Récits du futur, a residency in research, writing and creation

The need for new narratives

In the face of numerous environmental crises (climate change, loss of biodiversity, pollution, …) we need to transform the way our societies function. To achieve this, we need new narratives capable of enriching our perceptions, opening up our imaginations, renewing our representations of reality and the future, and mobilising us. At present, these unifying narratives are struggling to emerge, even though they are an essential lever for moving towards an ecological transition. In order to contribute to this vast project, far° Nyon has designed Récits du futur, a research, writing and creative residency that will be put out to tender for the first time in 2023.

The power of the performing arts

New narratives can emerge from many disciplines (literature, film, comics, podcasts, etc.). However, the performing arts offrent a particularly interesting breeding ground in that they create a community at each performance. Although ephemeral, this assembly gives a sense of the potential strength of the collective, of the city. The Récits du futur residency does not aim to produce an unambiguous text or provide simplistic solutions. If the performing arts play an important role in society, it is also because they know how to touch us both intellectually and emotionally. By deploying plural significations and dealing with the ambivalence of the world, they can influence our relationship with reality and with living beings (human and non-human).

A successful first edition with Marion Thomas

For the first edition of Récits du futur in 2023, the Récits du futur jury unanimously selected Marion Thomas, an actress, author and director trained at La Manufacture Lausanne, from a shortlist of candidates from various regions of French-speaking Switzerland. Her project, Faire troupeau, examines empathy as a force for political protest. She drew her inspiration from sheep, renowned for their stupidity yet capable of immense solidarity.

With the help of far° and the support of the Centre de compétences en durabilité at the University of Lausanne, she met with specialists at the University of Lausanne (in biology, ethology and political science) and with a shepherdess in the Nyon region whose flock numbers 250 ewes. Faire troupeau (working stage) was presented to a full house on 13 August 2023 as part of the far° festival des arts vivants. The performance was followed by a discussion with Marion Thomas, Colin Pahlisch (researcher at CCD-UNIL) and a member of the far° team.

The general context

Following this highly successful first experience, far° has launched the second Récits du futur en 2024. This year, the programme has the support of a new partner : ShanjuLab, in Gimel, in the Parc naturel régional du Jura vaudois. While a few adjustments have been made to the scheme, the general framework remains similar to that of 2023.

As part of Récits du futur #2, far° Nyon offre :

• 1 grant, equivalent to 5 weeks of full-time work for 1 young artist ;
• 1 bright, quiet workspace for 5 weeks: the Salle des Marchandises, 137 m2, will be made available – depending on the theme of the project, it will be possible to spend one of these weeks at Shanju ;
• → Research support: putting the artist in touch with specialists in the region at the University of Lausanne (in particular at the Centre de compétences en durabilité), Agroscope Changins, EPFL and ShanjuLab Gimel, as well as with experts in the field (agriculture, ornithology, wild herb gathering, etc.);
• → 1 public presentation of the text as part of the far° festival des arts vivants in August (free format: reading, staging, etc.) ;
• → cover the costs of this presentation (1 week’s rehearsal for a team of 3 people) ;
• 1 video recording of the presentation and professional quality photos ;
• regional, national and international visibility for the project thanks to far°’s communication throughout the year and, more specifically, during the festival.

Conditions of participation

To submit an application, artists must :

• develop a project that is rooted, in one way or another, in the Nyon region and that places a minority experience (gender, class, racialisation, etc.) at its heart ;
• → write in French ;
• have no more than 5 years’ experience in playwriting (fin-degree or first production) ;
  where possible, be/become a member of the SSA (Swiss Society of Authors).

In 2024, the jury was made up of :

• → the annual far° Nyon team ;
• 1 CCD representative, University of Lausanne ;
• 1 representative from ShanjuLab, Gimel.

The call for projects is closed for 2024.