.

I am equally thankful for the Tilting Axis | Het Nieuwe Instituut Team for taking the time and effort to consider, analyze and inquire with interest about Above Oceans. Receipt of critical feedback from one’s peers has always been an empowering experience for me. It often provides multiple and diverse perspectives that one would have not considered, drills down to the details that matter and ultimately adds more value and depth to the initial idea. Good design comes about when good questions are presented. This process with The Jury was insightful, and inspired me to review, refine and develop the proposal with the view to implement in Barbados. They asked great questions.

I am extremely grateful for and accept this gift and opportunity to continue and expand the work I have been doing in Barbados to which the fellowship will provide. It is also one of meaningful exchange, exploration and discovery; experiences that I value and contribute greatly to my work. My practice calls for experimentation and the exploration of the possibilities; working in the creative environment of Rotterdam will be an excellent observatory and laboratory.

The next six months will be critical in the planning of the fellowship beginning 2023. In addition to having access to the resources of Het Nieuwe Instituut, the partnering organisations and building new relationships, I look forward to taking opportunities for research and development, and collaborations towards approaches in architectural-product design routed innately in Barbadian material culture and a parallel track on understanding the development and operations of creative clusters. I look forward to sharing the fellowship and its fruits with my peers across the ocean.”

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Above is a selection of images from Mapp’s work which features:

  • Architecture: Urban Renewal Project Union at Beckwith Creative Cluster, Bridgetown.

  • Product Design Homewares: CartoGraphs – surface design of recovered Sukabumi stone tiles and Hot Tea clay tea pot product development.

  • Product Design Fashion: Flotsam+ Jetsam : Rescued Ocean Objects Reimagines and Hot Tea.

Open Call: Tilting Axis Fellowship 2023

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Het Nieuwe Instituut and Tilting Axis launch the third iteration of a fellowship programme for mid-career or established applicants based in the Caribbean. The initiative aims to foster and stimulate mutual exchange between the Caribbean region and the Dutch cultural field. Together with lead partners – Het Nieuwe Instituut and Tilting Axis – other cultural institutions including The Amsterdam Museum, De Appel, Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam, and Kunstinstituut Melly will collaborate with the selected applicant during the fellowship.

For Whom?

One mid-career or established researcher, artist, designer, writer, curator, or cultural producer based in the Caribbean region interested in building new links with cultural institutions in the Netherlands, and with an interest in developing their practice around themes related to architecture, spatial practice, design or digital culture.

Resources offered by the Fellowship

  • Opportunities to develop, stimulate and visualise curatorial, design, and artistic realities coming from the Caribbean region.

  • Enhance knowledge exchange and collaboration with a cross-section of Dutch cultural institutions.

  • Network and exchange with a variety of platforms for professional experience

  • Produce critical knowledge on inter-disciplinary exchanges as well as visual culture.

  • Access practical support and travel to the Netherlands for an extended Fellowship.

  • Engage with hosting and collaborating institutions to interrogate and challenge their institutional structures and methodologies.

  • Utilise the existing Tilting Axis network.

About the Fellowship

This Fellowship focuses on applicants living and working within the Caribbean region and is both research and practice-led. The selected applicant will be based in Rotterdam at Het Nieuwe Instituut and will have access to other partner cultural institutions in Rotterdam and Amsterdam. A total stipend of €12,000 will be granted by Het Nieuwe Instituut to cover living expenses and in addition to the stipend, Het Nieuwe Instituut will cover the round-trip airfare from any country within the Caribbean to The Netherlands. Accommodation will be provided for a period of six months for a maximum of €800 per month. Stipends may be subject to a withholding tax. Specific details about the position will be discussed with the selected applicant. Developments around Covid-19 and/or the restrictions imposed by governments will be taken into account. Therefore the Fellowship might be developed partly remotely.

Read more about the past editions of the Tilting Axis Fellowship with Fellow Sean Leonard in 2020 and Fernando Martirena and Anadis González in 2021-2022.

