Open call: The Finnish Institute in collaboration with SICK! Festival will commission two new pieces of work dealing with key societal issues: one will focus on the complexities of mental health during the menopause and another focusing on mental health of young men in today’s society and the challenges they face.
The projects are to be realised in 2021–22 and will be presented as part of the next SICK! Festival in Manchester in March 2022. The selected project(s) will need to build a significant connection with a local community or communities in the Greater Manchester region. SICK! Festival will offer support for the development of the selected project(s) in terms of creative and dramaturgical guidance.
We encourage practitioners across different art forms to work together with researchers, clinical practitioners, public health professionals and charities to submit proposals that incorporate artistic expression, societal participation, discussions and debate.
We especially encourage those with lived experience of mental health issues and members of underrepresented groups to apply. We want to work with artists who are Finnish or Finland-based, or be able to demonstrate a strong connection to Finland. Existing bilateral partnerships are considered a plus but we are open to brokering partnerships.
Proposals should be sent by 4pm UK time 21.12.2020 to admin@fininst.uk and info@sickfestival.com, with the heading OPEN CALL 2021–22. Please note that we will accept applications by email only.
Proposals (in English) should be maximum three pages, including concept, outline of the artist’s practice, budget, existing funding, timetable and existing/proposed partners in Finland and the UK. We are also looking for proposals that address how the project might be delivered and adapted to take account of COVID-19 restrictions.
We are also requesting that all applicants complete a short anonymous online diversity and equality monitoring questionnaire which can be found by clicking here. The questionnaire will not be connected to your application in any way and information will be stored separately. The information is collected to enable SICK! Festival to report data to key funders including Arts Council England.
We are able to offer applicant support sessions on Zoom. Please contact Jaakko Nousiainen, jaakko.nousiainen@fininst.uk for more information.
