CALL FOR APPLICATION - ISTANBUL TRAVEL GRANTS 2016

BACKGROUND
For 25 years, the Landis & Gyr Foundation has been awarding freely configurable work
scholarships to Swiss artists of various disciplines for stays abroad. Destinations have been
London, Budapest, Bucharest and Zug (for Swiss citizens from the other three language regions)
as well as Berlin (the city that has recorded a virtual boom for studio scholarship in the last ten
years). Since more than half of all the Swiss Cantons offer studio scholarships in Berlin, the
Landis & Gyr Foundation decided to rethink its studio offerings and to focus on a new accent.
Our new concept departs from the traditional stationary artist studio in a big city, by putting the
idea of travel in the foreground. It emphasizes travel as itinerancy, as lingering in various places
and as opportunity to examine a topic of study in the context of a compelling project.
ISTANBUL TRAVEL GRANTS
Responding to societal challenges in Switzerland and the high percentage of immigrants in the
Swiss population, the Landis & Gyr Foundation has chosen to put a new focal point of study to
greater Istanbul. This refers to the entire cross-border region, which was dominated by the
Byzantine and Ottoman history.
As a point of focus for the travel grants, the Foundations choice fell to Istanbul - the vibrant,
diverse and fascinating city on the Bosporus and a melting pot, where many paths converge and
many cultures meet, where many developments appear and where people with different
lifestyles and experiences live together. Istanbul was the center of the Byzantine and the
Ottoman Empires, both of which encompassed vast areas. Modern Istanbul is the most
important metropolis of modern Turkey and a link between Europe and Asia, between the
Balkans and the Middle East. Istanbul is a metaphor for the meeting of East and West, of
Christianity and Islam, of tradition and modernity, of religion and secularism. Given its diversity
and differences, present tensions cannot be denied. Addressing this issue in a constructive
manner will be one of the possible motivations for a scholarship project.
The focus of the grant program is project-based examination in this multi-faceted and varied
region of today's Turkey, as well as the adjacent countries influenced by the Byzantine and
Ottoman cultures.
During the first phase of the travel grants, the travel shall extend into regions beyond Istanbul,
whereas during the subsequent second phase, the plan is for a stationary stay in Istanbul
proper.
Awardees will face the task of conveying grant findings and results in an appropriate and
appealing manner back in Switzerland.
The focus of the travel grant program may be daily life, art (all disciplines), history, economics
and political society. The grantees studies may focus on specific structures and processes, but
also specific societal and cultural groups (gender, religion, urban/rural, old/young etc.)

Goal
The Istanbul travel grants are intended to foster understanding of the complex reality and the
various exchange processes in this area.
A primary goal is building better knowledge and understanding of the people in this region, in
part because they represent an important immigration group in Switzerland. Lastly, the Landis &
Gyr travel grant program should contribute to a discussion in Switzerland about culture and
society in this transcontinental region.

Structure of the program

The program foresees implementation of 3 or 4 overlapping scholarships per year.
Phase 1: 2 to 4 months for individual project-related research work.
The grantee should explore the target area from within the frame of their project, explore the
culture, various living conditions, lifestyles, as well as social structures and processes.
Phase 2: 1 to 3 months stationary in Istanbul.
Immersion and beginning of the evaluation of data gathered in Istanbul, and ideally, interacting
with the other awardees in residence at the same time.
Phase 3: Back in Switzerland, the results of research and travel experience shall be conveyed to
relevant audiences in an attractive format.

Who can apply?

Candidates for a scholarship may be Swiss citizens, but also foreign nationals residing in
Switzerland or anyone with a close relationship to Switzerland. Candidates need a recognized
professional track in an intellectual, artistic, scientific, journalistic or socio-cultural field. They
need to exhibit a compelling project with particular reference to the described region and
relevance to its society. There is no age restriction, but the offer is not open to students.

What does the Landis & Gyr Foundation offer?

The Foundation will cover travel and cost of living for the first phase as well as housing cost and
cost of living in Istanbul (phase 2).
The Foundation does not have its own accommodation in Istanbul, but will assist in the search
and organization of housing opportunities.

APPLICATION AND SELECTION

1. Confirmation
In this first phase, the candidates send their application in accordance with specifications to the
office of the Landis & Gyr Foundation no later than August 23. The foundation will acknowledge
receipt by email by the end of March, 2015.
2. Evaluation
In the second phase, a body of experts from the Foundation will evaluate the received
applications and will submit its recommendations to the Board of Trustees. Those candidates,
who are on the short list, will be informed by email by mid-May 2015.
3. Acceptance
The definitive acceptance by the Foundation will be in writing no later than midJune 2015.
There will be no correspondence about the selection process.

APPLICATION DOCUMENTS
The candidates must submit a 5 7 page proposal containing the following:
CV CV / education / occupation / previous scholarships / awards
Project Idea
Motivation
Concept and development as well as essential content of the two phases abroad including
proposal on how the results will be processed implemented upon return (in Switzerland)
Budget
Referral letters, if any
Do not submit any publications, texts CDs or DVDs.
Candidates who are shortlisted will be invited as required by the office of the Foundation to
submit documentation or to provide additional information.

REGISTRATION DEADLINE
March 6, 2015 (date of postmark)

INFORMATION
Regula Koch, Managing Director
041 724 23 12, regula.koch@lg-stiftung.ch

ISTANBUL TRAVEL SCHOLARSHIP 2016

APPLICATION FORM
Last name

Date of Birth / Nationality

First name

Marital status

Street, number

Home phone

Town, zip code

Cell phone

Country

Gender

Email

Website

Former applications for studio grants of the Foundation (year /city)

...............
...............

APPLICATION DOCUMENTS
The Candidates must submit a 5 7 page proposal containing the following:
CV CV / education / occupation / previous scholarships / awards
Project Idea
Motivation
Concept and development as well as essential content of the two phases abroad including
proposal on how the results will be processed implemented upon return (in Switzerland)
Budget
Do not submit any publications, texts CDs or DVDs!
Candidates who are shortlisted may be asked where appropriate to submit documentation or
additional information by the office of the Foundation

The decision of the Board is final.

The undersigned acknowledges the decision.
Place and date

REGISTRATION DEADLINE
Must be postmarked on or before March 6, 2015

POSTAL ADDRESS
Landis & Gyr Foundation
Dammstrasse 16
PO Box 4858
CH-6304 Zug

Signature