2026 Scholarship Program

Embodying Community / Somatosocial Movements

Wyvern Art Fund Scholarship Program
April – July 2026

As much of the climate collapsing world continues its descent down a fascist trajectory, many people are starting to consider what is truly meaningful and important in the face of these existential crises. However, many times, well intended efforts towards reform or revolutionary change fall back into modeling the same oppressive tendencies that those efforts claim to be against. For example, there may be assumptions about the one ‘right’ way to do, or not do, things regardless of the context or circumstances. With such an abundance of art collectives active in Berlin, when conflict occurs it can be easier to move on than to fix the issues that arise. Often, we lack perspective, but other times, we lack implementable structures and practices that would aid us to have nurturing community experiences. This situation is made even more difficult by the capitalistic co-optation of “self-care” and “community” as marketing strategies and the cultural capital gained from publicly diagnosing problems without focusing on real world actions. While many collectives focus most of their energy navigating group structures and social dynamics, rarely is time spent focused on how to have a sustainable and generative balance between individual needs and those of the collective; much less, how those needs mirror and reflect each other.

What do we mean when we talk about community care? What can the role of self-reflection play in collective practices? How do we align the somatic, historical and social body with a multitude of bodies to create space for new ways of being? What do we need to learn about ourselves and each other? What ways of doing do we need to practice to alter power relations and allow difficulties to be seen and addressed? How can we listen with all senses of the body and mind to be more attuned to the broader natural world and all that it has to teach us? What can we learn from the rhizomatic structures of mycelium and the fractal patterns of ferns and cauliflower about how the small (individual) is reflected in the whole (community)? What can we learn from sharing meals, experiences and practices? Where do community practices, knowledges, histories and technologies overlap? How can we build more authentic relationships?

This call invites eight Berlin-based artists and thinkers to come together over a four-month collective research and knowledge sharing program aimed at attempting to answer these questions. Formally convening two-days a week over three weeks each month, the program will culminate in a public presentation during the third week in July. During this time we will get to know each other, form interest groups and develop research and production goals. While some parts of the program will be structured to help facilitate these processes, much of the program will be co-determined with the participants as a group and active engagement in these processes is required. Additionally, participants will be encouraged to engage in optional activities such as open co-working days and site visits. Artists and thinkers with interdisciplinary backgrounds, community-oriented hearts and strategic minds are welcome to apply.

PROGRAM DATES

Participants are expected to commit to attending program meetings and participate in a public launch event in July. The specific meeting dates include April 7-8, April 14-15, April 21-22, May 5-6, May 12-13, May 19-20, June 2-3, June 9-10, June 16-17, June 30 – July 1, July 7-8, July 14-15 and July 28-29. A public program (to be determined) will take place sometime during the dates of July 22-25.