Open Call: Reimagining Connections: Nature, Art, and Technology
Visual and New Media Arts
How does humanity and its hunger for technological advancement fit into the world of nature and non-human entities? How can we establish and maintain connections with each other and what surrounds us while at the same time being divided by technology?
ZKM | Center for Art and Media Karlsruhe, in partnership with Cairotronica and the Goethe-Institutes in North Africa and the Middle East, invites applications from artists in Arabic-speaking countries for a residency program designed for visual and new media artists working on the intersection of art, society, nature and technology. This residency offers a unique opportunity for one artist to explore the theme »Reimagining Connections«, which intersects with the concept of »Out-Natured« and ZKM's focus areas: life cycles, technology-mediated connections, and non-human actors.
Subthemes that can be explored (but not limited to):
- Imagining of productive human connection mediated by technology
- Connection to nature
- Critical reflection of transhumanist movements
- How would non-human actors shape their surroundings if not disturbed by humans?
- Connecting nature and technology in meaningful ways
- Speculative design and future-telling
- Climate and migration
- Nature and technology in Science-Fiction
- Data and storytelling about natural phenomena or climate change
- Reflections about sustainable practices of technology use
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What we offer
- Cost of living expenses: 800€ per month
- Material costs: up to 2.000€
- Round-trip airfare (Economy class)
- Visa fees
- Accommodation in flat-share artist apartment in Karlsruhe
- The ticket to visit the Chaos Communication Congress (travel to and accommodation in Hamburg incl., ticket sponsored by the CCC)*
*Visit: Congress of the Chaos Computer Club (39C3)
The Chaos Communication Congress is the annual event hosted by Germany’s oldest – and most revered – hacker collective the Chaos Computer Club (CCC). From December 27 till 30, 2025, the congress, organised entirely by volunteers, will host a diverse range of talks, discussions, and workshops, with about 15.000 particpants expected to arrive from all parts of Europe and the world. Topics vary from the dissection of electronics, the intersection between technology and politics, to machine learning and hacking and everything “art&beauty” related, because one of the CCC’s founding documents, the Hacker Ethics, postulates: “You can create art and beauty with a computer” (a highly contested statement in the 1980s when the CCC was founded). Everyone at the Congress will speak English.
As part of the offered residency program, the participating artist is invited to join the Congress in Hamburg in Northern Germany -
Obligations for participants
- Commit to the program in its entirety and being released from all other professional activities during the entire period of the residency.
- Willingness to spend three months on-site at ZKM in Karlsruhe
- English proficiency B2 level
- Public showcasing of the developed work during the time of the residency
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Selection criteria
- Visual artist from and currently based in the following Arabic speaking countries: Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Palestinian Territories, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen
- Experience with media art, technology, sound art
- Willingness to engage with the community at ZKM (giving an artist talk and/or workshop in order for the community in Karlsruhe to also learn from the artist)
- Contributing a unique perspective to the topic of the open call
- We encourage applications from artists who wish to challenge conventional narratives and propose new modes of artistic expression in response to contemporary environmental and technological issues
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Submission Requirements
Please send the following information in pdf format via mail with the subject “REIMAGINING CONNECTIONS” to KAI-Kultur-opencall@goethe.de until April 30, 2025:
- CV (max. 2 pages, including a summary for website and a picture with consent to publish)
- Concept sketch: Outlining background, technology used and theme of the work you want to realise in Karlsruhe, including a rough cost-and-finance plan and a timeline with milestones
- Portfolio of up to 5 recent works (with pictures or links to documentation and short explanations)
- A copy of your passport (identification page)
- Application form (dated and signed sworn statement, certifying the accuracy of the information provided and that the candidate agrees to the general terms and conditions of the programme)
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Selection process
All applications will be reviewed by a jury which selects the participant. Shortlisted participants will be invited to pitch their concepts between May 21 and 22, 2025. The jury has absolute authority and its decisions are final.
All applicants will be informed about the results until June 1, 2025.
Please note: Incomplete applications cannot be considered. -
About the organizers
Cairo Electronic and New Media Arts Festival, established in 2016: Cairotronica is a Cairo-based platform for new media arts that explores the intersection of art, science, & technology. It has hosted three festivals featuring exhibitions, screenings, & workshops. The 2025 edition, themed »Out-Natured«, initiates critical dialogue on technology, nature, & society, addressing urgent environmental challenges. This theme challenges technological determinism & promotes sustainable models, inviting participants to envision a future where art & technology collaborate to create an ecologically sound & inclusive world, fostering deeper societal connections.
The Goethe-Institut is the cultural institute of the Federal Republic of Germany with a global presence of 158 institutes in 98 countries. It facilitates international cultural exchange, promotes access to the German language and supports the unimpeded development of culture and science.
The Center for Art and Media (ZKM | Zentrum für Kunst und Medien) is one of Europe’s oldest media art institutions. They create groundbreaking exhibitions in four large lightyards, do scientific research into the history of media art, restore pivotal pieces in their collection, collect large archives of media art related materials, connect audiences to technology through art mediation, and do artistic research & development in a department called Hertzlab. The residencies are anchored in the Hertzlab, which has facilities ranging from a large sound dome for immersive spatial audio work to a VR lab, with recording studios and ateliers and modern hardware including an AI server for artificial-intelligence-related work.
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PLEASE NOTE:
The Goethe-Institut reserves the right to rescind the grants in the event that the funds to be transferred have not been made available.
The Goethe-Institut has no-tolerance towards all forms of violence, harassment, and discrimination and expects the same from its contractual partners, grantees, and scholarship holders. Partners agree to follow the anti-harassment, anti-violence, and anti-discrimination approach of the Goethe-Institut.
There is no legal entitlement to the award of a scholarship by the Goethe-Institut. If you apply to this project you agree that we will process your data as described in the Information on data protection and processing of your personal data.
