Decolonial Futures Programme and Winter School 2020 for young South Africans

Application Deadline: 7th October 2020

Decolonial Futures is an exchange programme organised between the Sandberg Instituut, the Rietveld Academie and Framer Framed in Amsterdam and Funda Community College in Soweto, South Africa. The programme was inspired by the desire to work collectively towards a decolonial future in which an equal exchange of knowledges and perspectives from students working across the disciplines of art and design could be established. Each term participants will collaborate in a specific project informed by some of the current efforts undertaken by counter-hegemonic movements and initiatives around the world, departing from the participants’ lived experiences.

Programme

Term 1: 20th October to 1st December
Participants in Amsterdam and Soweto will give shape to and reflect on a photographic archive initiated by Funda’s participants, also known as Amaciko Imaginerium. At the end of the classes the archive will be presented both online and at Framer Framed.

For this project participants in Amsterdam will familiarise themselves with Funda’s socio-cultural context which is inseparable from the rich history of Soweto and South Africa at large. Participants will learn about current initiatives undertaken in arts and creative fields that are decolonial in essence and intent. They will articulate their skills, tools and practices from the same root, with an emphasis on collective thinking and making

The 6 classes in Term 1, led by Ibrahim Cissé, take place on Tuesday evenings from 18.00h – 21.00h at Framer Framed from 20^th October – 1^st December with a short break between the 3rd and 17th November.

Term 2: February to April (dates TBA)
The project for the second term as well as the open call for the Winter School will be announced this autumn. The Winter School will be made up of a series of workshops of which DF participants are also invited to apply. The WS will end with a public programme, open to a wider audience. Participants will have an opportunity to present their achievement to the public.

If safety regulations relating to the current pandemic will allow, the exchange will culminate in a week-long Winter School programme in June occasioning the presence of 7 South African artists in Amsterdam.

Who can apply

Students from the Rietveld and Sandberg as well as cultural practitioners from outside the art academy are able to apply.

You are familiar with Colonial/Decolonial histories, movements and manifestations.

Your practice sits within creative and artistic fields.

• You do not need to have a photographic background, but notions will be beneficent.

How to apply

Please send an email to: info@decolonialfutures.org by ​Wednesday 7th October ​and include the following:

A short motivation stating why you would like to participate.

Your definition of “decolonial”.

An example or reference of a decolonial practice/event/movement that you have contributed to or observed.

A short description of your creative practice.

There are 15 places available and the programme is free and relatively short. Therefore, we expect every participant to commit to all 6 classes. 

For More Information:

Visit the Official Webpage of the Decolonial Futures Programme and Winter School 2020