APPLICATION 2015 HAS BEEN CLOSED!
NICE AWARD: A European Award for Innovations in Culture and Creativity The Network for Innovations in Culture and Creativity in Europe (NICE) was initiated in 2013 by a consortium of 15 cities, universities, agencies and personalities from 10 countries under the leadership of the european centre for creative economy (ecce) in Dortmund. It is a non-profit initiative funded by the Ministry for Families, Children, Youth, Culture and Sports of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. The yearly NICE Award and traveling exhibition, funded by the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Energy and Industry of North Rhine-Westphalia and the cities of Bochum, Dortmund, Essen and Gelsenkirchen, aims to promote innovations from the cultural creative sectors especially those that spill over into the wider economy and society. The winners are decided by an independent jury consisting of Charles Landry (Comedia, UK), Arantxa Mendiharat (Conexiones improbables, Spain), Prof. Kurt Mehnert (Folkwang University of the Arts, Germany), Barbara Abel (AbelundAbel, Austria) and Jarmo Eskelinen (Forum Virium Helsinki, Finland). For more information about the 2014 award click here
The NICE Award 2015 theme: Solving the World's Major Challenges - A Call for Innovations
The 2015 award challenges the cultural and creative sectors to propose surprising and experimental innovations that are solutions to difficult global problems with special, but not exclusive, attention given to digital innovations. The following examples give an idea of the breadth of the call and it is not limited to these examples:
- Cities are both growing exceptionally and also shrinking. Many are in danger of becoming dysfunctional and less liveable and sustainable. Which innovations coming from within the culture and creativity domain can help stop or turn around these trends? What is the role of digital innovations, such as creating seamless connectivity, re-designing mobility, enhancing information systems, improving way finding, monitoring health. What is the role if any of 3-D printing?
- Migration – cities are melting pots and migration either by choice or forced by wars and poverty is a growing European phenomenon. It increases cultural and ethnic diversity. This is a double edged sword as it both enriches our lives, but also creates misunderstandings, fears and violence: How can the cultural creative sectors contribute to resolving these challenges and foster mutual understanding? Is there a special potential for digital innovations from ebooks for children in native and foreign languages to new kinds of performance or events in traditional or unusual settings?
- Work - the digital revolution is radically changing work and the divide between work and play is breaking down as 24/7 schedules become more dominant. What does this mean for cultural consumption? It shifts our sense of self and how and where we consume culture from cinema going to attending concerts to experiencing urban art. In a digitalized world without dedicated spare time what is the new shape of culture? Is it visiting cinemas or using Amazon Prime? Do you visit museums or access it via the google art project? How could or must the cultural creative institutions (re-)act?
- Can the digital world enrich our experience of culture and if so how? Can it help increase our understanding of diversity of culture or of the potential of a more open society? Can it help make the arts and culture world more inclusive?
- In what other sectors can the culture and creative sectors have a positive impact? For instance in supporting new models of intergenerational understanding or for the challenges of health and especially for the elderly? The list above is not exhaustive. Other suggestions and proposals from within different fields and topics with effects across sectors are welcomed.
Eligible Entries to the NICE Award
Entries eligible to the NICE Award can be single individuals such as artists; or organisations such as companies and public institutions or agencies, non-profit foundations or initiatives as well as single researchers of research institutions from within the cultural creative sectors. Teams, even those without legal personality, can also apply. The entries can be single projects that have already been realized or implemented policies, as well as other innovative activities, such as planned research or proposed projects. They must be no older than three years. In order to partake, participants should add a short promotional film (max. 2 minutes) to the application giving an insight into their work.
Jury-Meeting, Award Shortlist, Exhibition and Ceremony 2015: Procedure and Timing
Up to 15 projects will be nominated for the award by July 2015. These will constitute the NICE Award Shortlist 2015 and be presented in the NICE exhibition opening on 22 September 2015 in Essen, Germany. The jury will select a maximum of four winners from the exhibition by interviewing all nominees on 22 September.
The Awards Ceremony will be held on 23 September and hosted by Garrelt Duin, Minister for Economic Affairs, Energy and Industry of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia in the GOP Varieté in Essen on occasion of the Forum d'Avignon Ruhr.
The Prizes
The Award total is 20.000 Euro. Its distribution amongst the four winners is to be decided by the jury. The special prize 2015 will focus on digital innovations.
Additional benefits include:
a.) Projects will be published on www.nice-europe.eu as well as promotion in the social media throughout 2015 / 2016
b.) Published in an English / German catalogue
c.) Exhibited in the NICE exhibition in Essen (22 Sep)
d.) Innovation transfer workshop and pitching session with the companies from the industry in North Rhine-Westphalia on the 22 September in Essen
APPLICATION 2015 HAS BEEN CLOSED!