CALL FOR APPLICATIONS 2016-2017

Critical Practice (Made in Yugoslavia)
Mentor: Ana Vujanovic

Deadline: January 18, 2016

Emerging authors (writers, critics, researchers, theoreticians) and those interested in further professional development in the field of critical practice in contemporary performing arts can advance their writing and discussing skills within the Critical Practice (Made in Yugoslavia).
This Critical Practice edition draws on the conceptual platforms of performing arts, which have been recently developed at the geographically non-existing territory of Yugoslavia, such as those generated by TkH [Walking Theory], Nomad Dance Academy, Maska, Frakcija etc. It consists of three one-year non-residential programme cycles focused on the education and practical work of participants. Its purpose is to advance the professional development of authors from the region of former Yugoslavia and Europe and to encourage a more profound, more visible and more accessible critical reflection on the contemporary performing arts, enhancing their visibility and stimulating dialogue with audiences. Its concrete outcomes will be articles, essays, reviews and other formats of critical writing published online or in diverse publications, as well as live discussions, interviews and talks with dance and performance makers.

The cycles have a modular structure, combining seminars, workshops and practical engagement at certain events (festivals, conferences, exhibitions, etc.) as group work structures, and the continual individual or collective work of participants.
The programme of the first cycle started in April 2014 and ended in April 2015; the second programme cycle started in April 2015 and will end in April 2016.

The third program cycle will start in April 2016 and will end in April 2017.

Within this cycle, four mandatory gatherings in different European cities will be organised:
• Beginning of May 2016, Skopje (Lokomotiva – Centre for New Initiatives in Arts and Culture)
• End of August 2016, Berlin (Uferstudios)
• 22-25 October 2016, Belgrade (Kondenz – Festival of contemporary dance and performance / Station Service for contemporary dance)
• 25-30 October 2016, Skopje (Locomotion – Festival for Contemporary Dance and Performance, Lokomotiva)

Furthermore, there will be occasional Skype conferences, regular email communication and work on the program’s blog, as well as the possibility of self-organised work and further gatherings.
Tuition fee, as well as travel costs and accommodation (Skopje / Berlin / Belgrade / Skopje) in average amount of 3.500,00 EUR for each participant will be covered by the programme. The participants are required to pay 350,00 EUR registration fee after the approval of their participation.
This Critical Practice edition offers a small-scale educational, research and working studio based on self-organisation and group interaction, whose disciplinary framework is predicated on issues and questions coming from critical theory, artistic practice and cultural policy. Against this backdrop, our program is envisaged to produce a vivid transversal discussion within and about the performing arts – among the participants as well as in public.

What we offer:

We offer a temporary work frame for advancing participants’ critical writing and discussing skills, for making contacts with colleagues coming from other contexts, and for a broader enhancing critical reflection on the contemporary performing arts.
Speaking concretely, we offer you: several seminars and workshops with theorists, dramaturges, and cultural producers coming from the region, mentoring your writing, professional help in preparing public discussions and talks, consultancy regarding relevant literature and prominent works at the contemporary performing arts scene in our region and in Europe, travel and accommodation during the mandatory events, tickets for the performances at the events, a space for internal work during the events, professional proofreading for your writing, a budget, consultancy and practical help in editing and publishing the final publication, as well as help with publishing your writings in other magazines, journals and publications.

What we expect:

We expect your participation in all four mandatory gatherings, presence at the organized group Skype discussions/meetings (once a month), as well as an active reflection on performing arts through talks organised at the selected events and texts to be published on the blog and in the final publication.
Concrete results and outcomes should be: instant writings about the events attended (at least one per event) and organising other formats of instant critical practice such as talks, discussions, etc. (at least one per event), publishing the new texts on the website of the venues that organise events and the blog of the Critical Practice (Made in Yugoslavia) edition (during or up to one week after the event ends), editing of participants’ writings at the end of the cycle (as a chapter in a magazine, online volume, or printed publication).

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Admission criteria:

• Ca. MA level of education in art, humanities or social sciences
• No age limit
• No official diplomas required
This year we will be able to accept six applicants to partake in the program.

Required documents:

• Curriculum vitae (two pages maximum)
• Motivation letter, with an explanation of the reason for applying to the programme (two pages maximum)
• Examples of your own published or unpublished writing on performing arts (three examples maximum)
• Contact

Application deadline:

Please send your application by 18 January 2016 in electronic form at: criticalpractice.madeinyu@gmail.com

We will let you know the results of the first round of application process by email by 1 February 2015. Skype interviews with the candidates selected in the first round will be organized on the weekend of 6/7 February 2016. Final results will be sent by email on 15 February 2016.

Jury: Marijana Cvetković, Biljana Tanurovska Kjulavkovski, Stina Nyberg, Ana Vujanović and Jasmina Zaloznik

For all the questions regarding the selection procedure, please contact the programme team, Marijana Cvetković, Biljana Tanurovska Kjulavkovski and Ana Vujanović at: criticalpractice.madeinyu@gmail.com

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Critical Practice (Made in Yugoslavia) partner organizations:

Nomad Dance Academy www.nomaddanceacademy.org
Station Service for contemporary dance, Belgrade www.dancestation.org
Lokomotiva – Centre for New Initiatives in Arts and Culture, Skopje www.lokomotiva.org.mk
Tala Dance Center, Zagreb www.tala.hr
Workspace, Brussels www.workspacebrussels.be
Veem House for Performance, Amsterdam https://veem.house/
Uferstudios http://www.uferstudios.com/

This program is realised as an edition of Critical Practice – training for emerging dance writers, initiated within the Life Long Burning project www.lifelongburning.eu and supported by the Culture Programme of the European Union. Program cycle of 2016 is also realized in cooperation with the Allianz Cultural Foundation.