Knowledge exchange

The Fellowship will be developed through independent research; individual support and interaction with the Research Department team at Het Nieuwe Instituut; monthly meetings to discuss thematic and methodological aspects of the project; and diverse collaborations with partner institutions.

Application and selection process

Applicants for the Fellowship are invited to develop an independent proposal outlining a clear interest in the areas of research/practice and organisations highlighted. The proposal should be content driven and can be based on already existing research or offer new projects. The Fellow is not expected to produce an outcome or finished artwork or product but will be encouraged to publicly present the ongoing research interests whilst in The Netherlands. The research will also be published on an ongoing basis via Het Nieuwe Instituut and partner institutions’ websites, newsletters, or other publications.

Proposals will be considered by an international committee consisting of the Tilting Axis and Het Nieuwe Instituut teams along with representatives from the partner institutions including curators, academics, and museum professionals. The review committee includes Aric Chen (Artistic and General Director, Het Nieuwe Instituut), Setareh Noorani  (Researcher, Het Nieuwe Instituut), Iyawo (Holly Bynoe Young), (ARC Magazine, Sour Grass and Tilting Axis co-founder), Annalee Davis (Visual Artist, Founding Director/Fresh Milk, and Tilting Axis co-founder), Jessy Koeiman  Curator Collective Learning, Kunstinstituut Melly), Mark Raymond (Director of the Graduate School of Architecture at the University of Johannesburg in South Africa and the current Plym Distinguished Visiting Professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign), Huib Haye van der Werf (Interim director at de Appel), Imara Limon (curator of modern and contemporary art, Amsterdam Museum), Inez van der Scheer (junior curator of modern and contemporary art, Amsterdam Museum), Charl Landvreugd (Head of Research and Curatorial Practice, Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam)

Read more about the Tilting Axis Fellowship and the Call for Applications on the website of Het Nieuwe Instituut and Tilting Axis.

Covid-19

Developments around Covid-19 and/or the restrictions imposed by governments will be taken into account. Therefore the fellowship might be developed partly digitally/remotely.

Crossovers Programme

This Fellowship is part of Het Nieuwe Instituut’s crossovers programme that aims to stimulate the international exchange of knowledge and research through collaborative fellowships, events, exhibitions, and publications involving designers, researchers and partners across the world. Broader alliances can contribute to cultural and political change, and eventually to policy adjustments.

HOW TO Apply

The Open Call for 2022 is available from March 28, with a deadline for submission on May 27, 2022. The call is open to individuals. Applications should be submitted in a single PDF file of a maximum of 10MB. In order to be considered, proposals should include the following information:

  • A self-introduction in which applicants articulate the relation between their interests and the hosting/partner institutions. Departing from a curatorial, research, or design and artistic ambition, we expect to see a statement of intent of a maximum of 1000 words. This statement should explain the applicant’s research focus, its possible connection to architecture, design, or digital culture, and the interest in the anchor and partner institutions.

  • Relevant documentation of previous work, and/or links to audio or video files (maximum 10 minutes) in the application PDF.

  • Indication of availability to take up the Fellowship from February – July 2023.

Proposals should be written in English and applicants must have a working knowledge of English. While we understand that English proficiency may vary or that English may not be the applicant’s first or primary language, unfortunately, we are not able to offer translation support at this time. Applicants with specific questions are encouraged to contact ta-fellowship@hetnieuweinstituut.nl about the availability of any support service.

Applicants for the Fellowship are invited to develop an independent proposal outlining a clear interest in the areas of research/practice and organisations highlighted.

The Fellow will be invited to:

  • Make a series of presentations in Rotterdam & Amsterdam at host and partner institutions on their research/practice;

  • Produce a monthly text/sound/video/photo essay as potential options to be discussed with the fellow. The series of monthly texts will be posted on the websites of Tilting Axis and Het Nieuwe Instituut, with links to the partner institutions;

  • Research could lead to an installation, exhibition, or further events at partner institutions during or after the Fellowship;

  • A final report on the Fellowship experience is required.

