TRANSCULTURA CONNECTS Opportunities Bulletin for Young Culture Professionals from the Caribbean - December 2023

The Caribbean is a region rich in artistic and cultural talent, where young professionals and creative entrepreneurs like you are looking to boost their projects and take their careers a step further. The UNESCO programme Transcultura: Integrating Cuba, the Caribbean and the European Union through Culture and Creativity, funded by the European Union, aims to strengthen capacities and offer career opportunities for young cultural professionals through exchange and cooperation in the Caribbean and with the European Union. In this TRANSCULTURA CONNECTS - Opportunities Bulletin for young culture professionals from the Caribbean, the Transcultura programme collects and publishes information on current calls¹ for scholarships, artistic residencies, training programmes, grants and other professional development opportunities in the Caribbean and Europe that are available to young people from the 17 Transcultura beneficiary countries² aged between 18 and 35 in the Cultural and Creative Industries.

The Opportunities Bulletin is shared regularly to ensure that you have access to the latest opportunities and can expand your professional networks, access new markets and develop your creative career.

We want to accompany you on this exciting journey of professional growth and development. We hope this publication will open a future full of possibilities for you!

¹ The listing is based on a review of publicly available documentation on these opportunities, the terms of which may have changed since their publication. If you find any discrepancies, please write to us at transcultura.programme@unesco.org. The direct organisers are ultimately responsible for the Terms and Conditions of the calls.

² The beneficiary countries of the Transcultura programme are Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Cuba, Dominica, Domincan Republic, Grenade, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago.

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND NETWORKING

Performing arts 

International Forum at the Berliner Festspiele’s Theatertreffen

Germany 

The International Forum at the Berliner Festspiele’s Theatertreffen promotes theatrical artists from all over the world. As a field for creative experimentation, a transdisciplinary laboratory and a self-reflective element of the Theatertreffen it endeavours to open hybrid spaces in which the boundaries between performing arts and visual arts, media arts and science become fluid.

Deadline: 7 January 2024

CAPACITY-BUILDING 

Dance

Danceweb scholarship programme

Austria 

The danceWEB Scholarship Programme takes place in the framework of ImPulsTanz –Vienna International Dance Festival and is artistically accompanied by a danceWEB mentor every year. Dancers and choreographers with decidedly professional ambitions from European, Eastern European and non-European countries, preferably between 22 and 30 years of age (no rule, but a guideline!) and a good knowledge of English are welcome to apply.

Deadline: 15 December 2023

Music 

Business of Music Learning Programme 

Online 

This programme is for Caribbean music business practitioners operating as recording or performing artistes, songwriters, music producers or music business representatives. This course will provide a foundation of understanding that will enable you to prepare your business for entry into the international music markets. It is designed for persons interested in pursuing the business of music with a view to being an exporter of music goods and services.

Permanently open

COMPETITION AND AWARDS

Photography 

BBA Prizes One Shot Award 

Germany 

Anyone can apply with one single photography, BBA One Shot Award looks for storytelling, visual concepts, creative ideas, sharp framing, abstraction and artistic sensibilities. It does not matter what prior photography experience you have.

Deadline: 8 January 2024

Fine arts  

BBA Artist Prize  

Germany 

Anyone can apply with no restrictions based on age, training or nationality. Up to 5 artworks may be submitted. BBA Artist Prize looks for visual excellence, storytelling, conceptual thinking, technical craftsmanship, subject depth and understanding.

Deadline: 19 February 2024

PRESENTING WORK

TRANSCULTURA OPPORTUNITY!

Performing arts

Biennale College Teatro 2024 Site-Specific Performance

Italy 

The Biennale Teatro is seeking site-specific performance submissions from Italian and foreign performers under 40 years old for their 2024 event with the theme of BLACK/WHITE. The performances will take place outdoors and must be original and unpublished. The selected artists will have the opportunity to develop their projects with the support of the Artistic Direction and production staff. The Transcultura programme will contribute to the participation of projects from its geographic scope selected at this stage. Two projects will be selected as winners and developed further with financial support from the Venice Biennale. 

Deadline: 9 January 2024

Cross-disciplinary

minus20degree landscape for contemporary art & architecture exhibition

Austria

minus20degree is a biennial exhibition of art and architecture. They are looking for artists in the fields of sound art, videoart, performance, theatre, installation or dynamic land art, with a special focus on art that takes and needs space, art that is mobile or makes the audience move. minus20degree provides outside space for art that is controversial, provocative, but founded. All art works need to be conceptualised and produced especially for minus20degree.

