Remembering is not the same as visualizing and objectifying past events, but always means activating present states of consciousness and questions with regard to the past. The past is therefore not stored in a kind of pantry of our memory, but must always be understood anew from the present and, if necessary, reinterpreted. This applies to historical events and images from our collective memory as well as personal experiences from our individual memory. It is important to remember that what has happened has happened. However, only that which can correspond to current questions, states of consciousness, interests and cognitive goals can be remembered. Becoming aware of these connections also means understanding remembrance not as a determination of the past, but as an obligatory dynamic process within the present. Artists have made this realization, the associated questions and consequences the basis of their work. Their after-images, counter-images, commentaries and traces can therefore not be understood as codifications, confirmations or safeguards, but rather as critical questionings, corrections and sometimes “image disturbances” in a process of the present that cannot be concluded in itself.
This call is aimed at artists who are interested in the dynamics of memory and remembrance in the context of an aesthetic experience and who are able to put them into work. It is deliberately intended to be cross-genre.
Application requirements
Artists who – were born or live in the Westphalia-Lippe region or in the Ruhr metropolitan area and – are up to 40 years old or – are still at the beginning of their artistic development (in which case there is no age limit) can apply for the scholarship. Applicants should be able to prove that they have completed or are currently studying at an art academy/university or have comparable training. Self-taught artists are not excluded as a matter of principle, but should be able to demonstrate the seriousness of their artistic aspirations and their work through their CV, exhibitions or awards. The decisive factor is the persuasiveness of the work submitted and the overall impression the jury receives.
The scholarship consists of a financial grant of 5,555 euros, which is paid out when the scholarship is awarded.
Application deadline: June 6, 2025