Format and Submission Requirements

Selection Process

Proposals will be considered by an international committee consisting of the Tilting Axis and Het Nieuwe Instituut teams along with representatives from the partner institutions including curators, academics, and museum professionals. The review committee includes:

  • Aric Chen, Artistic and General Director, Het Nieuwe Instituut

  • Setareh Noorani, Researcher, Het Nieuwe Instituut

  • Iyawó (Holly Bynoe Young), ARC Magazine, Sour Grass and Tilting Axis co-founder

  • Annalee Davis, Visual Artist, Founding Director of Fresh Milk, Sour Grass and Tilting Axis co-founder

  • Jessy Koeiman, Curator Collective Learning, Kunstinstituut Melly

  • Mark Raymond, Director of the Graduate School of Architecture at the University of Johannesburg in South Africa and the current Plym Distinguished Visiting Professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (Spring 2021).

  • Huib Haye van der Werf, Interim Director, Director at De Appel

  • Imara Limon, Curator of modern and contemporary art, Amsterdam Museum

  • Charl Landvreugd, Head of Research and Curatorial Practice, Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam

Shortlisted candidates are invited to an online interview with members of the selection committee.

The Fellowship is organised by Tilting Axis in collaboration with a group of five Dutch partners led by Het Nieuwe Instituut, who will co-host the Fellow in Rotterdam and Amsterdam. This Fellowship includes access to and collaborations with these partners. See more information below about their offerings.

Amsterdam Museum

The Amsterdam Museum tells the story of the city of Amsterdam; about its past, present and future. The museum considers it its social mission to make the story of Amsterdam accessible and to present it to as broad an audience as possible. We develop exhibitions, events, publications, and other public products, in our museums as well as online. Innovation, hospitality, diversity, (international) cooperation and knowledge exchange are some of our most important values. The museum receives more than 500.0000 visitors each year in its four permanent locations in the heart of the historic city.

What is offered: The fellow has access to the facilities at the locations of the Amsterdam Museum, including the library, archives, exhibitions, workspaces, and presentation spaces. The team is willing to have in-depth conversations with the fellow and encourage proposals by the fellow for a (public) event such as a talk, screening, or a different form of presenting their work and research.

De Appel

De Appel is an Amsterdam-based contemporary art institute that brings together people, objects, and ideas to explore the unknown. With an experimental, open-minded, and inclusive focus, the programs of De Appel serve the intellectually and emotionally curious, (non-) specialised art enthusiasts as well as seasoned art professionals.
De Appel organises exhibitions, performances, film screenings, lectures, and gatherings that cross boundaries between the arts and other disciplines. These programs facilitate artistic and socially relevant dialogues with various cultural and societal organisations, both in Amsterdam and beyond. In addition, De Appel is home to a world-renowned curatorial programme and houses an extensive archive and library. De Appel is continuously developing its programs and goals in order to remain critical towards its changing societal and cultural contexts.

What is offered: The fellow will have daily access to the facilities of De Appel, including the library, archive, exhibition, workspaces, and presentation spaces. The archive is specialised in performance arts and contains books, magazines, drawings, letters, and ephemera. The team and Curatorial Programme participants are also ready to welcome the fellow and provide contacts, feedback and are happy for the fellow to learn from new voices coming from De Appel.

Het Nieuwe Instituut

Het Nieuwe Instituut is the Dutch Institute for Architecture, Design and Digital Culture. The institute combines a research-driven museum, the State Archive for Architecture, the Agency for international programmes, and for 2019 an unofficial Academy under the title Neuhaus. In an era characterised by radical technological, economic, cultural, and social shifts, Het Nieuwe Instituut aims to illuminate and map the quickly changing world and foster discussion of it, in a networked fashion, with architects, designers, artists, knowledge institutes, cultural organisations, and other agents. The institute organises exhibitions, lectures, and fellowships, carries out and publishes research projects, and develops international programmes at the Venice Architecture Biennale, the Salone del Mobile in Milan, the Istanbul Design Biennale, and the Bi-City Biennale of Urbanism and Architecture in Shenzhen, among other forums. All Het Nieuwe Instituut’s activities are grounded in the principles of design and innovation – two concepts bound up with changing value systems and conflict.

