Vivid Synergies!

Vivid Synergies! is a residency project by Afriart gallery connecting a visual artist with a writer and a curator – supported through the Ignite Culture Fund. The program targets East African creative practitioners based in Uganda, who are enthusiastic to work on contemporary art storytelling. From May 2023 until May 2024 there will be three residencies in total, each fusion a creative trio of a visual artist, a writer and a curator for a period of four months. It is not a stay-in residence, the artists are free to organise their schedule and meet and create from wherever they are.

How do African artists want to document, tell, share, publish and archive their work? Vivid Synergies! focuses on (re)defining visual literacy through self-determined documentation, distribution and archiving of art works – each creative trio processes and builds on two cultural products being released in the end of each residency: Exhibition and Book. The project is giving a space for artists to experiment in a well-curated format and create synergies. Key is a collaborative spirit - the residency thrives for impactful collaboration within the local arts ecosystem and empowers the role of mediation/ curation in the East African art sector, which is underestimated so far. During each residency there will be events opening the process to the public, invite local stakeholders from the creative sector and push an artistic discourse on cultural heritage and self-determination.

Overall, nine East African creatives based in Uganda will be intensely involved in the program shaping six cultural goods as outcome of their journey. Applications are open for all three residency periods. 

Residency I

Application deadline 02.06.2023 11:59pm (residency starting in June 2023)

Residency II

Application deadline 15.08.2023 11:59pm (residency starting in September 2023)

Residency III

Application deadline 15.12.2023 11:59pm (residency starting in January 2024)

The open call targets visual artists, writers and curators who are firm in their practice and committed to collaborative engagement during the residency period of 4 months. Applications are to submit online via THIS FORM.

Vivid Synergies! is supported by a grant from Ignite Culture: ACP-EU Culture Programme Eastern Africa). This fund is being implemented by HEVA, in partnership with the British Council Kenya with the financial contribution of the European Union, and with further support from the Organisation of ACP (African, Caribbean and Pacific) States. It is part of the global ACP-EU Culture Programme.