Open Call

For 2026 El Manglar: Laboratorio de memoria pública, is calling on artists, researchers, educators, and/or arts, culture, and community collectives to submit applications for the 2026 Research/Artistic Fellowship focused on our inaugural theme: Monuments. 

Monuments have always been at the heart of our work. Memoria (De)colonial began as a cartography of colonial monuments in Puerto Rico, and sought to interrogate and interrupt the coloniality of the commemorative landscape. If “monuments are statements of power and presence in public” (Monument Lab, 2023), then what are they saying, how can we talk back at them, and how can we interrupt and (re)imagine what constitutes a monument in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean archipelago? 

Criteria

We are looking for public memory projects (see El Manglar) which, as defined beforehand, should involve an initial research phase and then culminate in a public facing initiative. 

For this call, we are particularly interested in projects that seek to intervene in public sites understanding “monuments” and commemorative spaces–identified and yet to be identified–as part of “lo común” (the commons).

All projects should comply with the following criteria: 

  1. Decolonial by design: Projects must contest dominant narratives, seek to dismantle colonial hierarchies, and propose alternative ways of remembering.

  2. Research based in method: Projects must engage with archives, which can include historical, ecological, corporal, and/or oral repositories.

  3. Public and communal in practice: They must be free of cost for local communities, publicly exhibited, and committed to fostering critical and participatory engagement. They don’t shy away from collective memory and other forms of knowing.

  4. Dialogical output: Public facing project outputs should be collaborative and grounded in mutual learning. They must be interactive, pedagogical and provoke critical engagement and reflection.

  5. Reparative in intention: Projects should move toward restorative memory. 

We encourage projects that seriously consider accessibility for all its participants, as well as collaborative and/or participatory approaches when it comes to a specific area/community. 

Eligibility 

While we envision expanding our open calls in the future to the rest of the Caribbean, our inaugural call is focused specifically on the Puerto Rican archipelago. We are interested in convening emerging or established researchers, artists, historians, writers, and other arts and humanities practitioners interested in creating a public memory project in Puerto Rico. Residents of Puerto Rico (specially those outside the metropolitan area) will be prioritized.

Terms

Each selected applicant will receive $5,000 and are expected to: 

  1. Start and complete their project within 2026.

  2. Be part of a collaborative cohort during 6 months with other selected participants and Memoria (De)colonial’s team.

  3. Convene once in person at the beginning of the fellowship and then once a month (6 months) optionally for lectures, check ins, feedback, etc. 

  4. Must present at least one public facing initiative. 

  5. Use funds responsibly. The stipend only covers costs related to the project, including what the fellows choose to pay themselves.

  6. Give a brief report upon completion of the program. 

Meanwhile, Memoria (De)colonial will:

  1. Disburse $4,000 at the initial phase and $1,000 at the end of the fellowship.

  2. Convene once at the beginning of the fellowship and then once a month for lectures, optional check ins, etc. 

  3. Provide support in research, mentorship, and administrative matters (where required). 

  4. Provide support with the project timeline. 

  5. Provide support in outreach and dissemination of project (where required). 

Fellows retain exclusive rights to their projects. Memoria (De)colonial reserves the right to document and promote the grantee’s project(s). 

Timeline

16 January 2026: applications submission deadline

February 2026: selected applicants notified

March 2026: Inaugural in-person meeting

March-August 2026: planning and implementation of the project

December 2026: Closing report

Submission Guidelines 

Applicants must complete the form available through the “Apply here” link in the webpage. The application materials required (in written or video form for #3) are:

  1. A CV or resumé (max 3 pp) 

  2. An artist portfolio or work sample (max 15 pp)

  3. A brief description of the project (500 words aprox. or 1 min); should identify:

    • A possible monument(s) and/or site (broadly speaking)

    • A brief proposal of the research and public facing project and its significance

  4. A short budget (eg. salary, resources, etc). 

Please send us an email with any questions at: grants@memoriadecolonial.com 

We look forward to receiving your creative proposals! 


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