Plaine Commune and MSH Paris Nord Launch Joint Call for Proposals on Building the City with Art and Culture

A call for proposals has been launched by Plaine Commune and MSH Paris Nord to enable researchers from all backgrounds to study the concept of city building through art and culture.

Plaine Commune is an Établissement public territorial (EPT – Territorial public establishment) bringing together nine urban centres to the north of Paris. The mission of Plaine Commune is to provide a framework for each urban centre to work together on a solidarity project for the benefit of the people and the territory. Plaine Commune is entrusted with managing certain centres of activity such as urban planning, economic development and some public services (eg public spaces, employment services).

In collaboration with the Maison des Sciences de l’Homme (MSH) Paris Nord, Plaine Commune is providing funding for a call for proposals focused on the concept of the construction of the city through art and culture. The call is also interested in how territorial issues may redefine cultural projects the contemporary city.

Through this call, researchers are invited to consider how deep social change, the ecological transition and digital technology are relevant to the fabrication of urban territories through art and culture. Another potential area of interest is the examination of how cultural projects affect the image of a city and how this image change may affect the cultural and social make-up of the city. Proposals are also encouraged to examine how data and metrics are used to attempt to quantify the attractiveness of artistic productions, institutions and territories. Such use of data is used to influence cultural expenditure of local authorities. Researchers are encouraged to produce an analysis of this dynamic at play.

Proposals must be interdisciplinary, involving numerous institutions, research teams or associations. Researchers in France from all backgrounds will be considered. For this call, research areas, terrains and the subject matter are open, so a proposal on any subject relevant to the central theme will be considered.

Plaine Commune will enable access to existing material on its cultural policies and actions, such as written reports, artist contacts, etc. MSH Paris Nord will make its exhibition spaces available and will offer a link with its research networks (the MSH network, its European project on cultural and digital heritage).

Projects will receive funding up to €3,000, to be used in the calendar year following the deadline. Eligible costs include:

  • Mission costs (accommodation, transport etc).
  • Service provision (technical, artistic, translation, catering).
  • Small equipment (less than €1,000 excluding tax). All equipment purchased will be the property of MSH Paris Nord.
  • Support for the publication of a piece of work resulting from the debates/findings presented during a conference funded by MSH Paris Nord.
  • Support for the translation of a scientific article resulting from research funded by MSH Paris Nord.
  • Purchase of works (up to €150 excluding tax).

Application forms must be submitted by 15 September 2023.

(This report was the subject of a ResearchConnect Newsflash.)