Open call: EU-West Africa Arts Fusion Residency and Expo 2024

The initiative is designed to highlight the power of artistic fusion in the heart of West Africa, bringing together artists and creatives from Ghana, Togo, Benin, and EU member states to stimulate cross-continental collaboration and cultural interaction. 

Selected artists will embark on a residency project near Accra, on the coast, culminating in a closing event at the residence of the EU Ambassador in Ghana, H.E. Irchad Razaaly in Accra. 

Eligibility:

• There are three categories for applications: music, fashion and visual arts.
• Artists need to be of the following nationalities: Ghanaian, Togolese, Beninoise, national of one of the 27 EU member states.
• Nationals of Ghana, Togo and Benin should be able to prove they reside in one of these three countries: Ghana, Togo and Benin.
• Nationals of the EU member states need to reside either in one of the EU member states or in Ghana, Togo or Benin.

Application and selection process:

• Artists can submit their applications through our official application form here, where they’ll find the application questions and instructions on how to share their portfolios. 
• A panel of seasoned judges, drawn from the world of arts and culture, will meticulously assess the submissions in two stages: firstly as a desk work to pre-select the 12 artists to take part in the nine-day residency, and secondly, during the closing event. They’ll be looking for a creative spark, a commitment to cross-cultural collaboration, expressing EU values of respect for human rights, gender equality, non-discrimination and free speech and a passion for promoting art.
• Four artists from each category (fashion, music, visual arts) will be chosen from Ghana, Togo, Benin, and European member states, to take place in the Fusion residency. Read more on the rules of eligibility of artists and the selection process here.

NOTE:

• For EU nationals, eligible transportation costs will include the cost of return flight fare and visa from an EU member State (excluding overseas territories, only travel costs from the European territory of the EU are eligible) or overland fare from Benin, Togo and Ghana.
• For the Ghanaian, Togolese and Beninoise artists, eligible transportation costs will be from either Benin, Togo or Ghana to the place of the residency in Ghana and back.
• Artists will be provided GHC 800 ( €60) per diem for each day of the nine-day programme, to sustain their basic needs and pay for meals.

The deadline for applications is 3 January. 

View the original call here.