Although the modern Western view of the world is based on their division, nature and culture are interconnected. Despite efforts to recombine culture and nature, we have to recognise that resisting this binarism may be more difficult than we think, and that we may not yet have the linguistic and cultural resources to express our understanding of non-human environments in more inclusive and holistic ways.

Based on this premise, the artistic group CADA has developed the residency programme ANIMAIS. On its way to the 3rd edition, the programme is now promoting an open call aimed at emerging, re-emerging and recently graduated artists (individuals or duos) living in Portugal, challenging them to use new media - including experimental sound and audiovisual formats - to think about the dimension and consequences of the coexistence between technology, nature, and the human being.

The six artists selected in the open call will have the opportunity to join an artistic residency of 21 consecutive days (between 15 September and 5 October) at Estação Cooperativa de Casa Branca, a creative and experimental community of civic activation in the vacant railway quarter of the village of Casa Branca, in Montemor-o-Novo. During this stay, there will be workshops, mentoring sessions, and optional activities to explore the territory, creating a space for thinking in hybrid terms such as ‘nature-culture’ to seek to redraw the boundaries between artists and the environment.

Each of the winners will receive a grant of €500, full board, travel by public transport, accommodation, a production budget of €150, and access to equipment (the artists are expected to use their computers). The artists will also have a studio workspace, production facilities, access to workshops and makerspaces, and technical support. The final results of the residency will be presented in two exhibitions: a final presentation in the village of Casa Branca, and an exhibition in Lisbon.

The open call ends on 27 July and applications must be made using the form available here (bio, CV, and PDF portfolio (which can be found online) are required). The results will be announced on 4 August. More information at www.cada1.net.