BAYA Collective x Kaaitheater
BAYA Collective x Kaaitheater
An introduction to the thematics of the open call
BAYA Collective suggests an open call for the restless. How can we put forth a collective process that transcends internal and external limits? Can an open call programme be a catalyst, urging for a way out? What happens when our imagination and yearning aren’t weaponised against us, but instead tried as a tool to expose the portal towards collective freedom?
Between May 5th and May 10th, Kaaistudio’s becomes home to a collective unraveling of these questions, as BAYA Collective and the selected open call participants facilitate a public programme. Preceding this public programme is a guided trajectory that emphasizes the importance of nurturing a process of reciprocity and carving working environments where concepts of care and community are unraveled and explored together.
About BAYA Collective
When BAYA Collective was founded in 2018, the founders were fuelled by the desire to bring forward a new tide within their community to develop and mold a realm that connects creative individuals through collaborative processes. BAYA believes in slowly adjusting the rhythms of our society through collective work, cultural & artistic exploration and the cultivation of intentional spaces - both on a physical and digital level.
Who is this open call for?
This is an open call for the restless who yearn for space, time and a collective context to delve into the thematics mentioned in our introduction. No artistic background is needed, and we don’t expect you to have an artistic practice on hand. We mainly want to emphasize the collective context through which the open call programme will expand, meaning we would love to invite people to work collaboratively, figuring out systems that can allow this collaboration in a way that feels comfortable for each participant. The program emphasizes process over the need of a final product!
BAYA Collective is inspired by the Algerian artist Baya Mahieddine, who manifested a world through her visual art where women and nature are centered. BAYA, the collective, cultivates its spaces for everyone who feels called to be part of these spaces, however, in the carving out of these spaces we focus on people who identify as women to be on the forefront. For this open call, we will work with people who identify as women, those who feel restless, those who’ve been leaning onto their expansive imagination to move against often harrowing backgrounds that form our reality. This open call program is a space that moves beyond borders; this program is open to people everywhere as we will move forward working on ways in which presence isn’t defined by its physicality - how do we carve out space for political proxies?
Please do note that it’s important for you to be available during the dates mentioned below as the open call programme consists of two weeks (one in February, one in April) where a work-residency will take place at Kaaistudio’s in Brussels, as well as a public programme which will wrap up the open call programme in May.
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Work residency I
February 3rd - February 9th
On February 3rd we will kick off the residency programme with an introduction day at Kaaistudio’s
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Work residency II
April 7th - April 13th
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Public Programme
May 5th - May 10th
What does Baya Collective offer?
Financial support
1000eu (incl. VAT) to support a successful execution of your ideas from beginning to end (production, transport, fee, personal expenses)
*Different methods of pay out are possible in consultation with the participants
Residential and presentation support
Residential support in the form of work residencies at Kaaistudio’s Penthouse in Brussels, including an opportunity for presentation.
Guidance & Expertise
→ from BAYA Collective as well as guest experts
→ assistance from BAYA throughout the entire course of the collective collaboration
The application and selection procedure
How do you apply to be part of this open call? We’d like to refer you to the submission form.
You’ll be invited to answer two questions, where each answer can be explored in your preferred way of communication. If you prefer working with text, we welcome both answers to be 400 words max. each. If you want to mindmap or draw your answers, use one A4 page as reference. Is writing or drawing not an option for you, or do you prefer an audio or video submission, you can send us a recording of max. 3 min. Your submission can be in English, French or Dutch.
In order to ensure our open call centers care on both ends, we are limiting the number of applications that we can receive to 60 max. This way our team consisting of three people can spend intentional time with each application that is received.
Once the application form closes (either when the number of 60 applications has been reached) or finally on December 30th, our team will dive into the reading process. After the initial reading process, 15 people will be pre-selected to be invited to an introduction round. After this round, BAYA Collective will announce its final participants that will be involved in the open call programme.
Please ensure that if you participate in this open call, you already free the dates of availability that have been mentioned in this call. All participants will receive an e-mail in January, both those selected, as well as those who weren’t selected for this open call.