We Gather Here Because We Must - Open Call
- Jan 4
- 1 min read
Reclaiming Public Space as a Ground for Climate Imagination
How can artists activate public space to make the climate crisis visible, build solidarity, and spark everyday action?
We Gather Here Because We Must is an international artist exchange and residency programme developed by Get It Done (Manchester) and Aks Creative Hub (Ankara), supported by the British Council – Connections Through Culture programme.
The programme brings together emerging artists from the UK and Türkiye to explore how simple, playful and low-cost creative interventions can reclaim public space as a site of climate awareness, care and collective imagination.
What Is This Programme About?
Rather than large-scale climate solutions, the programme focuses on small, visible and participatory artistic actions in public space. It asks what becomes possible when public space is treated as a shared climate commons—shaped through creativity, experimentation and collaboration.
Participants will:
Work in international artist pairs
Develop public-space interventions around climate and community
Take part in an in-person micro-residency in Ankara
Contribute to a reflective publication documenting methods and learnings
Who Can Apply?
They are looking for:
Visual artists aged 18–30
Living or working in Greater Manchester
With an existing interest in climate, environment, nature or activism
Experienced in socially engaged or community-facing practices
Applications from underrepresented backgrounds are strongly encouraged.
Programme Structure
Online exchange sessions
Paired independent research
In-person residency in Ankara
Collective publication and online launch
Support & Fee
Participation fee
Travel, accommodation and basic production costs covered
Apply via email:
Subject: We Gather Here Application – [Your Name]
Deadline: 7 January 2026
You can reach out the open call documents here.
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