The Institute of Contemporary Arts has teamed up with an iconic British footwear and clothing brand Dr. Martens to help support emerging artists providing £60,000 in production grants for new commissions in moving images and films.
It’s not a secret that the global pandemic has damaged the cultural sector, causing organizations and venues to close, which has significantly reduced opportunities for rising British artists.
In order to ease the situation, the ICA and Dr. Martens have come together to inspire creativity for artists from the UK with a total of seven grants. Thus, one artist is set to receive a production grant of £30000 and further 6 artists will receive grants of £5000 supplemented by production support and mentoring.
UK-based artists can apply through an open call from the 17th of February until the 30th of March. Artists who will be awarded these grants will have a chance to present their new works as part of Image Behaviour 2021 and also through Dr. Marten’s digital platforms and via the ICA’s new online platform Cinema 3.
Dr. Martens has been always identified as the brand that unites certain subcultures, with Darren Campbell, Chief Product and Marketing Officer at Dr. Martens saying that the brand “has had a long association with independent artists from under-represented communities, and [that they] recognize the need to nurture that burning desire to create and be seen, with [their] financial support, mentorship and broader visibility“.
Stefan Kalmár, Executive Director of the ICA, added that they are “experiencing one of the biggest paradigm shifts in society since 1946 (when ICA was founded) during the aftermath of WWII“, therefore this partnership highlights a commitment to support the arts and culture, especially during these unprecedented times.
If you are a creative UK-based artist and you are interested in applying for the initiative, then do no forget to submit the proposal now until March 30th. Follow the link here to apply.
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