Open Call: Rites for a New World

Creative Lives in Progress; London; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 45,000

Job description

198 CAL invites curators and artists to take part in our next open call with an exhibition proposal.

In an age marked by climate precarity, digital intimacy, and biotechnological evolution, how do we adapt? As new technologies and shifting consciousness redefine humanity, what new ceremonies emerge?

How do we develop new rites for climate resilience, migration, and virtual co-presence? How do collective practices foster resistance, care, and solidarity in a rapidly shifting world? What roles do ritual and ceremony play in addressing systemic change and marginalisation?

We are looking for proposals that consider these cultural shifts, engaging with speculative, experimental, and socially engaged approaches. We welcome multidisciplinary proposals spanning but not limited to visual art, performance, sound, digital media, and community-based work.

Submissions can include fully formed proposals or late-stage ideas with room to develop through curatorial support.

What Selected Projects Receive

• Artist Fee (in-kind)– Including exhibition space and mentoring.
• Curatorial & Production Supportfrom Shane Sutherland (Curatorial Assistant) and the 198 CAL Gallery team.
• 6-week Exhibition Space & Resources(May - June 2025).
• Public Programming Opportunities(workshops, talks, performances).
• Mentorship & Network Buildingwith arts professionals.

Eligibility

• Curators & Artistswith 3+ years of professional practice.
• Emerging creative practitioners(students are not eligible).
• Existing funding and partnershipsare a plus but not required.
• Proposal suitable for an 6-week exhibition(May–June 2025).

Key Dates

• 26th March 2025– Open call launches
• 4th April 2025– Q&A drop-in session (online)
• 15th April 2025– Submission deadline
• May 2025– Provisional exhibition dates

Selection Process

Proposals will be reviewed by a panel including:

• Nimco Kulmiye Hussein(Artistic Director, 198CAL)
• Shane Sutherland(Curatorial Assistant, 198CAL)
• Invited Guest Panelist

Selections will be based on conceptual strength, originality, feasibility, and alignment with the open call themes and artistic programme.