Ukrainian Ecologies: Open Call for Ukrainian artists
IZOLYATSIA and the Ukrainian Environmental Humanities Network announce an Open Call for participation in a residency programme for Ukrainian artists dedicated to studying the Ukrainian environment.
Fill in the application form.
The word ecology originates from the Greek oikos (meaning home or environment). During the Russian Federation's war against Ukraine, we have seen numerous forms of violence:: the destruction of lives, natural worlds, and their interconnections. Diverse environments, their multispecies relationships, and languages of expression are in danger.
The full-scale invasion has made clear the interconnections between war, colonialism, extraction, and the environment, making it an apt time to rethink Ukrainian ecologies. Focusing on interdisciplinary collaboration between art, humanities, and science, we aim to support the creation of projects that preserve or reveal the impact of the war on the Ukrainian environment.
What are they, Ukrainian ecologies? How can we protect them? What does it mean to engage in environmental practice during the war? What practices do those who work with environmental challenges through the humanities and the arts turn to? How can we challenge anthropocentric perspectives on war?
About the residency
The residency invites Ukrainian artists who research environmental issues and who want to implement a project in collaboration with environmental experts (researchers, ecologists, scientists, activists, etc.). Residents can choose experts to collaborate with on the project topic. They will receive a stipend of €1200 (including materials), curatorial support, logistical costs of up to €300, and assistance in project implementation. The artists and experts will determine the format of the two-week collaboration with the support of the organising team. This may include joint fieldwork and/or consultations. The logistical costs covered by the residency include accommodation, transport and per diems during the fieldwork. After completing the fieldwork, the artists will have one month to complete the project.
The residency results will be presented at a public presentation in Kyiv. Depending on the format and medium, the projects may be published by the project's media partner, Solomiya Magazine, in our special environmental issue, or presented at public events organised after the residency.
Project schedule
16.06.2024 — Application deadline,
21.06.2024 — Results announcement
07.2024 — Residency programme (2-week fieldwork with experts)
08.2024 — Project implementation
09.2024 — Public presentation in Kyiv
How to apply
To apply, please fill in the application form and answer the questions below:
- Describe your motivation for participating in the project
- How does your practice explore the environment and ecology?
- Describe the idea of the project you plan to work on during the residency
- Tell us why interdisciplinary collaboration is important to you and give an example of who you would like to work with
- PDF Portfolio and CV
Three participants will be selected based on project concepts and their relevance to the objectives of the residency. We encourage applications from participants belonging to the queer community, those with special needs, veterans, and participants affected by the Russian-Ukrainian war.
If you have any questions about the application form or the residency programme, please contact [email protected]
The Ukrainian Environmental Humanities Network (UEHN) was founded in 2022 by Dmytro Chepurnyi, Karolina Uskakovych, Jonathon Turnbull, Oleksandra Pohrebniak, and Eva Sulek. The network brings together scientists, researchers, artists, curators, designers, academics and activists interested in the environment and ecology of Ukraine.
Ukrainian Ecologies is a series of individual residencies initiated by the Izolyatsia Foundation and the Ukrainian Network of Environmental Humanities, the guest curator of the project in 2024. New Democracy Fund financially supports the project in partnership with Solomiya Magazine.