OPEN CALL REGULATIONS – SOLITUDE Artistic Community Project

OPEN CALL REGULATIONS

Artistic Community Project SOLITUDE

1. Framework and Goals

These regulations govern the Open Call for the selection of 4 (four) participants aged 65 or over to take part in the community art project Solitude (acronym SLtude_2027), developed by Alma d’Arame – Cultural Association as part of the Évora European Capital of Culture 2027 programme (Évora_27).

Solitude is a project forming part of Évora European Capital of Culture 2027. This is a highly relevant theme today, both in the Alentejo and across the rest of Europe, affecting thousands of people at various levels of their lived experience. The project’s overall aim is to explore the feeling of solitude in people and places, identified as a shared experience amongst peers and evoking a range of emotions in those who experience it.

Solitude focuses on the dual nature of solitude — as an experience of suffering and isolation, but also of inner reflection and self-examination — addressing it as a contemporary social phenomenon, particularly pronounced in the Alentejo due to ageing populations and the remoteness of the region.

The project’s main goal is to explore the feeling of loneliness experienced by places and/or people, identified as a common experience amongst peers – whether positive or negative – which evokes a range of emotions in those who experience it. Loneliness as a phenomenon poses a challenge to contemporary societies and presents cultural, social and economic obstacles. Furthermore, loneliness affects people’s psychological well-being and their ongoing connection with their surroundings, objects and relationships within the community. In order to fulfil the overall objective whilst maintaining a local focus, the project also has three specific goals:

1) To identify, document and share local testimonies and memories from individuals from the four sub-regions of the Alentejo: the aim here is to encourage a reinterpretation of loneliness, in terms of its synonyms and antonyms, concepts, contemporary manifestations and expressions.

2) To collect intangible, island-specific and collective heritage: this project aims to devote time to the connections forged between artists and guests, and to the unique characteristics of the people who make up the communities and cultures of these territories, capturing the feeling of solitude in all its duality.

3) To promote forms of local culture, encouraging and inviting the documentation and sharing of other forms of solitude and heritage-transmission collectives, other ‘Alentejos’ around the world: the aim here is to stimulate the sharing of unique national and international heritage, with the project’s results and impacts serving as a reference for replication.

The end result will be the creation of 4 performances (the ‘solitudes’), in which each selected participant will work in pairs with one of the project’s 4 performing artists, drawing on their own experiences, memories and life stories.

The selection process will result in a participation grant being awarded to each of the 4 selected community guests, one for each sub-region of the Alentejo.

2. Target Groups and Eligibility Criteria

Anyone who meets the following requirements may apply under this open call:

Be aged 65 or over on the date of application.
Be a resident of one of the four sub-regions of the Alentejo covered by the project: Central Alentejo (CIMAC), Coastal Alentejo (CIMAA), Upper Alentejo (CIMAL) or Lower Alentejo (CIMBAL).
Be available to take part in rehearsals and co-creation sessions with the artists between January and July 2027.

Note: No previous artistic experience is required. We value motivation, the sharing of life stories and a willingness to collaborate.

3. Geographical Distribution

To ensure that the entire Alentejo region covered by the project is represented, one (1) participant will be selected from each sub-region, in collaboration with the respective Intermunicipal Communities (CIM) that are partners in the project:

1. Central Alentejo (CIMAC): municipality of Montemor-o-Novo
2. Coastal Alentejo (CIMAA): municipality of Sines
3. Upper Alentejo (CIMAL): municipality of Castelo de Vide
4. Lower Alentejo (CIMBAL): municipality of Serpa

4. The Creative Process and Collaboration

  • Each of the four selected participants will work with one of the four performing artists involved in the project (one from Portugal and three international artists, from France, Belgium and Germany) to create a performance.
  • The project also features a visual artist, whose role is distinct from, yet complementary to, that of the four performers.
    The work will be developed collaboratively, drawing on the participant’s experiences and the performer’s artistic vision.
  • The final format will consist of four performances (one for each artist/participant pair), with the premiere scheduled to take place at the Salão Eborense in Évora in July 2027, followed by a tour of the four sub-regions.

5. How to Apply

Recognising the varying levels of digital literacy amongst the target audience, applications may be submitted in one of three ways:

Digital

Phone

  • You can contact us on the following numbers: +351 266 890 262 or +351 927 595 232. We are available on weekdays from 9.00 am to 1.00 pm and from 2.00 pm to 6.00 pm.

Voice or Video Message (WhatsApp)

  • Send a WhatsApp message to the number +351 927 595 232, including a short statement explaining why you want to take part.

Mandatory data to be shared (via any of the channels):

  • Full name
  • Age
  • Municipality and parish of residence
  • Phone number
  • Which region are you applying for?
  • Answer to the question: “Why would you like to take part in this project?” (This can be in writing, as an audio recording or as a video).

6. Selection Criteria

The selection will be made by a jury comprising members of the Alma d’Arame – Cultural Association team and the artists involved in the project, based on the following criteria:

  • Motivation and enthusiasm to take part in the project.
  • Availability for the rehearsal and performance schedule (January to July 2027).
  • Geographical representation (ensuring that there is one participant per sub-region).

The results will be communicated individually to each candidate, by telephone or email.

8. Conditions of Participation and Logistical Support

Alma d’Arame – Cultural Association will ensure that the necessary conditions are in place so that older participants can take part in the project safely and comfortably:

  • Transport: support or reimbursement for travel expenses incurred in connection with rehearsals and performances.
  • Meals: meals provided on working days, and during rehearsals and performances that coincide with mealtimes.
  • Insurance: all participants will be covered by personal accident insurance whilst taking part in the project’s activities.
  • Participation grant: a nominal sum/allowance of €500.00 (five hundred euros) will be awarded for active participation in the project.

9. Image Rights and Data Protection

Alma d’Arame – Cultural Association is firmly committed to protecting the personal data and image rights of all participants.

The processing of personal data collected as part of this call for applications will be carried out in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

Image and voice rights, as well as the conditions for the use of audiovisual recordings for the purposes of archiving, promoting and publicising the project, will be set out in a separate informed consent form, to be signed by the selected participants before the start of the creative process.

10. Final Provisions

Any matter not covered by these rules shall be resolved by Alma d’Arame – Cultural Association, the lead organising body for the Solitude project.

Participation in this call for entries implies full acceptance of these rules.

For further information, please contact: