‘Earshot’, is a monthly series where contributor Selwa Abd points towards grant opportunities for musicians/artists, provides insight into the process of seeking opportunities and more.
Pick Up The Flow is an online resource and community, based in NYC, created and operated by musician and designer Selwa Abd aka Bergsonist. In a new monthly series called ‘Earshot’, we invite Selwa to point towards grant opportunities for musicians/artists, provide insight into the process of seeking opportunities, plus profiling members from the PUTF community with the intent of educating you on how to find financial/communal support for your sound and music projects.
For this month’s installment, Selwa speaks with Elliot Cash about his project/business/resource: Crystal Guardian which has been supporting the music community in NY by providing the most affordable source for professional-grade custom earplugs.
Crystal Guardian
Where can people find out about you?
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crystal__guardian/
Website: https://www.crystalguardian.xyz/
What other links or resources would you recommend us to check out?
Here are two useful free decibel meter apps, which you can use to estimate how loud your surroundings are:
NIOSH Sound Level Meter app: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/niosh-sound-level-meter/id1096545820
Crystal Guardian - Ear Plugs + Case
gs + Case
I highly encourage everyone to learn about the truly incredible way our ears work, not only to produce sound, but also to give us our sense of balance and spatial awareness:
Overview of the anatomy of the human ear: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3G5jiXl2LSM
Middle ear anatomy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=unDpXRE_PPA
Inner ear anatomy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XPHuiYInOsg
Vestibular system: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSHnGO9qGsE
Crystal Guardian Founder Elliot Cash
Largest US nonprofit for researching hearing:
Hearing Health Foundation: https://hearinghealthfoundation.org/
Crystal Guardian Ear Plugs In-Ear
Earshot ==== Grant Opportunities
BERLIN ARTISTIC RESEARCH GRANT PROGRAMME
Deadline: August 20th, 2021
Grant: 30,000 Euros
Location: Berlin, Germany
The Berlin Artistic Research Grant Programme awards thirteen grants to artists conducting research in the fields of fine art, film/video, literature, music, dance and theatre, as well as interdisciplinary projects. Must live and work in Berlin. Must have completed a degree in art in Germany or abroad.
OPEN CALL : THE GOETHE-INSTITUT
Deadline: August 30th, 2021
Grant: 800 Euros
Location: Worldwide
The Goethe-Institut and the Ensemble Recherche are inviting 10 emerging composers and sound artists from developing and transition countries to collaborate in a virtual community of artistic research and music creation.
This project aims to research (post-)colonialism and its consequences and to deal with this knowledge artistically, thus assuming an individual artistic stance. Further, the project aims to promote and support the 10 selected composers by giving them a voice and a platform for their artistic work. Ensemble Recherche wants to question its own patterns of valuation and gain a sensibility for promoting diversity and inclusion.
Over a one-year project period, the selected composers will work closely with members of Ensemble Recherche in a mutual exchange for a total of 10 days of virtual residencies. The process is curated by Bongani Ndodana-Breen. Must live and work in selected countries.
SONIC ACTS HOME-BASED RESIDENCY NOVEMBER 2021
OPEN CALL: OVEREXPOSED
Deadline:September 1st, 2021
Grant: 2000 Euros
Location: Remote
The OVEREXPOSED residency programme is intended for artists and researchers active in the fields of environmental, blue, animal and energy humanities, discard studies, disaster studies, waste colonialism, health care studies, postcolonial studies, geopolitics, media and experimental arts. Sonic Acts particularly welcomes applications from disabled, queer, non-binary and Black and Indigenous artists and researchers. There is no age limit for applicants and those younger than 35 years old are especially encouraged to apply. The programme is also open to collectives.
OVEREXPOSED is part of a four-year research programme from Sonic Acts on the materiality of pollution and systemic and political issues related to the contamination of our environment. It is an opportunity for artists and researchers to expand their practice and develop new ideas and methodologies while being financially supported in their work.
ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCY IN GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK, ARIZONA
Deadline: September 15th, 2021
Grant: $2K
Location: Arizona, US
The Grand Canyon National Park are seeking professional artists working at a high level in their discipline who can give new insights and focus to Grand Canyon and the surrounding communities as an on-site resident artist at Grand Canyon National Park.
Applicants from a wide variety of artistic disciplines are welcomed, including visual art (two and three-dimensional, photography, sculpture, painting, textiles, drawing, or collage), installation or land-based art, printmaking, audio (performance or composition), film (documentary, fictional, or art), writing (poetry, fiction, essays, storytelling, or playwriting), indigenous arts, ethnographic fine art, new media, performance art (choreography, dance, or theater arts professionals), social practice, and interdisciplinary arts. The residency lasts six to eight weeks based on the artist's preference. There are three different date options for 2022: January 31 - April 1, May 23 - July 22, and September 12 - November 11. Artists can apply for all three. The base stipend is $2,000 for six weeks, with a stipend of $250 for each additional week up to eight weeks total. Housing will be provided
https://www.grandcanyon.org/our-work/artist-in-residence/
BROOKLYN ART FUND 2022
Deadline: September 17th, 2021
Grant: $2-5K
Location: Brooklyn, NYC
This program is appropriate for arts and culture makers developing projects that contribute to the rich creative experiences that engage audiences all across the borough. Competitive applicants will clearly identify the audience they strive to reach, and articulate how the project’s outcome (s) will impact the cultural life of the borough. Brooklyn-based 501c3 organizations and individual artists with Brooklyn residency may apply directly to this program. Program areas of funding include: Dance, Film, Literary arts, Multi-disciplinary arts, Music, Theatre and Visual Arts.
Funding is made possible through the generous support of the Greater New York Arts Development Fund of the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA) in partnership with the New York City Council.
THE NYC WOMEN’S FUND FOR MEDIA, MUSIC AND THEATRE
Deadline: November 1st, 2021
Grant: $20K +
Location: NYC
As an initiative by NYFA & The City Of New York Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment (MOME), The NYC Women’s Fund For Media, Music & Theatre provides grants to encourage and support the creation of digital, film, music, television, and live or online theatre content that reflects the voices and perspectives of all who identify as women.
The Program will provide:
Finishing grants* for film, television, and digital projects
Funds for the creation of music recordings or videos
Production funds for live or online theatre
Grant:
Music: Classical/Experimental/Jazz/New Music – $20,000
Music General – $20,000
Resource:
FREE AT HOME COVID TEST
Location: NYC
NYC Covid Test are bringing covid testing to anyone, anywhere in NYC (Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, Bronx, Staten Island).
After booking a rapid or PCR Test they will send a trained tester to you.
Selwa Abd is a Moroccan-born, New York-based producer, DJ, curator, and activist. She runs Pick Up the Flow, an online resource and community, based in NYC.
