News
TRANSCULTURA CONNECTS Opportunities Bulletin for Young Culture Professionals from the Caribbean - December 2023

The Caribbean is a region rich in artistic and cultural talent, where young professionals and creative entrepreneurs like you are looking to boost their projects and take their careers a step further. The UNESCO programme Transcultura: Integrating Cuba, the Caribbean and the European Union through Culture and Creativity, funded by the European Union, aims to strengthen capacities and offer career opportunities for young cultural professionals through exchange and cooperation in the Caribbean and with the European Union. In this TRANSCULTURA CONNECTS - Opportunities Bulletin for young culture professionals from the Caribbean, the Transcultura programme collects and publishes information on current calls1 for scholarships, artistic residencies, training programmes, grants and other professional development opportunities in the Caribbean and Europe that are available to young people from the 17 Transcultura beneficiary countries2 aged between 18 and 35 in the Cultural and Creative Industries.
The Opportunities Bulletin is shared regularly to ensure that you have access to the latest opportunities and can expand your professional networks, access new markets and develop your creative career.
We want to accompany you on this exciting journey of professional growth and development. We hope this publication will open a future full of possibilities for you!
1 The listing is based on a review of publicly available documentation on these opportunities, the terms of which may have changed since their publication. If you find any discrepancies, please write to us at transcultura.programme@unesco.org. The direct organisers are ultimately responsible for the Terms and Conditions of the calls.
2 The beneficiary countries of the Transcultura programme are Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Cuba, Dominica, Domincan Republic, Grenade, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago.
OPEN OPPORTUNITIES
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND NETWORKING
Performing arts
Germany
The International Forum at the Berliner Festspiele鈥檚 Theatertreffen promotes theatrical artists from all over the world. As a field for creative experimentation, a transdisciplinary laboratory and a self-reflective element of the Theatertreffen it endeavours to open hybrid spaces in which the boundaries between performing arts and visual arts, media arts and science become fluid.
Deadline: 7 January 2024
CAPACITY-BUILDING
Dance
Austria
The danceWEB Scholarship Programme takes place in the framework of ImPulsTanz 鈥揤ienna International Dance Festival and is artistically accompanied by a danceWEB mentor every year. Dancers and choreographers with decidedly professional ambitions from European, Eastern European and non-European countries, preferably between 22 and 30 years of age (no rule, but a guideline!) and a good knowledge of English are welcome to apply.
Deadline: 15 December 2023
Music
Online
This programme is for Caribbean music business practitioners operating as recording or performing artistes, songwriters, music producers or music business representatives. This course will provide a foundation of understanding that will enable you to prepare your business for entry into the international music markets. It is designed for persons interested in pursuing the business of music with a view to being an exporter of music goods and services.
Permanently open
COMPETITION AND AWARDS
Photography
Germany
Anyone can apply with one single photography, BBA One Shot Award looks for storytelling, visual concepts, creative ideas, sharp framing, abstraction and artistic sensibilities. It does not matter what prior photography experience you have.
Deadline: 8 January 2024
Fine arts
Germany
Anyone can apply with no restrictions based on age, training or nationality. Up to 5 artworks may be submitted. BBA Artist Prize looks for visual excellence, storytelling, conceptual thinking, technical craftsmanship, subject depth and understanding.
Deadline: 19 February 2024
PRESENTING WORK
TRANSCULTURA OPPORTUNITY!
Performing arts
Italy
The Biennale Teatro is seeking site-specific performance submissions from Italian and foreign performers under 40 years old for their 2024 event with the theme of BLACK/WHITE. The performances will take place outdoors and must be original and unpublished. The selected artists will have the opportunity to develop their projects with the support of the Artistic Direction and production staff. The Transcultura programme will contribute to the participation of projects from its geographic scope selected at this stage. Two projects will be selected as winners and developed further with financial support from the Venice Biennale.
Deadline: 9 January 2024
Cross-disciplinary
Austria
minus20degree is a biennial exhibition of art and architecture. They are looking for artists in the fields of sound art, videoart, performance, theatre, installation or dynamic land art, with a special focus on art that takes and needs space, art that is mobile or makes the audience move. minus20degree provides outside space for art that is controversial, provocative, but founded. All art works need to be conceptualised and produced especially for minus20degree.
