Welcome to issue 001 of TRINE!
I created TRINE as a monthly resource for artists, designers and creatives of all mediums to develop and enrich their practice. Each newsletter will be released at the month’s end and is structured into three parts Build, Plan and Rest.
Build encourages you to expand your network and invite new opportunities into your life. It contains a curated list of the best funding, residency and commission open calls accepting applications for the coming month. In their relative sections each opportunity is organised by deadline date, from soonest to latest. All open call opportunities include an artist fee or stipend as ‘exposure’ does not pay the bills. Opportunities with application fees are only featured if there is an opportunity to wave the fee for those on lower income scales or if the fee can be transferred to future applications. Click on the links (underlined text) to access application details for each opportunity.
Plan invites you to tune in to the movements of the universe and use them to support your decision making and forward planning. I would like to clarify here that there is no bad astrology, nor can it be used to predict the future. Astrology is best used as a tool to help you navigate the different areas of your life and in the case of your personal birth chart understand your individual strengths and weaknesses. This section will list the key astrological transits affecting careers, finances and creativity for the approaching month and explore the themes that these bring up in our day to day lives.
Rest asks you to nurture the needs of your mind, body and soul so that your personal wellness is placed at the centre of your actions. Each month this section will include a guided meditation which considers the events of the past month equipping you with what is needed to move forward into the new month.
Take what works for you and leave what doesn’t. If you find success with any of the opportunities featured or find any of TRINE’s tools useful do reach out and let us know. You can find us on instagram as @trine_aba.
Sending you love, light and abundance.
Shasti
ART X BUSINESS X ASTROLOGY
~Build ~
Funding opportunities
PRS Foundation - The Open Fund for Music Creators
Funding activity: To support the creation, performance and promotion of outstanding new music in any genre. To enable the UK’s most talented music creators to realise their potential.
Grant range: Up to £5000
Eligibility: UK based songwriters and composers of all genres.
Deadline: Friday 12th February
PRS Foundation - Women Make Music Fund
Funding activity: Supports the development of outstanding women, trans and non binary songwriters and composers of all genres and backgrounds at different stages of their career.
Grant range: Up to £5000
Eligibility: The fund can support projects by UK based women, trans and non binary songwriters, composers, artists, bands and performers who are writing their own music.
Deadline: Friday 12th February
Arts Council England - Developing your Creative Practice
Funding activity: Research and development opportunities, building new networks, creating new work.
Grant range: £2,000 - £10,000
Eligibility: Individual artists and/or creative practitioners. You can find full eligibility criteria in the guidance for applicants. Organisations cannot apply.
Deadline: Thursday 18th February
i-Portunus - Mobility Grants in literary translation, music and architecture
Funding activity: Supporting the travel of artists, cultural and creative professionals in executing international collaborations, production orientated residencies and professional development in Creative Europe Countries.
Grant range: Up to 3,000 Euros per person
Eligibility: Aged 18+ literary translators, composers, musicians, singers, architects and cultural professionals active in the field of architecture residing in a Creative Europe Country. (Individuals or groups of up to five).
Deadline: Literary translators grant - Sunday 28th February
Music grant - Sunday 28th February
Architecture grant - Sunday 14th March
The White Pube Writers Grant funded by Creative Debut
Funding activity: No strings attached financial support for whatever the writer wants.
Grant range: 1 x awards of £500
Eligibility: Specifically for UK based working class writers.
Deadline: Rolling monthly grant
Creative Debuts - Black Artist Grants
Funding activity: No strings attached financial support for whatever the artist wants.
Grant range: 4 x awards of £500
Eligibility: Specifically for UK based Black artists; not politically black, not POC or BAME.
Deadline: Rolling monthly grant
Artist residencies
Artist Residency and Commission Brief: Decolonising Natural History
In partnership with Delfina Foundation the Horniman Museum and Gardens is offering a three-month residency opportunity to a UK based artist, as part of the institution’s ongoing decolonial work, to engage with its Natural History collection and produce a new commission for the museum’s ‘Inspired by Nature’ space.
Dates: Residency takes place in Spring 2021 (29 March – 18 June 2021). Engagement between the selected artist and the Horniman running from 29 February – early December 2021. Artwork for the commission needs to be completed by October and ready for installation in early December 2021.
Expenses covered: £1500 stipend, £3000 artist fee and £6000 production budget and temporary work space at Delfina Foundation.
