A German university is offering "idleness grants" to applicants¹ who are seriously committed to doing sweet nothing.

 

德国一所大学正在向致力于无所事事的申请者提供“闲人奖学金”。

 

The University of Fine Arts in Hamburg advertised three €1,600 scholarship places on Wednesday to applicants from across Germany. The applicants can submit their anonymous² pitches until 15 September and will have to convince a jury that their chosen area of "active inactivity" is particularly impressive or relevant.

 

The application form consists of only four questions: What do you not want to do? For how long do you not want to do it? Why is it important not to do this thing in particular? Why are you the right person not to do it?

 

"Doing nothing isn't very easy," said Friedrich von Borries, an architect and design theorist who came up with the programme. "We want to focus on active inactivity. If you say you are not going to move for a week, then that's impressive. If you propose you are not going to move or think, that might be even better."

 

The idea behind the project arose from a discussion about the seeming contradiction of a society that promotes sustainability while simultaneously³ valuing success, Von Borries said. "This scholarship programme is not a joke but an experiment with serious intentions – how can you turn a society that is structured around achievements and accomplishments⁴ on its head?"

 

The university's bursary will only hand out the grant upon delivery of an "experience report" in the middle of January 2021, though Von Borries said the grant was not contingent⁵ on impact, and those who failed to live up to their promise of indolence would not be punished.

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