Deadline: 31 January 2024
PROJECT FUNDING
Cross-disciplinary
The Bahamas
The Charitable Arts Foundation (CAF) established in 1995, is a registered non-profit organization that raises funds in order to support endeavors in arts and culture throughout The Bahamas. The CAF supports creative talent, artistic ability and cultural exposure. CAF grants are considered twice per year for Bahamian students pursuing higher education in creative fields, and to groups and individuals for projects, performances and programs. The project grants are considered in the following categories: FINE ART, DANCE, THEATRE, MUSIC, FILM, WRITING, CURATING, DESIGN and other related creative fields. Grant applications are evaluated based on need, merit and the long-term impact on the cultural landscape of The Bahamas.
Permanently open
Cross-disciplinary
Barbados
The Cultural Industries Development Fund is open to all citizens of Barbados and companies registered in Barbados whose principal shareholder or partner is a citizen of the island. There are three (3) types of grants offered through the CIDF. Each describes the area of assistance which the grant is expected to impact, and each comes with its own specific application form: Technical Assistance Grant (TAG); Product Development Grant (PDG); and Project Execution Grant (PEG). Creative entrepreneurs are limited to one grant disbursement within a 12-month period and one disbursement per cultural project. The TAG approval takes 4-6 weeks and the PEG and PDG approvals take 8-12 weeks.
Permanently open
Cross-disciplinary
Trinidad and Tobago
The Culture and Creative Arts Fund will provide funding for projects and initiatives undertaken by arts and cultural organizations and non-governmental organizations, community groups, faith-based organizations, artists and cultural workers, which contribute to festival development and the promotion of local art forms, the development of competencies in the arts, the professional development of artists, heritage development and the development of cultural industries.
Permanently open
RESEARCH GRANTS AND SCHOLARSHIPS
Cross-disciplinary
Germany
With the CCP Fellowships, the CrossCulture Programme (CCP) funds professionals and committed volunteers. During two to three months of work-related stays in host organisations in Germany or CCP partner countries, participants deepen their expertise, establish new contacts and acquire intercultural skills. In turn, the host organisations benefit from the expertise, regional knowledge and networks of the CCP Fellows.
Deadline: 18 December 2023
Audiovisual and interactive media
Germany
The Foundation of Lower Saxony grant at the Edith-Russ-Haus for Media Art supports a wide spectrum of media art, from video art and net-based projects to audio works and audio-visual installations. Each of the three grants are awarded for the production of a new project in the area of media art. The grant is valid for a duration of six months (July鈥揇ecember). It cannot be prolonged, and residency is compulsory; grant recipients can expect to stay in Oldenburg at least one month.
Deadline: 29 February 2024
馃彌 Cultural and Natural Heritage
The Netherlands
The Rijksmuseum Fellowship Programme gives successful candidates the opportunity to conduct part of their research at the museum. It aims at supporting first-rate academic research, to strengthen ties between the Rijksmuseum and universities and to contribute to the exchange of knowledge. Fellows have access to our collections, library and laboratories and to the expertise of our academic staff. They also get the opportunity to participate in workshops and field trips.
Deadline: 8 January 2024
Cross-disciplinary
Austria
Students and young researchers from foreign universities are invited to apply for this grant to come to Austria for a research or a study stay in the Arts and Humanities field.
Deadline: 1 February 2024
RESIDENCIES
TRANSCULTURA OPPORTUNITY!
Music
Italy
This opportunity is open for young musicians 鈥 composers and performers 鈥 aged between 18 and 30 from around the world. Five composers and six performers will be selected for a programme of residency, research and production of new creations and performances that will premiere as part of the 68th International Festival of Contemporary Music of La Biennale di Venezia titled Absolute Music, to be held from 26 September to 10 October 2024. The Transcultura programme will provide support to the participation of musicians from its geographic scope if selected.
Deadline: 27 January 2024
鉃旵谤辞蝉蝉-诲颈蝉肠颈辫濒颈苍补谤测&苍产蝉辫;
The Netherlands
De Ateliers is an artists鈥 institute open to artists at the beginning of their professional career. It offers a two-year studio and tutoring programme that is best tailored to the needs of highly motivated artists who wish to strengthen their artistic foundation, develop their ideas and deepen their practice in a focused, critical environment among peers from around the globe. The programme is centred around weekly individual studio conversations, with regular and guest tutors, most of whom are practising artists. The aim is to create a better understanding of one鈥檚 artistic position and process by offering a multiplicity of perspectives and critical feedback. Applicants under 28 years of age are preferred. However, there is no strict age limit; older artists are also welcome to apply.
Deadline: 1 February 2024
TRANSCULTURA AGENDA
Participate in Transcultura events and benefit from opportunities to learn, exchange knowledge and network!
Join the online debate!
Curating the Future: Youths鈥 Kaleidoscope of Fine Contemporary Caribbean Arts
18 January 2024 鈥 10:00 AM 鈥 1:00 PM (Havana time)