UP NEXT 2024
UP NEXT 2024
Image: up next 2023 winner, ALEXANDRA DAS NEVES LEHMANN, photographed by senay Berhe
Amid global crisis and turmoil, artists have it within their power to be advocates and catalysts for change, daring to re-imagine the world we live in and shaping the future to come. Southnord invites all artists of African descent aged 18 - 28 years, born or living in the Nordics, to apply to the 2024 UP NEXT open call. This year’s theme is RE-IMAGINING OUR WORLD. We encourage you to submit projects that capture the world you want to see. All visual art forms are welcome, for example: drawing, photography, painting, sculpture, digital art and videography.
This year’s exhibition will be curated by Kihwa-Endale (b.1992), a painter and poet with Korean-Ethiopian roots. Using mirrors as a canvas, the reflective surface is a tool for her to play with timelines, gaze and the bridge between realities. She has newly discovered using clay as a medium to paint with, allowing her a connection to land through her art. Her works explore the fragmentation of identity, memory, and landscapes. As an extension of her art practise, she parented a project 'Kairos' which includes a community-centered working group, producing cultural events and platforms that are rooted in art, care, and activism.
Submission Guidelines
Eligibility
Artists aged 18-28 of African descent, born or residing in the Nordics (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden).
All skill levels are welcome.
Artwork Requirements
Please submit 3-5 examples of your previous works as low-res images, or as links to Google Drive, YouTube or Vimeo. Please be sure to provide any necessary passwords for access.
Include sketches of new works you plan to include in your concept responding to the open call theme Re-imagining Our World
Submission Deadline
31 May 2024
How to Submit
Include a brief artist statement (max 200 words) explaining your inspiration and vision.
Application texts should be in English. There is no language limitation for the actual artwork.
Selection Process
A panel of experts will review submissions.
Selected artists will be notified by 17 June 2024.
What Selected Artists Receive:
Your work will be showcased in a month-long solo exhibition at the Southnord artspace in Stockholm, Sweden.
A stipend covering travel costs to attend the opening of the exhibition.
Your work will also be featured on our website, social media platforms, and in our archive.