Deadline: Friday 5th February
The mission of Hayama Artist Residency is to introduce visual artists from around the world to Japanese culture and offer them an opportunity to have their first gallery exhibition in Japan which will be a group exhibition of all the residents’ work.
Dates: June 15 - July 15, 2021 in Hayama, a small coastal Japanese town.
Expenses covered: Round trip flight to Japan, airport transfers, 4 weeks shared accommodation, $200 weekly stipend.
Application fee: $95 which is transferable to next year’s application if you are not selected for this year’s cohort.Every artist who applies to Hayama Artist Residency will receive a thorough review of their application and written feedback.
Deadline: Monday 15th February
Open Calls for Commissions
The National Portrait Gallery and Citizen UK - Call out for artist filmmaker and spoken word artist
A freelance artist filmmaker and a spoken word/poet artist are sought to lead a participatory research and creative project exploring the history of political activism by black and Asian communities in Ealing. The artist filmmaker and spoken word/poet artist are responsible for developing a new artwork for outdoor public display, informed by the archival research into partner collections and co- produced with a group of ‘citizen researchers’ drawn from stakeholder communities. Applications from collectives are accepted.
Fee: £4000 for filmmaker, £4000 for spoken word artist
Deadline: Wednesday 3rd February
Museum of the Home - Artist call out for the Stay Home project
The Stay Home project seeks to explore how Covid-19 has changed the way we live, and to think about the future of home life. During these extraordinary times, our homes have never been more important. We want the successful artist or the arts-led collective to produce a dynamic artwork in response to the Stay Home collection, to be displayed or take place on the Museum site.
As part of the response we want to encourage conversation and debate around new, healthier, compassionate ways of living post-pandemic and to reimagine what home means.
Fee: £6000 to develop your practice and produce an artwork
Deadline: Submit expression of interest by Monday 8th February
Waterperry Opera Festival - Call out for Lighting, Projection & Digital artists
Waterperry Opera Festival is seeking to commission an outstanding artist to create a unique visual experience in response to Oliver Messiaen’s Quartet for the End of Time. The successful proposal will be produced in collaboration with the Festival Music Director, and will be presented as a live visual accompaniment to the piece during the 2021 summer festival. Performances will take place after dark in the Waterperry Gardens amphitheatre.
Fee: £840 artist flat fee and £1000 production budget
Deadline: Friday 12th February
Sculpture in the City - Cheesegrater commission
Sculpture in the City announces an open call for a 2D artwork to be featured as part of a temporary site-specific installation within the public realm of the iconic Cheesegrater building in the City of London. The successful artwork will form part of the landmark 10th Anniversary edition of Sculpture in the City, due to launch in the summer of 2021.
Fee: Honorarium of £750
Deadline: Friday 19th February
The Brewhouse Art Centre 30th anniversary artist commission
The Brewhouse Arts Centre is celebrating its 30th Anniversary this year. To celebrate we are seeking to commission an artist to create a new installation for our venue. The work must be community focused and tell the story of the Brewhouse Arts Centre. The new work will be presented at the venue, and/or online during our 30th Anniversary celebrations.
Outputs: Installation of the artwork in the Brewhouse Cafe Bar area, online engagement with Brewhouse audiences through sharing of creative process/research etc.
Fee: Up to £2500 to include all costs associated with the commission
Deadline: Sunday 28th February
~ Plan ~
February’s Key Astrological Transits
Saturday January 30th - Mercury turns retrograde in Aquarius at 26 degrees
Retrograde planets appear to be spinning in reserve which compel us to reconsider the way we tap into the planets energies. Mercury is the messenger planet which rules communication, information, technology and travel. During Mercury’s three week retrograde period you can expect delays and misunderstandings in communications and contract negotiations, technical issues with apps and other devices, people from your past reaching out to you, and if you are able to travel at the moment cancellations and delays. As a whole Mercury’s retrograde is a period that invites us to rethink, revisit and re-evaluate.
To avoid costly mistakes you should get into the habit of triple checking all documents and data. If something is not clear question it and get clarification in writing, assumptions and verbal agreements will not work in your favour during this transit. This is specifically key in regard to project budgets and collaborator fees.
