TROPIC 08°N: Arts & Ecology Research Residency

Eligibility

Eligible countries: No country restriction

Open to artists, writers, researchers, scientists, curators and musicians across disciplines.

TROPIC 08°N: Arts & Ecology Research Residency. Creative practice in dialogue with land, ecologies & planetary change. Deadline: 31 Aug 2026 Country: Colombia Open Call At the meeting point of South and Central America, dense rainforests merge with coastal mangroves and the Caribbean Sea. This transitional region — shaped by complex ecologies, cultural histories, and ongoing global pressures — holds both immense biodiversity and a layered human presence. Amidst these vibrant landscapes, our residency offers space for reflective creative practice connected to the surrounding ecologies and contemporary challenges of the region. As participants spend time immersed in these living environments, they are invited to reflect on broader questions of coexistence, interdependence, and how global environmental shifts are entangled with local realities. Rather than proposing solutions, the residency offers time and space to listen, observe, and respond through artistic practice — situated within the living complexity of the territory. Residency Program Our site-responsive residencies offer a carefully balanced structure combining guided experiences and self-directed time. Participants are invited to engage with place through field visits, reflective practice, and scheduled sessions with long-term local collaborators who share perspectives and practices connected to the land. Each program offers time for artistic inquiry within distinct ecological and cultural contexts, supporting reflective processes that consider our relationships with land, ecologies, and one another. Rather than offering prescriptive outcomes, our approach emphasizes time, listening, and situated inquiry—allowing artists to explore how their work may respond to the complexities of each environment. Location Nestled between the Caribbean coastline and the tropical rainforest of the Chocó region, Tropic 08°N offers artists a place-based residency within one of the world’s most biodiverse and ecologically complex regions. Accessible only by air or sea, the area is sustained by subsistence farming, fishing, and small-scale tourism, with communities long connected to these coastal and rainforest ecosystems. La Wayaka Current has been working within this territory for nearly a decade, forming long-term relationships that allow us to host artists in respectful proximity to both rainforest and ocean environments, in connection with nearby villages and our long-term team of local collaborators. This program provides space for reflective artistic practice grounded in time spent within the region’s distinct ecologies, landscapes, and living contexts. Duration of residency Applications are currently open to join during the following time periods: 2026 23 October – 13 November 2026 Accommodation Participants are hosted in shared, simple accommodation located in rural village areas connected to both tropical rainforest and ocean environments. The setting is intentionally remote, offering limited phone signal and internet to allow for immersion and focused work. Private rooms may be requested subject to availability. Disciplines, work equipment and assistance We welcome applications from artists, writers, researchers, scientists, curators, musicians, and practitioners across disciplines interested in working reflectively within ecological and cultural contexts. ----- Curated Programme: including up to 60 hours programmed activities for artists to connect to territory with local guidance. Field Visits: Visits to ecological and cultural sites to take your practice and process into new forms. Territorial Encounters: sharing sessions alongside local collaborators and community members to inform and immerse yourself on-site through meetings, talks and other cultural activities. Residency Team & Coordination: On-site coordination and daily support by the team. Transport & Access: Local transport for programmed activities, and national park entry fees included on programme visits. Pre-Residency Support: Personalised guidance before arrival (travel, packing and preparation). Peer Exchange and Sharing: A collective public or internal sharing at the end of the residency and peer exchange sessions throughout to share creative process as well as with our network of alumni and community. Funding Support: Guidance for funding and applications, including letters of invitation and support with applications.Studio / Workspace There are no formal indoor studios; participants work primarily outdoors and use the surrounding landscape as part of their process. We welcome participants who approach the residency with openness, care, and respect, toward the place, the people involved, and the work that has made this project possible. The residency invites artists to engage with local ecologies and cultural contexts in ways that are reflective and non-extractive. Participants should be comfortable living and working in a shared, collaborative environment, with flexibility and sensitivity to group dynamics. Informal sharing sessions may take place during the program, but public exhibitions or formal presentations are not required.Fees and support This is an independent, self-funded program led by a small team of artists and local collaborators. Program contributions directly support the space, collaborators, staff, and the ongoing development of the project.We offer a sliding scale of program fees depending on length of stay and available funding. To support accessibility, we provide financial aid, guidance for external funding applications, and a limited number of fully funded places and additional financial support for BIPOC and Latin American artists each year.For full fee details, financial aid options, and eligibility, please visit: www.lawayakacurrent.com or contact us at [email protected] Expectations towards the artist The residency is open to international artists, researchers and practitioners working across different fields, including contemporary arts, visual arts, sound, music, writing, ceramics, audiovisual practices, performance, research and site-based work. We are looking for people who: • Are interested in research and creative processes in dialogue with territory • Are open to a collective format of living, exchange and learning • Are willing to take part in field-based activities Finished outputs are not a requirement as the residency is conceived as a space for process, exploration and experimentation. Application information APPLICATION TIMELINE Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. The next deadlines are: August 31, 2026 SELECTION PROCESS Selection is carried out by La Wayaka Current in dialogue with locally based collaborators. We consider: – The relevance of the proposed work to the residency context – The potential for development within the territory and program – The diversity of practices within the group HOW TO APPLY To apply, please complete the online application form. www.lawayakacurrent.com/apply

How to apply

Complete the online application form at www.lawayakacurrent.com/apply.