Open Call: Greenlight District 2021

Skiens Kunstforening is looking for artists for Greenlightdistrict 2021.
Theme: Forest
We are looking for artists to participate in a workshop and a subsequent exhibition.
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Application deadline 1 November 2020
Curators: Anna Ihle and Odd Fredrik Heiberg

Background:
For more than a thousand years Grenland´s growth and prosperity was based on the forest, through the export of timber from Skien to Europe. In 1580 Skien had 29 sawmills, and several paper mills were established during the 19th century. Today, factories and sawmills are gone. Burning biomass from the forest to district heating is the only processing of wood in Skien today. With a moderate forestry, with a growth greater than the extraction, the forest in Skien represents first and foremost a source of nature experience and recreation.

In 2018, 6,000 acres of forest in Skien were re-regulated as an industrial area to make room for Google´s new Hyperscale data. The data center will have a capacity of 500 MW. Expectations of new jobs and other positive ripple effects are high, but the debate surrounding the project raises a number of political, ethical, biological and aesthetic questions.

Workshop
Skiens Kunstforening arranges a 3-day interdisciplinary information and discussion workshop in Grenland in April - May 2021. Here you will have the opportunity to visit relevant urban and nature areas and meet people with knowledge of nature, biology, history, industry and technology. The workshop will provide an opportunity for discussions and social gatherings within the group and externally with the local network.

Exhibition
After the workshop, the artists are free to prepare their contribution to the exhibition with assistance and follow-up from Skiens Kunstforening and the curators. The festival and exhibition opens on 17 September. The exhibition runs until 31 October and will take place in Skien Kunstforening's premises in Ibsenhuset, but preferably also in the relevant forest area at Gromstul or other feasable outdoor locations.

We are looking for artists who are interested in working with one or more of the following topics: Forest, ecology, forest industry, local industry, Google and computer industry.

What resources for prospective artists will Greenlightdistrict be able to contribute?
    -Access to local network and resource persons
    -Accommodation during short work stays in Skien towards the exhibition
    -Artist fee
    -Some production support
    -Assistance with project support applications
    -Travel and accommodation

Send us a short presentation/portfolio and CV to post@skienskunstforening.no