While Mercury is retrograding, it’s best not to enter into any new contracts or agreements as the details regarding the extent of your responsibilities have not all come to light. The one exception to this is if you are signing an agreement with someone you have worked with before as Mercury retrograde invites us to reconnect with and revisit previous projects and relationships. Additionally, if you are planning a large scale launch of a new product or project it would be preferable to delay executing this until Mercury has returned to full strength on Saturday 13th March. With the planet’s full strength behind you the launch will have a better reception. I meditated on whether to delay the first issue of TRINE until after this transit but felt that prepping you on how best to navigate the next few weeks took precedent over a large scale launch.
Mercury also rules technology so any purchases of expensive electrical equipment should also be delayed, if they are required urgently make sure you opt in for an additional warranty. As a rule, I would strongly recommend backing up all important documents on an external drive or via the cloud as well as password protecting anything highly confidential.
Although Mercury retrograde officially ends on Sunday 20th February, much like when you wake up with a killer hangover, it takes a while for the planet to feel like its usual self again. This shadow period of any retrograde (two weeks pre-retrograde and two weeks post) is when the planet is at its most mischievous so don’t rush to launch, sign or purchase anything significant during this time. To make the best of Mercury’s retrograde period I would encourage you to revisit old projects, inspirational places (if COVID restrictions allow) and reach out to past collaborators. The work you do in these areas will reap rewards in the months to follow.
Monday 1st February - Sun squares Mars in Aquarius and Taurus at 13 degrees
This aspect requires you to protect yourself and your business against competitors. If you are working on an innovative product or design it would be advisable to research trademarking and/or intellectual property rights. You may experience some negative feedback or responses regarding your work, make sure you do not get drawn into a confrontation - especially in a public forum.
Friday 5th February - Venus conjunct Saturn in Aquarius at 6 degrees
This is a difficult and frustrating vibration. Saturn is the planet of life lessons and when it is present in Aquarius it generally brings wealth however this conjunction is putting pressure on all of our significant relationships. This makes it a poor time to make any investments, financial decisions or deals. This vibration continues into the next day causing our dealings with money become less stable. If you are under pressure to sign anything money related it would be best to wait a few days until the 11th.
Sunday 8th February - Sun conjunct with Mercury retrograde in Aquarius at 29 degrees
This is a great day to give a presentation, schedule an interview or begin working on a project proposal. The Sun’s alignment with Mercury in the sign of Aquarius brings out the planet’s positive influences even during its retrograde. Your mind will feel sharp and quick allowing your communication skills to shine. As Aquarius is a sign that encourages us to disrupt the status quo don’t be afraid to start working on that unconventional idea.
Thursday 11th February - Chinese New Year’s Eve
The conjunction of both Venus and Jupiter, the planet of abundance in Aquarius at 13 degrees make this an amazing day for any actions related to money.
Saturday 13th February - Mars sextile Neptune in Taurus and Pisces at 20 degrees
Mars, the planet of passion and action forms a beautiful angle with Neptune the planet of creativity and fantasy. This is the perfect day to start a passion project.
Friday 19th February - Venus square Mars in Aquarius and Taurus at 23 degrees
Channel the high level energy created by this aspect into creative projects as you will make fantastic progress.
Saturday 20th February - Mercury turns direct in Aquarius at 11 degrees
Although Mercury has now turned direct the planet will regain full strength until Sunday 13th March. Protect yourself and your business accordingly.
Wednesday 24th February - Mars trine Pluto in Taurus and Capricorn at 26 degrees
This is a powerful day that will allow you to reach your goals and win. Be confident in your powers of persuasion and your motivation to overcome any obstacles that stand in your way to success. You did not come this far to admit defeat.
Thursday 25th February - Sun sextile Uranus in Pisces and Taurus at 7 degrees
Your creativity and imagination will sparkle placing your talents in demand. This is a great day to remind your peers (and the world at large!) about what makes you and your practice unique.
Saturday 27th February - Full moon in Virgo at 9 degrees
The effects of a full moon can be felt up to four days after the event. This beautiful earthy full moon in Virgo will be in trine with Uranus, a planet that’s known as the awakener bringing happy surprises. However, Uranus’s square with Mercury in Aquarius means things may only work out in the 11th hour. Due to the mixed nature of this aspect it will be up to you to find and ask for the help you need - look to your network for support.
~ Rest ~
February’s guided meditation (found at the top of the page) invites you to recharge and heal.
Background music: Mrm Team - Delta Waves: Sounds of the Universe
Until Issue 002!
