Armenia boasts some of the most sophisticated artists and culture shapers in the world. To maximize the potential of human capital and talent, AGBU Armenia is working in partnership with Creative Armenia and with the funding of the European Union to invest in a new and critical program: Katapult Creative Accelerator Program.
With the aim of vitalizing the Creative and Cultural Industries (CCI) ecosystem in Armenia, Katapult empowers creative professionals with education, entrepreneurial skills and visibility, and bridges gaps in existing support services, technology, institutions and infrastructure to ensure a sustainable and thriving cultural industry.
The Katapult network works with all stakeholders and contributors looking to elevate Armenia's culture industry. Whether you are an artist or art entrepreneur, work in support industries like IT, law and commerce or have expertise in the development of a sustainable and supportive cultural ecosystem in Armenia, we are ready to work with you.
Promoting creative products and talents is critical to opening new opportunities and markets. Katapult Pavilion, will launch annual expos in and outside of Armenia attracting international audiences. In addition, Katapult Talks, a bi-annual one week virtual summit, will invite a global network of creative experts to share experience and insights on how to build up a sustainable and thriving creative industry in Armenia.
Katapult will support up to 135 culture creators by investing and developing in at least 60 business ideas through the Artbox cultural incubator designed and implemented by Creative Armenia. Offering expert feedback in business design, project management, marketing and more, grantees will have the opportunity to introduce and sustain concepts as cultural businesses.
Infrastructure investments to support the technical and operational upgrade of cultural institutions in Armenia will be supported through Katapult's Innovation Grants. In addition, 3 Artbox Hubs across Shirak, Yerevan and Syunik will transform local institutions into cultural hotspots. Finally, Katapult will introduce the first FabLab in Armenia to facilitate digital prototyping and innovation for arts capacity building.
Through roundtable discussions and the establishment of a Creative and Cultural Industries Council (CCI Council), Katapult will create public-private dialogue platforms to advocate for the sector and legislative change, with a target of proposing 4 concrete reforms to parliament for improving sector sustainability. The CCI Council will take shape as an online platform for direct democracy.
Katapult Pavilion is an exhibition and marketplace for igniting Armenia’s creative economy. The platform intersects all industries on the cutting-edge of technology, art, and design. Mindfully curated, Katapult Pavilion nurtures a network of brands, services, and products from across Armenia and its diaspora under one roof for a one-month expo and active public program.
We are thrilled to announce that our first edition of Katapult Pavilion is implemented in partnership with HayArt Cultural Center and the ARé Performing Arts Festival. The Curatorial Theme is “Scenius”, a term defined by sound artist Brian Eno to represent,
the intelligence and intuition of a whole culture scene…the communal form of the concept of the genius.
Eno’s concept names an experience that all creatives naturally intuit —that creativity is ultimately both the process and result of exchange among peers and ideas. It is the alchemy that happens when you put together what Eno calls, “an ecology of talent” that includes artists, curators, thinkers, theorists, and other “tastemakers”. We are searching for collective projects that embody a sense of communal intelligence, and we encourage interdisciplinarity.
We are seeking collective submissions (3 + collaborators per project) for both the Capsule and Katapult Stage open calls.
Capsules are mini pavilions within the overall expo that highlight a creative sector. Each Capsule will have its own dedicated space zone, a support budget, and a curatorial concept. Each Capsule must have a designated curator, who will be the team’s main contact point and project manager with the Katapult Pavilion Commissioning Team. The Curator must be based in Yerevan during the days of the expo set-up and exhibition.
Capsule categories include:
* “Other/blended” capsule is a versatile category that allows applicants to propose a new category altogether, or combine categories.
Katapult Stage: In parallel to the physical exhibition, Katapult Stage will feature a collective event program with talks, presentations and other networking opportunities. Katapult Stage will also featu-re a Performance Art program curated and coordinated by ARé Performing Arts Festival.
Download our Application Guide above for details on eligibility and process as well as support materials such as the Exhibition Plan/Zoning of the venue and useful FAQs. Applications must be received by February 6, 2023 for consideration.
If you have any questions don’t hesitate to contact us at gohara@agbu.am. Join us on Info Session at HayArt Cultural Center on January 14 at 14:00. To register for the Info session please click here.
Follow us on Social media:
Facebook: @AGBUArts
Instagram: @AGBUArts
Linkedin: @Katapult Creative Accelerator Program
Newsletter: Katapult Newsletter
AGBU has spent the last century funding Armenian creativity and cultural heritage preservation, from supporting cultural institutions like the Matendaran, the Armenian National Philharmonic Orchestra and Artsakh Chamber Orchestra to supporting individual artists through scholarships, performance opportunities and the Creative Armenia-AGBU Fellowship program.
Today, we are building on this legacy with Katapult to further impact our impressive cultural talents and vitalize Armenia’s creative economy.
For additional information about the program, please email katapult@agbu.am.
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