Archives of Change

We are seeking two artists, cultural workers and community organisers from the UK to join us on a new cross-cultural collaboration between Indonesia and Luton in summer 2026.

Archives of Change – a new cross-cultural collaboration between Third Version Creative (UK), Musyawarah Arsip (MUAR) (Indonesia), and Revoluton Arts (Luton, UK) – invites artists from the UK and Indonesia to take part in a creative exchange.

The project – Archives of Change

The project explores inclusive, creative and community-led ways of documenting culture. Artists will reimagine the role that archives play in societies shaped by migration, memory and change, taking part in an experiment with new forms of cultural memory-making.

Archives of Change explores alternative, artist-led ways of preserving cultural memory from craft, music and oral storytelling to sound mapping and community cartography. These creative exchanges between the UK and Indonesia invite us to rethink how we share, document and honour our collective histories.

The project is supported by the British Council through their Connections Through Culture programme, which enables new international collaborations tackling shared global challenges through art and culture.

What to expect

The collaboration will comprise a two-week residency trip to Makassar, Indonesia, in early May 2026 and a further two weeks of creative and cultural exchange in Luton later in the summer (dates TBC).

During this residency, the group will connect with and work alongside local artists, communities and cultural organisations to explore themes of archive, memory, identity and change through creative exchange and mutual learning.

Indicative timeline

16 February 2026 – Deadline for applications

24 February 2026 – In-person interviews

March 2026 – Announcement of successful applicants

01 May – 15 May 2026 (exact dates TBC) – UK artists’ 2-week residency in Indonesia

Summer 2026 (dates TBC) – Indonesian artists’ 2-week residency in the UK

What support will be offered

• All international, domestic travel and transfers will be provided

• Visa/travel support as required

• Accommodation in Makassar

• Daily subsistence and/or meals

• A £250 bursary per artist to support participation

• 20 hours of mentoring support per artists

Person specification

We are interested in hearing from applicants who:

• Are practicing UK-based artists, cultural workers and community organisers who have a connection to Luton.

• Have a socially engaged practice and have experience or appetite for co-creative production with communities.

• Have a practice and/or an interest in histories of migration, decolonial methods of working, community-led practice and ethical storytelling across borders.

• Have experience of or an interest in documenting or archiving culture that connects with the themes of the project.

• Have a sense of curiosity, enjoy connecting and learning from other artists and communities.

• Are available to travel to Indonesia across the first two weeks of May 2026 (exact date TBC).

• Can commit to participating in workshops in Luton later in summer 2026.

• Hold a valid UK or EU passport and are willing to undergo a DBS check.

How to apply

To apply, please submit the following by Monday, 16 February, 12pm to hello@revolutonarts.com:

• A CV and/or online portfolio, including two contacts for references

• A supporting statement explaining your interest and suitability for the collaboration (max 1 side of A4)

The statement must detail your suitability, experience of working with themes of migration, decolonisation and storytelling, and any experience you have of community-led practice. It should also outline what you hope to gain from the experience and how it might benefit you at this stage in your career or practice.

Revoluton Arts will accept the following formats for the proposal:

• Written statement that is no more than 1 side of A4

• Video submission that is no longer than 5 minutes

• Audio submission as an MP3 or WAV file, that is no longer than 5 minutes

Please contact us if your access requirements mean that you need longer than 5 minutes. Please clearly label your files with your name. Please send your submission to: hello@revolutonarts.com

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact our Senior Producer, Maya, at hello@revolutonarts.com.