Arts Collaboratory is a programme for the support of visual art initiatives in Africa, Asia and Latin America. It provides financial support, facilitates knowledge sharing, and promotes networking and artistic exchange. It was established in January 2007 by Hivos and DOEN Foundation. These two Dutch organisations joined forces (pooling resources, knowledge and networks) in Arts Collaboratory to ac
hieve greater effectiveness, efficiency and synergies. Based on the outcomes and recommendations of this exercise as well as on new insights and policies of our respective organisations Hivos and DOEN, the programme of Arts Collaboratory has been re-designed and adapted. The mission of Arts Collaboratory is to promote sustainable, collaborative and open visual arts practicesthat contribute to social innovation For the period 2013 to 2015 the objectives of the Arts Collaboratory programme will be:
The improvement of the quality of artistic expression and collaborative art practices through independent (visual) arts organisations;
The promotion of the development of social innovation and of new forms of engagement with publics through independent visual arts organizations. The mission and vision of Arts Collaboratory are based on the idea that culture can potentially be a driving force or trigger in processes of social innovation. This type of innovation aims at challenging and changing the social interaction of people, and their interaction to their environment
Arts Collaboratory Rationale on Visual Arts and Social Innovation
In current contemporary arts practice the role of artists and arts organizations as agents of change is getting more recognized. During many moments in history artists and arts organisations have addressed social, cultural, economic or political issues. In current contemporary practice this role is further developed and the artistic practice focuses more often on research on societal issues, facilitating relationships and the development of new perspectives on social, economic and/or climate isues. Hivos and DOEN believe in the potential of artists to question what often might seem unquestionable truths or status quo. Culture can potentially be a driving force or trigger in processes of social innovation. This type of innovation aims at challenging and changing the social interaction of people, and their interaction to their environment. It triggers innovation that does not decide on or define the whole process of change, but is the starting point of it. Equally important is the potential artistic processes have to include and facilitate relations with the people that are affected by this change both in the set-up and process of change. And thus, enlarging the possibility that this change is meaningful and becomes sustainable. Funding opportunities
Arts Collaboratory offers two kinds of funding opportunities for visual art initiatives in Africa, Asia and Latin America. The first being one-time small scale support up to €15.000 from the so called Project Fund. This fund finances artistic projects from initiatives based in Africa, Asia and/or Latin America that focus on research about societal issues, facilitating relationships and the development of new perspectives on social, economic and/or climate issues. The second was posted through a call for proposals with a deadline on April 15th, 2013 and was directed to independent visual arts organisations from Africa, Asia and Latin-America that are actively promoting artistic quality, collaborative arts practices and social innovation. These organisations were invited to propose their 28 month-programme for support where they can receive financial support towards their programme when selected, and will participate in the Arts Collaboratory knowledge and exchange platform. The Arts Collaboratory Steering Committee is responsible for decision taking on and monitoring and evaluation of the programme. It is comprised of representatives of Hivos and DOEN Foundation. The Arts Collaboratory Advisory Committee comprises representatives of the ‘core’ partners in the programme.
