The Initiative’s inaugural partnership is with Ireland’s leading art college, the National College of Art & Design (NCAD). NCAD offers a diverse range of art and design degrees at undergraduate and post graduate level. The college currently has 1,300 full time students across its four schools: design, education, fine art, and visual culture.
The partnership between NCAD and Alternus Sustainable Arts Initiative is being coordinated by Bureau+, a research-driven design studio.
As part of the initiative, Bureau+ are running a Partnership Award Scheme for third year students focused on the UN Sustainable Development Goal 11: sustainable cities and communities. This goal has been chosen as it reflects the effects of climate change and their impact on our planet.
In addition, Alternus have been uniquely placed to allow for wider collaborations working with NCAD’s Moving Image Design programme and the Initiative’s background production partners, SL Graphics and Originate. These teams have supported the students on the periphery to draw out multi-faceted contributions that have allowed for a uniquely engaging experience for the Initiative’s first year.
The clean energy transition, currently underway across the globe, is eliminating fossil fuels and their associated emissions to reduce the effects of climate change. Solar photovoltaic (PV) technology, is at the heart of this energy transition.
Participating students have been provided with defunct solar panels to use as a canvas to bring their art to life. The top four entries receive a prize fund of €3,000, equivalent to one year’s scholarship, and the special mention category receiving a prize fund of €1,000.