Stimuleringsfonds

In the second phase of the eighth Open Call Fresh Perspectives, seven projects have been selected to further develop a pilot, experiment or other type of design research, as a follow-up to the development contribution they previously received. Coordinator Sharvin Ramjan reflects on the second phase of this open call.

19 February 2025

general impression

In the first phase of the Open Call Fresh Perspectives, 10 projects were selected for a development contribution to set up cross-sectoral collaborative projects that offer new perspectives on current crises. These 10 projects were given the opportunity to apply for a second grant to further develop their collaborative project. The applicants were invited to make a presentation to the advisory committee. In the process, seven proposals were positively assessed. They each receive € 40,000 to carry out their research.

The committee was positive about the quality of the applications and presentations. The advisers also praised the quality of the collaborations and the expertise involved in many of the proposals. However, the committee would have liked to see more reflection on choices made in the transition from the first to the second phase, and the usability of the intended output. For instance, a relatively large number of projects involve the development of a toolkit, and here the committee saw a lack of reflection on the choice to produce a toolkit.

According to the committee, the seven selected proposals cover a wide range of topics, themes and collaborations – ranging from more equal access to abortion in the Netherlands to making food forests in the Netherlands more accessible. Relevant tasks are addressed in innovative and exciting ways.

selection

Dramaturgies of Witnessing – Julien Thomas and Ekaterina Volkova
With the Dramaturgies of Witnessing project, designers Julien Thomas and Ekaterina Volkova explore how dramaturgy can contribute to more ambitious international climate agreements through innovative negotiation strategies. In phase one, they investigated elements of stagecraft in negotiations by means of a study of the literature and interviews with experts including Dr Carolin Fraude and Maaike Bleeker. They also observed the importance of informal interactions during the SB60 climate conference in Bonn, Germany. This resulted in insights into ‘antechambering’ – utilising informal spaces where alternative dialogues are possible. In the second phase, Thomas and Volkova are developing a handbook for co-facilitators, focusing on new skills and negotiation scripts. In addition, they are designing an installation, antechamber, to support informal meetings in formal spaces. In collaboration with the Dutch climate delegation and theatre specialists, they explore these alternative negotiation scripts through workshops and performative experiments such as the errant comma, through which grammatical nuances can influence negotiation outcomes. With the project, Thomas and Volkova aim to achieve a lasting impact within international climate negotiations.

Survivalkits – Yin Aiwen
For the project Survivalkits for artist communities, Yin Aiwen works together with several cultural institutions, including Framer Framed, Documenta and AFIELD. With this project, Aiwen aims to equip activist communities with resources to organise themselves independently and build on an alternative ecosystem. Survival kits are developed as comprehensive manuals containing guidelines for navigating the complicated landscape of ‘living within a community’. In addition, an incubation programme will be set up to support communities in strengthening their organisational capacities through workshops, collective discussions and strategic guidance. This programme encourages experimentation and sustainable partnerships between artists, activists, policymakers and scientists. Yin Aiwen’s objective with this project is to formulate a strategic response to the challenges of an economic system that she says is based on ‘centralised and unequal principles’. By creating new connections between various stakeholders, the initiative aims to contribute to a more inclusive and unified society.

Footwear Care Lab – Studio Wolfs
Under the name Footwear Care Lab, designer Isabel Wolfs (Studio Wolfs) is committed to reducing the ecological footprint of sneakers. Sneakers are difficult to recycle because of their complex design and material composition. In addition, users often lack knowledge about maintenance and repair, leading to premature degradation and waste. For the project, Studio Wolfs joins forces with Jesse Oeinck (vintage-sneaker specialist), Emma Huffman (design researcher), Amsterdam House of Arts & Crafts, and Schoenenkwartier. Part of the collaboration involves developing workshops and visual and tangible learning tools to make sneaker maintenance and repair accessible to young people, sneaker lovers and craft enthusiasts. The aim is to teach users how to care for and repair their sneakers, reducing the need for new sneakers and decreasing waste.

You can find all seven selected projects in the awarded grants archive.

assessment

The advisory committee assessed the applications using four assessment criteria: effectiveness, quality of the collaboration, knowledge sharing and the extent to which a new perspective is being developed.

There were two days of meetings for this second round. The advisory committee for the first meeting consisted of Paul Hekkert (professor of form theory at the Industrial Design department, TU Delft), Roos Groothuizen (multimedia artist and AI specialist), Bernhard Lenger (social designer & founder Foundation We Are), Barbara Vos (artistic director Embassy of Food, among other functions) and Hüsnü Yegenoglu (architect and lecturer TU Eindhoven).

The committee for the second meeting consisted of Angelique Spaninks (Director MU Hybrid Art House), Tanja Koning (curator and programme maker), Dymphie Braun (programme maker, facilitator and moderator), Onur Can Tepe (filmmaker) and Lucien Kembel (interim Executive Director).

numbers

Of the 10 applications processed, 7 were positively assessed in this phase. The budget available for the second phase was € 200,000. An underspend of € 80,000 from the Talent Development Grant Programme 2021-2024, among others, allowed all seven positively assessed proposals to be awarded grants. This brings the percentage of applications receiving grants to 70%.