OPEN CALL CLiP#7: THE GARAGE SCHOOL OF PREPPING OTHERWISE
Do you feel helpless or exhausted when you read the news? Do you struggle to imagine a desirable future or feel that you can see only one way forward? Do you wish to work towards fairer worlds but feel you lack the tools to realise or even imagine these?
For this edition of CLiP, we are looking for a group of young people to collaboratively and creatively explore ‘prepping’ for collective survival against a backdrop of increased global crises and militarisation.
The traditional image of a ‘prepper’ evokes militarised, able-bodied and heavily armed (white) men in bunkers. In the past year, however, ‘prepping’ has become mainstream as governments across Europe, including the Netherlands, have been promoting household survival manuals and kits. Simultaneously, Western governments reinforce racist migration policies which determine who is worthy (or not) of protection. The message is clear: we are [heading] in[to] disaster-ridden times where the goal is no longer to thrive, or imagine better worlds, but simply to survive this one.
As an alternative to the prepper culture defined by those in power (top-down, ableist, individualistic) and to the apocalyptic futures shown in the media, we invite you to explore with us another form of (survival) ‘prepping’: one that is social, creative, collective, and hopeful.
What is CLiP?
Join us at CLiP #7: The Garage School of Prepping Otherwise.
Collective Learning in Practice (CLiP) is an educational program organized by Kunstinstituut Melly and, this year, curated and facilitated by art education collective the Garage School.
CLiP participants will be offered the opportunity to imagine and actively build skills and tools towards collective survival. The specific curriculum will develop with the participants. We start with asking ourselves: What can it mean to survive together? And, what would a survival kit for your community contain?
What can you expect?
We will explore a range of creative methodologies and approaches that build our capacity to imagine and prepare for desired, shared futures, including discussion, expanded reading, movement, improvisation, speculative writing, and LARPing (Live Action Role Playing). We will also learn and work with more practical prepping skills and methods such as foraging, food preservation, first aid, and mutual aid.
The school runs from October 2025 to March 2026, a total of 6 months. For the first 3 months, we will focus on acquiring tools for imagining and learning collective survival skills. The second 3-month period will be developed together with participants; space is left for emerging themes, concerns, and relevant guests to be invited.
Through the sessions, each participant will also write/make a series of monthly, iterative “letters to the future(s) we are preparing (for)”. These “letters” don’t have to be textual; they could be in video, song, collage, poem, performance, etc.
The outcome of the school will be determined together by all the participants and organizers; it could be a radio show, an exhibition, a public LARP (Live Action Role Play), and/or a publication.
Practical information
- Participants must be Rotterdam-based or live close by.
- Participants must be aged between 17 and 24.
- The group will meet weekly on Fridays for 3 hours between 12:00 - 18:00 starting on the 10th of October (Precise times TBC)
- Participants are offered a freelance contract and paid €17.50 per hour.
- CLiP #7 will be conducted in English.
If CLiP#7 seems interesting to you, and/or you have any questions/access concerns, or simply want to check the vibe? Then you can come to Kunstinstituut Melly and visit us on Fridays from 09:30-14:30, or simply email us at [email protected]
How to apply
Send a short video (nothing fancy, filmed with your phone) or voice memo of max 3 minutes (in English), to applications [at] kunstinstituutmelly.nl until the 7th of September at 23:59 CET.
Explain in the video/audio message:
1. Who are you and to which communities do you belong?
2. What skill, attitude, or tool for collective survival would you like to learn or develop?
3. What skill, attitude, or method for survival would you like to share with others?
4. Why do you want to sign up for this edition of CLiP?
Those pre-selected applicants will be notified on 12th of September and are expected to attend a group interview/get-together at Melly on Monday, 15th of September, from 10:00 - 12:30 or 13:00 - 15:30.
CLiP is made possible with the generous support of Stichting Mostert-Van der Meijden, Fonds 21, and the Fonds voor Cultuurparticipatie.
