digital methodologies (dm), is a 3-part initiative around how/when/why we engage the “digital” in our academic/artistic research processes. it consists of a 3-day workshop in beirut (july 2017), sponsoring at least three projects for a funded residency at marra.tein through an open-call (nov- april), and a final output that will brainstorm how to move forward for collaborating between individuals outside of in/outside of institutions (may 2018).
(this project is made possible with the support of mophradat)
- digital methodologies residency -
3-6 week funded residency in beirut
we will sponsor at least (3) individuals/collectives/projects in the fall 2017 - spring 2018 at marra.tein under the auspices of the digital methodologies initiative.
we hope to cover travel and/or provide a small production grant (max 1000$) per awarded residency. each project will have use of marra.tein to maximize their research and projects. we also envision some public engagement or workshop around the resident's research interests.
- questions that drive the dm initiative -
this project engages questions at the heart of many artists/academics’ research - especially those who work in “new media” and the digital humanities: how can we use the digital not simply as an output, but as a process in our research? how can reframings through dm give us new analytic purchase on key questions in our research -- and how can we carry these arguments into non-textual outputs? most of us are now drowning in our own data and material that we horde, how can we use digital means to change the scales of how we order, sort, and conceptualize the directions this might take? many digital humanities projects are limp - but in what ways can we activate, enliven, and juxtapose the processes of digital born research and collections in our workflows? how can we collaborate as individuals beyond the confines of the institutions (academic/artistic/otherwise)? how do we compile, sample, and frame various parts of our work? in what ways does producing "digital" aspects of our research fold back into our research agendas (ex. working with archives, producing written & digital scholarship in tandem, making interfaces and building databases as part of research)? what tools allow us new scales and wider lenses for our projects? how can computational practices allow us to juxtapose, shift, and reframe materials central to our research?
this initiative hopes to create a conversation around specific individuals' practices in the context of the region, rather than simply copy-pasting current digitial humanites concerns (from instance, from institutes of higher learning in the usa). we want to explore the boundaries and possibilities of people’s work that is moving through dm. how are these processes changing and how might be better collaborate in order to realize such projects? we hope to build a network, and public conversation, among those struggling to work on/between these slippery terrains, which intersect many disciplines. finally, we hope to encourage projects that pertain to the larger middle east - especially given the increased attention/urgency/fetishization of preservation, cultural heritage, and digitization that runs on the coattails between accelerated loss and warfare.
- the residency -
this open call for applications for 3-6 week residencies at marra.tein (beirut, lebanon) hopes to attract individuals/collectives/groups that are trying to explore and realize projects that are based in research, but grappling with some set of concerns in the digital landscape. rather than delimiting what exactly this might mean, we are casting a wide net, hoping to encourage those who are working across media and discipline to apply. there are no set outcomes expected other than aggressively trying to research and realize your project. this might include primary research, coding, exploring options for some stage of a larger project, aspects of collaboration, etc.
those selected for the residency will have access to marra.tein (for their own accommodations) as well as the space to hold meetings, screenings, and convene on whatever issues that pertain to their work. residents are encouraged to think what local individuals, partners, and institutions with whom they want to collaborate (or be in conversation with) during their time. we hope there would be some some public outreach during the residency (an afternoon workshop, a presentation, a working group, etc).
there is a preference for applications from those currently within the region. this hopes to address issues relevant to what is happening in practices of dm in local communities currently. individuals and groups from within lebanon are encouraged to apply (but also asked to justify the use of the space for the duration of the residency).
- open call for dm -
please send the below materials to marra.tein by oct 11
a motivation statement (up to one page) that describes your background/work/process
a description that details how you propose to use this time/space/opportunity in beirut to further engage dm as part of your practice and what you hope to complete? what have you already achieved and what are the longer term goals of this project? (feel free to indicate local partners/individuals to whom you'll reach out to / collaborate with?)
samples of work (images, websites, videos, and other relevant documentation)
please indicate - and rank - three 3-6 week periods which you would like to be considered for residency during the time period nov 1 - april 30 2018. we will work with those selected individuals to make the timing working as much as possible. also please include a short justification for the specified time frame. we are able to consider 3-6 weeks for the duration.
anything else you feel might help contextualize your interests in dm
- residency logistics -
materials due to marra.tein by oct 11.
the timeframe of residencies will be from nov 2017-april 2018
there is no fee to apply - those selected will be notified by oct 17 via email
there is a max 1000$ award per residency (to cover travel, materials, or stipend)
applications will be reviewed by an external committee
feel free to write with any questions!