Via: britishcouncil.ph
The British Council in the Philippines calls for artists to respond to urban structures along the Pasig River in Metro Manila, Philippines.
According to their post on their website:
This is a great opportunity for early and mid-career artists to show their works in a public space for a period of at least one year. The works will be on pumping stations along the river, which are visible to ferry commuters and riverbank inhabitants. Some sites can be seen from roads and bridges connected to the river.
Pasig River Art for Urban Change is a platform for artistic creation and collaboration around urban regeneration. The initiative is spearheaded by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) with technical assistance from the British Council and paint sponsorship from Davies through a partnership to create more liveable and inclusive cities.
Pasig River is an estuary that runs through the city, and is historically an important transportation route and water source. Several cultural landmarks and historical events can be mapped along its banks, such as the walled city of old Manila (Intramuros) and the presidential palace (Malacañang). These days however it only carries a relatively small portion of ferry commuters, fishing boats, and industrial cargo ships.
The river is also deemed by ecologists as overly polluted.
Metro Manila is among the world’s cities most exposed to natural disasters and catastrophic flooding. Pumping stations are common infrastructures found along Pasig River and, although often overlooked, are vital in the city’s flood management. These structures pump-out water from the esteros or creeks side of the pumping stations into the Pasig River, Parañaque River, Laguna de Bay and Manila Bay in order to prevent flooding in the areas covered during heavy rains and inclement weather. By making these ‘invisible’ infrastructures visible through art, the project increases public access to the river while raising awareness of its important role in sustainable urban development.
Through Pasig River Art for Urban Change, the river can once again be Metro Manila’s primary corridor for transportation and cultural activities.
The artworks will be unveiled through a river art tour as part of the third annual MNL Urban Design Festival, happening 27-28 May. All works and artist profiles will be featured in a river art map, to be distributed to tourism offices and cultural sites.
Who is eligible?
The call is open to all artists/art collectives based in the Philippines or with a connection to the Philippines. There are 8 sites to be completed by May 2017.
What’s in it for the artist?
An artist fee of USD 1,000 will be given to the artists. Art collectives will be considered as one participant.
Open call begins: 10 February 2017.
Deadline for submissions: 10 March 2017.
For more info, get the details here.
Interested in joining? Check ’em out!
