The Berlin Artists-in-Residence programme, Berliner Künstlerprogramm, is one of the most renowned international programs offering grants to artists in the fields of visual arts, literature, music, film and dance/performance. Each year, some 20 grants are awarded to international artists for approximately a one-year stay in Berlin. The names of about 1,000 former guests impressively underscore the quality of the programme. In its more than forty years of existence, it has made a significant contribution to the international representation of contemporary arts in Berlin. One aim of the Berliner Künstlerprogramm is to offer freedom of creativity. While cultural traditions are threatened by a uniform levelling out in the process of globalization, the Berlin Künstlerprogramm promotes the diversity of artistic and literary positions. The notion of dialogue is central: other nations’ perspectives on conditions here – in film, visual arts, literature or music – are to be seen as a decisive incentive to self-reflection in our society. The Berliner Künstlerprogramm sees itself as a platform for an exchange of art and culture extending beyond the boundaries of Europe. The year 1989 and the Fall of the Wall are viewed by the Berliner Künstlerprogramm as a commission to reinforce the freedom of art and the word. At the same time, the program therefore opposes the economic takeover of cultural values by liberating artistic creativity from the dictates of the market.

Read more about DAAD: Berlin Artists-in-Residence programme 2010 on Contest Watchers.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration invites high school and college students from all areas of study to enter, including the arts, industrial design, architecture, computer design, and the fine arts. Students are asked to submit their work on the theme: Life and Work on the Moon. Artists are encouraged to collaborate with science and engineering students. Such collaboration is not required, but would help to ensure that the art is valid for the Moon’s harsh environment. Any full time student can enter, regardless of major or area of study. ObjectiveSubmit your work on the theme: Life and Work on the Moon. Entries will be accepted in three categories: two-dimensional, three-dimensional, and digital, including music and video. For the first time, we will also accept entries in literature (poetry and short stories). Entries will be evaluated on creativity, artistic qualities, but also on whether they depict a valid scenario for the moon’s harsh conditions. PrizesPrizes include awards and exhibit opportunities. Cash prizes, certificates of achievement, and exhibit opportunities are planned. Selected works will be chosen for exhibits at NASA facilities across the country, including Washington, DC. We also expect to award cash prizes and certificates.

Read more about NASA Art Contest 2010 on Contest Watchers.

The International Council for Cultural Centers (I3C), the International Network Cultura21 (Cultural Fieldworks for Sustainability) and the Latin American Network of Art for Social Transformation are organizing the first international summer school of arts and sciences for sustainability in social transformation. The event is planned for August 2010 in Bulgaria, in the beautiful Balkan mountains. As part of the program of the Summer School, a limited number of workshops will be organized for participants. We are seeking workshop proposals from experienced practitioners and thinkers from the wider academic and artistic fields, who are engaged in the advancement of sustainability (i.e. goals of social justice, ecological awareness and environmental action, human rights and self-determination, cultural and biodiversity, among others), particularly with inter- or trans-disciplinary methodologies or with a potential for inter- and trans-disciplinary dialogues. We are also particularly looking for action-research methodologies based on Walking and Places: building transformations, which will be the thematic focus of the first edition of the Summer School. These methodologies can include academic as well as artistic, creative processes, or both. They may further explore how movement also relates to place and community development, with the dynamic between movement and place, traveling and home, transnational flows of ideas and people and site specificity (whether individual houses or collective places).

Read more about International Summer School of Arts and Sciences for Sustainability in Social Transformation (ASSiST) on Contest Watchers.

Freedom of expression, the simple freedom to say what you want, about whatever you want, is a right that most of us can enjoy without even thinking. Even more now that the internet has given us a forum for debate and criticism wider and more instant than ever before. Online, or offline, it’s possible to say anything without any form of consequence, and most of the time we come up with nothing more profound than: Your album sucks. England is a shithole. Berlusconi is corrupt. But in many other countries freedom of expression is a much more serious subject. People are persecuted and imprisoned simply for daring to criticise their governments, calling for more democracy and press freedom, or exposing human rights abuses online. It’s just not right.

Read more about Poster 4 Tomorrow on Contest Watchers.

DeviantART and Wacom are proud to present the second Intuos4 “Bring Your Vision To Life” contest! The response to the first “Bring Your Vision to Life” contest and the quality of the entries were amazing, and Wacom is very glad to be back to challenge our community for a second round. Wacom loves the talent, creativity, and boundless energy that deviants have, so let’s wow them again! While the first contest tackled “Good vs. Evil”, the theme this time is “Dreams”. The contest, open to artists of all visual mediums anywhere in the world, challenges you to show us your dreams and aspirations for the future. Do you long to go to medical school and become a doctor? Do you dream of settling down and starting a family? Maybe you have more lofty dreams of world peace and to put an end to global hunger, or maybe you simply want to do well on an upcoming exam. Show us your hopes and dreams for the future, and bring them to life!Your entry will be judged on its originality, creative interpretation of the theme, and technical skill. One of the winners will be chosen by you, the wonderful deviantART community! ObjectiveCreate a piece of art in any visual medium based on the “Dreams” theme.

Read more about Bring Your Vision To Life – Wacom on Contest Watchers.