Spectrum Productions and OBORO, in collaboration with the Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal

WHO: artists, cultural workers or media professionals

WHAT: audiodescription and / or integrated described video for art and media projects

WHEN: mid-February to mid-December 2023 (approximately one week per month) 

SUBMIT HERE

From Learning to Action: Interrogating Access 2 is a collaborative project between Spectrum Productions, the artist-run centre OBORO and the Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal (MAC). Drawing from the Interrogating Access series, which was jointly hosted by OBORO and Spectrum Productions in 2019-2020, the project stems from a mutual desire to actively apply accessibility tools in visual and media arts milieus.

From Learning to Action will include a series of 4 public webinars in 2023, skills exchange workshops for staff in our organizations, and a 10-month residency that is the object of this call.

ABOUT THE RESIDENCY: 

From Learning to Action – Interrogating Access Residency will be jointly hosted by Spectrum Productions and OBORO, in collaboration with the Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal, from mid-February to mid-December 2023. The residency is directed towards an artist, cultural worker or media professional. Its specific purpose is to experiment with different types of approaches in developing audiodescription practices for exhibitions, and / or integrated described video for art or media projects.

It is our hope that the explorations during this residency could help guide further implementations of best access practices in art and media production, specifically with regards to audiodescription.

As part of the residency and if appropriate with the proposed project, there will be opportunities to put audiodescription into practice for exhibitions already programmed at OBORO and MAC, and/or to develop described video audio tracks for current projects at Spectrum, OBORO, and MAC. The three organisations each have some experience with different aspects of developing this type of content, which can also be used as a resource.

We expect the resident to dedicate around one week per month to the project during the residence. A presentation of the resident’s research will conclude the From Learning to Action series.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS: 

• Be a resident of Montreal;

• Have a sustained art and/or media practice, whether professional or self-taught, or be a cultural worker with experience in making accessible activities;

• Have an interest or experience in exploring audiodescription and/or integrated described video in the context of contemporary art and media (including exhibitions, live performances, film, video, etc.);

• Be available to dedicate approximately one week per month (flexible schedule) on the residency project from mid-February to mid-December 2023;

• Participate in all From Learning to Action: Interrogating Access 2 activities (dates to be announced shortly), including webinars and workshops (alternate access modes can be made available when needed);

• Commit to a public presentation at the end of the residency.

CONDITIONS OFFERED:

• Honorarium: $5000 for the entire residency. If applicable and related to the project, a second person could join the residency; in this case, the honorarium will be split;

• Access to equipment and resources from Spectrum Productions’ Creative Media Lab and from OBORO’s New Media Lab;

• Artistic support from Spectrum Productions’ and OBORO’s teams;

• Access to the MAC’s audiodescription of artworks from its current and previous exhibitions, as well as access to its Education team to discuss its practicalities and its barriers;

• A limited number of technical support hours to familiarize the artist with equipment from Spectrum Productions’ Creative Media Lab and OBORO’s New Media Lab. The resident will be expected to practice independently thereafter;

• Up to $250 to cover the costs of additional materials for the project, if needed.

HOW TO SUBMIT A PROPOSAL: 

Send your proposal in a single PDF via Drop Box File Request. If, for reasons pertaining to equity, you wish to submit your proposal in an alternate format, please contact us at interrog.acces@gmail.com in order to make arrangements.

YOUR PROPOSAL MUST INCLUDE:

• A short letter of motivation (maximum 1 page; a 2-minute video presentation will also be accepted as an alternative submission format);

• An artistic and technological description of your creative research project (2 pages maximum; a 5-minute video presentation will also be accepted as an alternative submission format):

– Describe the project’s research focus and specify its connection to audiodescription / integrated described video in the context of contemporary art and media production and presentation;

– Identify the principle tools or media you intend to work with (e.g., video, sound, image, etc.);

– Include a preliminary timeline or production schedule;

– A list of anticipated technical requirements (specify what equipment you need from the host organisations). An audio recorder and microphone will be provided by Spectrum Productions.

• A short biography indicating your training, recent art or media projects, etc. (maximum 150 words);

• Web links for support material: up to 8 minutes of video or audio material and a maximum of 10 images. For each item, specify the name of the artist, title of work, format / medium, year and duration;

• Please identify any access support required from host organisations for the residency (see access information below). Consult examples of what can be included in an access rider.

Applicants will be informed of the outcome of the call by the end of January 2023.

Should you have any questions, please contact: interrog.acces@gmail.com

Information about accessibility at Spectrum Productions: https://www.productionsspectrum.com/our-studio

Information about accessibility at OBORO: https://www.oboro.net/en/information/

Information about accessibility at MAC: https://macm.org/en/general-information/accessibility/

We are grateful to the Canada Council of the Arts for their support of this project.

In addition to its regular programming, pending the availability of resources, OBORO welcomes within its facilities presentation activities (launches, concerts, performances and other events) by artists and cultural organisations.

Assistance to presentation activities takes the form of access to equipment and services of the New Media Lab at reduced rates. This program is dedicated to supporting not-for-profit projects that are in accordance with OBORO’s mandate.

Interested individuals or organisations must send a package including the following information:

— an artistic description of the project
— a completed production activities requisition form (download the form)
— biographical information on the person(s) involved
— audiovisual support material

Requests related to this program may be submitted at any time between September 1^st and May 31^st. Results are generally provided within 6 weeks.

For more information, please contact the Lab Services Coordinator:
lab@oboro.net
(514) 844-3250, extension 230.

Production assistance is provided in the form of access to equipment and services from the New Media Lab at a reduced rate to user members of the New Media Lab (artists or independent producers) for non commercial projects only. Candidates must provide precise information as to the reasons and context that justify their request (for example the difficulty of obtaining financing, first large scale project, sudden unexpected situation, etc.).

Besides completing the Production activities requisition form (download the form), requests must include an artistic and technological description of the project and biographical information about the participants.

Applications for the production assistance may be submitted at any time. Answers are generally given a few weeks after submitting the proposal.

For more information, please contact OBORO’s New Media Lab access coordinator:
lab@oboro.net
514-844-3250 ext 230