What is offered: The fellow has daily access to the facilities of Het Nieuwe Instituut, including the library, archives, exhibitions, workspaces, and presentation spaces. Other resources may be available in concert with other departments of Het Nieuwe Instituut as well as its ongoing institutional partnerships.

Kunstinstituut Melly

Kunstinstituut Melly was originally conceived as an art-house with a mission to present and discuss the ideas and work created today by visual artists and cultural makers. To fulfill the core mission of presenting contemporary art and theory, we organise exhibitions, commission art, publish and develop educational and collaborative initiatives. In doing so, we apply a practice of collective learning. This means we spatialize and socialise different forms of knowledge. Public engagement is intrinsic to our creative processes and artistic outcomes. We believe that experiencing art and theory this way is vital to enjoy our present and learn with and about culture. We have especially worked with artists and engaged audiences who pose challenging inquiries and articulations of our present. We are interested in catalysing thought and have been known for inspiring public debates. And while Kunstinstituut Melly’s program considers the contemporary, it also regards how art has been created and experienced in the past, and it imagines the many futures art can come to shape. Here, art is a motion; learning is porous.

What is offered: The fellow may choose to participate in a dedicated public programme at Kunstinstituut Melly to present existing or ongoing research on contemporary visual arts or cultural developments in the present. Alternatively, the programme could be organised as a private session, in the form of a think tank, professional networking event, or similar, with the goal of discussing the fellow’s research topic or sharing information collected to date. Whatever format is chosen, this programme would be organised within the frame of the institution’s collective learning initiative.

Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam

The aim of the Stedelijk is to enrich people’s lives with art. Our collection, exhibitions, publications, research, and educational programs offer unique and compelling insights into today’s world and highlight topics that impact our societies and individual lives. Our interactions between audiences and art are driven by dialogues with artists. We explore complex topics of yesterday, today and tomorrow – as defined by artists and signaled by ourselves – in an adventurous program. This vision is guided by a fresh, energetic approach to displaying, caring for and renewing our world-famous collection. Our museum builds memories for the future.

What is offered: The fellow will have access to the research facilities, library, and archives at the Stedelijk Museum; will engage in a meeting with the Research Programme team; will be provided a platform to give a public lecture at the Stedelijk Museum and in so doing, contribute to the artistic life of the museum; will be supported to meet other cultural workers with similar research interests, and will receive critical feedback during the course of their fellowship.

Tilting Axis

Tilting Axis is an arts platform for, from, across, and through the Caribbean. It is a call to action to rethink the position and conditions of contemporary art practices in the region. Its perspective, informed by artist-led initiatives within the archipelago, recognises this space as central rather than peripheral and is fed by multi-generational voices. It aims to build support systems that sustain contemporary art practitioners in the region and serve as a catalyst for creative projects and collaborations.

Tilting Axis is an arts platform for, from, across, and through the Caribbean. It is a call to action to rethink the position and conditions of contemporary art practises in the region. Its perspective, informed by artist-led initiatives within the archipelago, recognises this space as central rather than peripheral and is fed by multi-generational voices. Tilting Axis was co-founded in 2014 by Annalee Davis of The Fresh Milk Art Platform and Iyawó (Holly Bynoe Young) of ARC Magazine. From its inception, Tilting Axis has grounded its concerns in the Caribbean as a part of a wider creative ecology, and the health, evolution, and advancement, a primary objective of its annual meetings held inside and outside of the region. Bringing together artist-led initiatives, private and state sector arts institutions and artists, writers, researchers, and curators, Tilting Axis offers an intimate discursive space to reflect on how we might contribute to more inclusive and equitable art worlds. At each meeting, several themes have been identified including the following but not limited to Development; Curating strategies for the Caribbean; the archive, cultural ecologies; and Decolonisation and Art Criticism.

Tilting Axis is the organisational platform that manages the annual meetings and coordinates the Fellowships in partnership with host institutions.