Unseen Futures
Unseen Futures is our new fellowship programme, centred on dialogue, access and shared experience.
Who will be taking part?
We’re delighted to announce the four inaugural fellows Uma Breakdown (UK), Julieta Gil (MX), Eternal Engine (PL) and Liz Mputu (US) who will take part in our collective development programme between August- December 2022.
Working virtually with these four creatives from across the globe, the fellowship supports artists with innovative approaches to new art, cinema and sound, and explores the structures required for creative risk.
Why were they chosen?
Systematic inequalities exacerbated by ongoing climate, pandemic, and financial crisis are creating inhospitable environments for artists to create and sustain their practice.
We sought to prioritise marginalised practices and voices within the first fellowship cohort, through a nomination and selection process working with an international panel of artists, curators, writers and producers from outside our current networks.
Through this fellowship we want to create space and support structures that aim to understand emerging practices better and drive a less ‘top down’ approach from cultural organisations and funding bodies.
What happens on a fellowship programme?
One of the unique features of Unseen Futures is that it is a fluid, artist-led experience that deviates from the structured approach of more traditional artist development or mentoring programmes. The programme will be collaboratively co-authored with fellows in response to their individual and collective concerns.
By focusing on artistic support rather than artistic outcomes, we’re creating a space for artists and ourselves to think, share, challenge and develop, away from the pressure to produce.
Each fellow will receive an unrestricted fee of £3000, alongside tailored support such as workshops, advisory sessions, production strategy support, and meetings with key peers, cross-sector partners and specialists.
We’re excited to look into an Unseen Future together, so keep checking this page and socials for project updates and insights into the artistic journey of our fellows.
Unseen Futures is a radical new artist fellowship developed and produced by Abandon Normal Devices and supported with public funds from Arts Council England.
The fellowship structure was developed with support from a group of nominators and a selection panel from across the globe and artistic disciplines, including Taylor LeMelle (NL), Gosia Płysa (PL), Doreen Rios (MX), Hoor Al Qasimi (UEA), Amar Ediwirira (UK), Dillon S Phiri (SA), Eva Jager (UK), Lukas Brasiskis (US), John Eng Kiet Bloomfield (UK), Avinash Kumar (IN), Laura Lotti (DE), Abhijan Toto (DE) and Mark Amerika (US).