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Opportunity: 2023 AER Residency at LABVERDE, Amazon, Brazil

Written byPost-Grad Community
Published date 07 February 2023

Applications accepted from UAL postgraduates (MA and PhD) and recent alumni (within 24 months from graduation) only. Unless stated otherwise, only individuals can apply.

Applications deadline: Monday 20 March 2023 (midnight GMT)

Apply at: Ual-residencies.slideroom.com

The LABVERDE Programme is a ten-day immersion in the Amazon Forest to be inspired by nature and to produce cultural artwork, mediated by a team of specialists.

LABVERDE: Art Immersion Programme in the Amazon was created to strengthen the limits of art through a broad array of experiences, knowledge sets and cultural perspectives involving art, science and nature. The programme’s main goal is to promote artistic creation through a constructive debate about environmental issues supported by theory, data and life experiences in the Amazon rainforest.

Programme overview:

The journey starts in an ecological Reserve in the heart of the Amazon Forest and involves an intensive schedule of expeditions and site visits to discover different scales and perspectives of the rainforest along with the mediation of specialists in arts, philosophy, biology, ecology and natural science.

Life experience and theory will be integrated into 10 days of intensive activities. A schedule of expeditions, lectures, workshops, presentations and seminars to enhance creativity, having nature as a common ground.

Participants will find out about life dynamics and environment phenomena, by learning bioacoustics, botany, entomology, dendrochronology and the history of the Amazon forest. We hope the network exchange and the knowledge sets will foster a critical notion about climate change and the human impacts on the Anthropocene.

After the programme, participants will be able to improve their own creative content, reflect on the role of art engaging social-ecological behavior and be part of an international and transdisciplinary network focus on environmental justice.

The Programme will take place in two main Research Centers: Ecological Reserves and a Floating Station.

Ecological Reserves: Ten thousand hectares of primary rainforest dedicated to scientific research with hosting infrastructure, laboratory, auditorium, walking trails and climate tower. The reserve is a closed area under the administration of INPA.

Floating Station: A Regional Boat to give access to coastal communities and aquatic ecosystems around Amazon River, in the Low Black River Zone.

The programme is open to visual artists, musicians, writers, dancers, curators and other cultural makers.

Further details can be found here.

Please Note: You will be staying in the Amazon Forest for the time of your residency, please carefully consider the practical and environmental conditions before applying.

This AER opportunity includes:

Ten-day residency
LABVERDE Fee
Curator mentoring and feedback
Meals, accommodation, entrance to Reserve + Botanical Garden, lecture + expedition fees and all transfers during the programme
A round trip flight to Manaus (cap £1,200)
UAL grant of £500 on completion of residency and final report

Residency dates

10 days in August 2023 (dates to be confirmed)

How to apply

Apply at: ual-residencies.slideroom.com

Curriculum Vitae (up to 1 page)
Letter of Motivation (up to 1000 word)
Digital Portfolio (up to 5MB)

Deadline is Monday 20 March 2023 (midnight GMT)

Applicant Criteria

Applications accepted from UAL postgraduates (MA and PhD) and recent alumni (within 24 months from graduation) only. Unless stated otherwise, only individuals can apply.

Important Information

Please Note: Successful applicants will be responsible for (i) arranging and booking their own travel to and from the place of Residency in accordance with guidance provided in the application call-outs or by AER administration team and (ii) arranging visas or other travel documentation as may be necessary as well as health and travel insurance. Successful applicants will be responsible for arranging and paying (if applicable) for any Covid-19 testing and/or complying with other travel and non-travel requirements as might be imposed by the local government at the Location or in the UK from time to time. Successful applicants will be required to sign an appropriate UAL AER Residency agreement which governs applicant’s participation on the Residency prior to the commencement of the Residency. All successful applicants shall receive a copy of the UAL AER Residency agreement following a formal confirmation on the grant of Residency.

AER Team:

Professor Lucy Orta: AER Founder, UAL Chair of Art and the Environment, Centre for Sustainable Fashion
Camilla Palestra: AER Curator, Centre for Sustainable Fashion
UAL Post-Grad Community
International jury comprised of representatives from each of the hosting partners.

About the Art for the Environment Residency Programme (AER)

The Art for the Environment Residency Programme (AER) provides UAL graduates with the opportunity to apply for a 2 to 4 week fully funded residency at one of our internationally renowned host institutions, to explore concerns that define the 21st century – biodiversity, environmental sustainability, social economy and human rights.

Founded in 2015, internationally acclaimed artist Professor Lucy Orta, UAL Chair of Art for the Environment – Centre for Sustainable Fashion, launched the programme in partnership with international residency programmes and UAL Post-Grad Community. Find out more about AER

About UAL Post-Grad Community

UAL is home to more than 2,400 postgraduate students working across the fields of art, design, screen, communication, fashion, media and performance. Within our six world-renowned colleges, we aim to form a creative network of artists, designers and innovators.

Post-Grad Community is an inclusive platform for UAL postgraduate students to share work, find opportunities and connect with other creatives within the University and beyond.