VANSA announces the beginning of the project Two Thousand and Fourteen Ways of Being Here, in partnership with the Department of Arts and Culture. Continuing the work and research started within the 2010 Reasons to Live in a Small Town project and more recently with Revolution Room, VANSA is now engaging in a national public art project and is seeking submissions from artists, cultural producers, writers, performers and thinkers within related fields to partner and collaborate on innovative, experimental and thoughtful approaches to cultural production within various publics.

As we approach 20 years of democracy, we must not only consider the larger national narratives around the programme of democracy but also the cultural and social implications of our continued democratization. The history of South Africa that has led us to this point is as much the history of the individual and the personal as it is the history of any broader narrative. What are the ways in which we practice democracy in our local contexts? Community meetings, stokvel, informal discussions in the street? What are the conditions for negotiation to take place and how much do we replicate democratic processes in our everyday lives? Who decides? Who has a voice? We are also interested in projects that respond to the following:

– The nature and principles of the project stress research, negotiation, a more measured process and approach, along with a strong participatory ethos and we expect the selected projects to develop, shift and adapt as the project develops.

– Projects will be selected on artistic merit and innovative ideas as opposed to fully formed projects. You may submit a previous or current project, but must demonstrate how your project will develop and respond to these ideas.

– Part of your project must involve local creative production and local arts practitioners as part of your methodology and ethos.

There will be a series of briefing workshops around the country, to help you further your proposals and tell you more about our thinking and strategy.

VANSA (Johannesburg), 2 May, 10AM-1PM | KZNSA (Durban), 6 May, 10AM-1PM | William Humphries Art Gallery (Kimberley), 9 May, 10AM-1PM | Gallery On Leviseur (Bloemfontein), 10 May, 10AM-1PM | Joule City Incubator & Research Hub (Cape Town), 13 May, 10AM-1PM | ArtEC (Port Elizabeth), 14 May, 10AM-1PM | Potchefstroom Museum (Potchefstroom), 15 May, 10AM-1PM | Polokwane Art Museum (Polokwane), 16 May, 10AM – 1PM |

Please submit a one-page expression of interest around these ideas, an artist statement and a portfolio detailing no more than 2 projects that you have implemented over the last 4 years. The deadline for this is the 30 May 2014, 5pm. You may submit these to 2014ways@vansa.co.za in a PDf or .doc formats. Only email submissions will be accepted.

For more information please call (011) 402 2085 or email 2014ways@vansa.co.za or download this document

www.vansa.co.za