The new Science Gallery Melbourne has put out its first call for projects by artists, scientists, local residents and innovators that match Science Gallery’s three core aims: to Connect, Participate, and Surprise, and that are relevant to our core target audience of 15-25 year olds.Open for submissions from - 14th November 2016, 9:30am GMT to 8th January 2017, 5:00pm GMT
Keywords: taboo, stigma, giving, identity, health, sport
More information on their website: https://opencall.sciencegallery.com/
A SCIENCE GALLERY LONDON AND SCIENCE GALLERY MELBOURNE SEASON
BLOOD is the first cross-network season for Science Gallery, inspired by the original exhibition BLOOD: NOT FOR THE FAINT-HEARTED at Science Gallery Dublin in 2015.
Blood is essential for life, both medically and metaphorically. From ritual to research, artistic medium to biological fluid, the 2017 BLOOD season will evoke ideas that provoke and challenge, engage and entice. Crossing continents and connecting London and Melbourne through a public programme of events, activities, installations workshops and performances, the BLOOD season will feature a range of work from the original exhibition in Science Gallery Dublin, as well as exciting new provocative works and experiences that explore the scientific, symbolic and strange nature of blood.
BLOOD will run across both Science Gallery sites in London (on and around the Guy’s Campus, King’s College London) and Melbourne (at the University of Melbourne and CBD in Melbourne) between June – October 2017.
For our open call we’re interested in proposals addressing or exploring some of the following themes and topics:
- Taboo – surrounding menstruation, ritual behaviour or activities involving blood, food created from blood
- Stigma - associated with living with blood borne viruses such as HIV, or other genetic conditions affecting blood.
- Giving – donating blood to strangers, placenta donation, the connection between a mother and foetus
- Identity – blood type, associations with racial identity, mixed race, family, chimeras, human/animal hybrids, and eugenics
- Health – diseases of the blood, immunity. Blood testing and the future of blood based testing etc.
- Sport – Drugs and sport, blood doping.
Have a look at our Pinterest board for some visual inspiration: https://uk.pinterest.com/SciGalleryLon/blood/
What makes a good Science Gallery open call proposal?
We are especially looking for projects by artists, scientists, local residents and innovators that match Science Gallery’s three core aims: to Connect, Participate, and Surprise, and that are relevant to our core target audience of 15-25 year olds. We are interested in proposals for new or existing work that:
- Has a true connection to the theme - avoid shoehorning an unrelated work.
- Bring together art and science in a creative way. We generally avoid illustrations of science, or science that is evaluating art.
- Invite visitors to participate, create, and that stimulate debate.
- Are based on strong original ideas in any media
- Raise questions about the nature of and public perceptions surrounding blood
- We are interested in ideas that are specific to London and/ or Melbourne.
- Explore human’s scientific and social connections with blood
In general:
- A connection with our core target audience of 15-25 year olds is a factor in curatorial decisions.
- Defying categories is good (“it’s kind of a hybrid sculpture, event, installation-puzzle, with a crowd-sourced edible citizen-science archive, plus a performance component that will portray a speculative future organism…”)
- We like collaborations across different disciplines.
Ask questions! If you’re unsure about an aspect of your proposal, email hello@london.sciencegallery.com or info@melbourne.sciencegallery.com
CURATORIAL ADVISORS
Curatorial advisors help us to shape our seasons. They are expert artists, scientists and clinicians working in related fields to our theme of blood in different ways. Curatorial advisors will help to select the final works and ensure the season’s exhibition and event programme facilitate creative collisions in art and science.
Science Gallery London
- Linda Barber, Senior lecturer, Department of Haematological Medicine, King’s College London
- David Rees, Consultant Paediatric Haematologist, King’s College Hospital, London
- Michael Shattock, Professor of Cellular Cardiology, St Thomas’ Hospital London
Science Gallery Melbourne
- Sharon Lewin, Professor and Director, The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity
- David Prior, Deputy Director of Cardiology, St Vincent’s Hospital
- Robert Walton, Lecturer, Victorian College of the Arts, The University of Melbourne
Submissions will be reviewed by the curatorial advisors, Daniel Glaser, Director of Science Gallery London and Jen Wong, Head of Programming, Science Gallery London, Rose Hiscock, Director of Science Gallery Melbourne and Ryan Jefferies, Creative Director. You will receive a response by 10 February 2021
LOCATIONS
Some projects will be considered for both London and Melbourne and some for just one. Please consider the local area and audiences when thinking about whether your idea applies to both cities or just one.
BUDGET
For the London-based season we are looking for up to 9 exhibits activities, workshops or performances for this season. Proposals will be funded up to a maximum budget of £2000, which should include all artist fees, materials, equipment and travel. One outstanding original work may be commissioned with a higher budget of up to £5000.
For the Melbourne-based season we are looking for up to 12 exhibits, activities, performances or workshops. Proposals will be funded up to a maximum of AU$7,000, which includes artist fees, and material, equipment and travel costs.
Please note that these are maximum amounts, not targets. We are happy to write letters of support for applicants seeking funding from elsewhere.