The Valletta 2018 Foundation together with Esplora Interactive Science Centre, is inviting artists to apply for an immersive Artist-in-Residence (AiR) experience. The Residency Programme aims to communicate science through and with the art form of storytelling and encourages productive interaction between international creatives, local creatives and local communities as well as, physical and virtual environments.

The residency will be held at Esplora Interactive Science Centre, Triq il-Marina, Kalkara, Malta between April 2018 and May 2018 and will run for 6 weeks.

Esplora runs in the context of a growing innovative and creative scientific and cultural scene in Malta, led by the Malta Council for Science and Technology, Valletta’s European Capital of Culture title, and the Arts Council Malta’s Strategy 2020. When it comes to science and culture, this residency would like to highlight the fact that it is not a matter of one or the other but rather that one goes hand-in-hand with the other. Esplora always strives to be a centre of excellence and is at the forefront in STEAM initiatives (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics).

The successful artist will create a site-specific storytelling performance for Esplora Interactive Science Centre and will work closer with the Esplora Lead Science Programme Developer, as well as the Esplora Director. Esplora offers a various range of indoor and outdoor spaces for performances with multiple viewpoints and extensive exposure to day and evening visitors.

The artist will also liaise with the communities of the Three Cities (Cospicua, Vittoriosa and Senglea) and Kalkara to develop a performance relevant to the habitants of the area. When creating the storytelling performance, the artist should therefore keep in mind Esplora’s visitors, staff and the surrounding communities to ensure that the performance is both relevant and specific to the area. To successfully achieve this aim, the artist will be given an understanding of science in the daily life of Maltese people, artistic projects, research and traditions as well as any other information pertinent to the aforementioned communities.

AiR applications will be considered in relation to the overarching strategic visions of Valletta 2018 and those of Esplora Interactive Science Centre.

The call has been launched today Thursday 7th December, more details may be found on http://esplora.org.mt/international-call-for-artist-in-residence-esplora-interactive-science-centre-science-through-storytelling/