Background

In collaboration with the Finnish Institute, the City of Edinburgh and the City of Oulu in Finland have established the Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) residency project in order to build greater international collaboration between the two cities and to support creative learning for children and youth in both locations.

Drawing upon Edinburgh’s strong cultural sector and work with creative learning and Oulu’s experience with STEAM in schools and its current bid to become the 2026 European Capital of Culture, this residency represents a pilot to expand efforts supporting international co-creation in the fields of culture, arts and technology.

The objectives of this residency are:

• to support professional development for teachers and collaborations among schools interested in the field of STEAM in Edinburgh and Oulu; and
• to offer opportunities for Scottish and Finnish artists to work with teachers in the development of artistic co-creation activities involving children and youth.

Who will the residency support?

This residency will select one Edinburgh-based teacher, one Oulu-based teacher, one Scottish artist and one Finnish artist. Once selected, this group of four professionals will be given resources to work together as a team to plan and implement STEAM activities with the schools of selected teachers.

While separate calls for teachers have been organised by the cities of Edinburgh and Oulu, this particular call is for interested artists based in Finland or Scotland.

Expected outcomes

The expected content of the residency will lead to the design and implementation of a STEAM activity in Edinburgh during 2021 and a similar STEAM activity during 2021 in Oulu. These actions are expected to take place in collaboration with participating teachers’ schools and/or during cultural events in Edinburgh and in Oulu. Expected STEAM activities can include, but are not limited to, art installations, performances or community-based art. However, all activities must include active co-creation participation with children and/or youth at the selected schools and/or wider community.

What is offered?

The STEAM residency will offer the following to one Finnish-based artist and one Scottish-based artist:

1. 2500 EUR grant payable to each artist for work time associated with the development of STEAM activities.
2. (to the Scottish artist) Flight and accommodation costs to visit Oulu (2 trips) for the 1. project inception meeting at the end of 2020 in Oulu and 2. to take part in the STEAM activities planned for 2021 in Oulu.
3. (to the Finnish artist) Flight and accommodation costs to visit Edinburgh (2 trips) to take part in 1. a planning meeting at the end of 2020 in Edinburgh, 2. STEAM activities planned for Edinburgh in 2021.

Note: all visits are expected to be at minimum 2 days on-site each. If COVID-19 travel restrictions are still in effect through 2020, then initial planning will take place online and visits postponed to 2021.

Key dates for the application process

• Application deadline is 21 September 2020 (5pm UK time).
• Selection committee decisions publicised for selected teachers and artists by 23 October 2020.
• First online meeting with selected teachers and artists held on 4 November 2020.

Eligibility

This call is for artists of any genre resident in either Scotland or Finland with an interest in STEAM activities and international collaboration.

Criteria for Application Evaluation

• Level of overall art experience.
• Demonstrated experience with collaborative activities in education.
• Relevance of proposed project ideas to SREO objectives.
• Scope of proposed project ideas to engage children and/or youth.

Selected applicants will be chosen by a committee consisting of representatives from the cities of Edinburgh and Oulu. For more information, contact: Lorna MacDonald Lorna.MacDonald@edinburgh.gov.uk (for Scotland-based artists), and Blair Stevenson blair.stevenson@oamk.fi (for Finland-based artists).

Applications can be sent via this link by 21 September 2020 (5pm UK time).

Note: imeline is subject to change due to Covid-19 restrictions. The visits may be subject to change/cancellation at short notice should either City of Edinburgh Council and/or City of Oulu assess the risks to be unacceptable and/or should Health Protection in either advise change in response to Covid-19. All artists and teachers applying to be part of the Residency need to do so in the full knowledge that circumstances may change, and an on-line residency become necessary.

In collaboration with: