Fully-Funded "Moving Walls" Exhibition and Fellowship for Artists in the US 2018

The Open Society Foundations work to build vibrant societies whose governments are accountable and open to the participation of all people. They seek to strengthen the rule of law; respect for human rights, minorities, and a diversity of opinions; democratically elected governments; and a civil society that helps keep government power in check. They also implement initiatives to advance justice, education, public health and independent media.

The Open Society Documentary Photography Project is inviting artists from around the world to participate with their projects for an exhibition and fellowship opportunity on the topic of migration in the Foundations’ headquarters in New York City. It honors the role and agency of artists and media makers in contributing to how our societies think about and respond to contemporary issues of migration. The project is especially interested in work that comes from the perspective of migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers themselves, or is made through sustained and meaningful collaboration with these communities.

Applicants must:

[1] Be artists, photographers, and other image-based practitioners who have made an ongoing commitment to themes relevant to migration and advancing social justice and human rights

[2] Demonstrate a high level of artistic ability or excellence with their skills, passion, and commitment

[3] Have an expertise in themes relevant to migration

[4] Have projects that use photography or any other image-based practices to reflect on the theme

[5] Have projects that may be for works from a larger, ongoing project but the exhibition will be curated from content that already exists (funds will not be provided to create new projects specifically for the exhibition)

Project topics include but are not limited to:

[1] The movement of people as fueled by political persecution, protracted conflicts, climate change, economic opportunity, and other contexts

[2] The transition of migrants and refugees to new destinations

[3] The integration of migrants and refugees within new local communities outside their home country

[4] Access to education, justice, health (including mental health), and other basic rights

[5] Economic drivers and opportunities

[6] Themes of identity, belonging, community, and home that arise through the experience of migration

Projects must be image-based, and may be in the following format: documentary photography, conceptual documentary, video art and video installation, social practice, archival or aggregated projects, interactive/emerging media (including virtual and augmented reality), and information art using photography.

Up to 7 projects will be selected depending on production, exhibition, distribution and audience engagement. Selected projects will be exhibited in the Moving Walls 25th exhibition from September 27, 2018 to July 19, 2019, where artists will receive a 12-18 month fellowship of $30,000-$60,000 to support the creation of an ongoing or new body of work on migration. The fellowship covers travel costs, accommodation, attendance, and visa fees will be reimbursed. Artists will be provided with the opportunity to meet other artists and art organizations working on migration, as well as the staff and grantees.