Deadline: 31 January 2024

PROJECT FUNDING

Cross-disciplinary

The Charitable Arts Foundation

The Bahamas

The Charitable Arts Foundation (CAF) established in 1995, is a registered non-profit organization that raises funds in order to support endeavors in arts and culture throughout The Bahamas. The CAF supports creative talent, artistic ability and cultural exposure. CAF grants are considered twice per year for Bahamian students pursuing higher education in creative fields, and to groups and individuals for projects, performances and programs. The project grants are considered in the following categories: FINE ART, DANCE, THEATRE, MUSIC, FILM, WRITING, CURATING, DESIGN and other related creative fields.  Grant applications are evaluated based on need, merit and the long-term impact on the cultural landscape of The Bahamas.

Permanently open

Cross-disciplinary 

Cultural Industries Development Fund 

Barbados

The Cultural Industries Development Fund is open to all citizens of Barbados and companies registered in Barbados whose principal shareholder or partner is a citizen of the island. There are three (3) types of grants offered through the CIDF. Each describes the area of assistance which the grant is expected to impact, and each comes with its own specific application form: Technical Assistance Grant (TAG); Product Development Grant (PDG); and Project Execution Grant (PEG). Creative entrepreneurs are limited to one grant disbursement within a 12-month period and one disbursement per cultural project. The TAG approval takes 4-6 weeks and the PEG and PDG approvals take 8-12 weeks.

Permanently open

Cross-disciplinary 

Ministry of Tourism, Culture and the Arts Grants and Scholarships 

Trinidad and Tobago

The Culture and Creative Arts Fund will provide funding for projects and initiatives undertaken by arts and cultural organizations and non-governmental organizations, community groups, faith-based organizations, artists and cultural workers, which contribute to festival development and the promotion of local art forms, the development of competencies in the arts, the professional development of artists, heritage development and the development of cultural industries.

Permanently open

RESEARCH GRANTS AND SCHOLARSHIPS

Cross-disciplinary 

Institute for Foreign Cultural Relations CCP Fellowships  

Germany 

With the CCP Fellowships, the CrossCulture Programme (CCP) funds professionals and committed volunteers. During two to three months of work-related stays in host organisations in Germany or CCP partner countries, participants deepen their expertise, establish new contacts and acquire intercultural skills. In turn, the host organisations benefit from the expertise, regional knowledge and networks of the CCP Fellows.

Deadline: 18 December 2023

Audiovisual and interactive media

Edith-Russ-Haus for Media Art Production grants for Media Art 

Germany 

The Foundation of Lower Saxony grant at the Edith-Russ-Haus for Media Art supports a wide spectrum of media art, from video art and net-based projects to audio works and audio-visual installations. Each of the three grants are awarded for the production of a new project in the area of media art. The grant is valid for a duration of six months (July–December). It cannot be prolonged, and residency is compulsory; grant recipients can expect to stay in Oldenburg at least one month.

Deadline: 29 February 2024

🏛 Cultural and Natural Heritage 

Heritage Rijksmuseum Fellowship Programme 

The Netherlands 

The Rijksmuseum Fellowship Programme gives successful candidates the opportunity to conduct part of their research at the museum. It aims at supporting first-rate academic research, to strengthen ties between the Rijksmuseum and universities and to contribute to the exchange of knowledge. Fellows have access to our collections, library and laboratories and to the expertise of our academic staff. They also get the opportunity to participate in workshops and field trips.

Deadline: 8 January 2024

Cross-disciplinary 

Ernst Mach Grant – worldwide 

Austria 

Students and young researchers from foreign universities are invited to apply for this grant to come to Austria for a research or a study stay in the Arts and Humanities field.

Deadline: 1 February 2024

RESIDENCIES

TRANSCULTURA OPPORTUNITY!

Music 

Venezia Biennale College Musica 2024

Italy 

This opportunity is open for young musicians – composers and performers – aged between 18 and 30 from around the world. Five composers and six performers will be selected for a programme of residency, research and production of new creations and performances that will premiere as part of the 68th International Festival of Contemporary Music of La Biennale di Venezia titled Absolute Music, to be held from 26 September to 10 October 2024. The Transcultura programme will provide support to the participation of musicians from its geographic scope if selected. 

Deadline: 27 January 2024

➕Cross-disciplinary 

De Ateliers Residency

The Netherlands

De Ateliers is an artists’ institute open to artists at the beginning of their professional career. It offers a two-year studio and tutoring programme that is best tailored to the needs of highly motivated artists who wish to strengthen their artistic foundation, develop their ideas and deepen their practice in a focused, critical environment among peers from around the globe. The programme is centred around weekly individual studio conversations, with regular and guest tutors, most of whom are practising artists. The aim is to create a better understanding of one’s artistic position and process by offering a multiplicity of perspectives and critical feedback. Applicants under 28 years of age are preferred. However, there is no strict age limit; older artists are also welcome to apply. 

Deadline: 1 February 2024

Participate in Transcultura events and benefit from opportunities to learn, exchange knowledge and network!