Open calls

Open Call — Residency Villa Kamogawa | Kyoto (Japan) — Dutch Embassy in Japan / Goethe Institut / Van GoghHuis

This open call text is from the Van GoghHuis:

“Since 2019, the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Japan has been working with the Goethe-Institut Villa Kamogawa in Kyoto to strengthen cultural exchange between this region of Japan and the EU. As part of this collaboration, the embassy and Villa Kamogawa have asked the Vincent van GoghHuis to organise an Open Call for an artist to come and work at Villa Kamogawa in Kyoto for three months between 7 May and 4 August 2026.

Villa Kamogawa has been offering artist-in-residence programmes for German artists since 2011. From 2023, it will also be open to non-German participants and is collaborating with the Dutch Embassy for this purpose. The residence is located in the centre of the historic city of Kyoto on the Kamo River, the place along which the city developed and near the imperial palace. This inspiring location offers opportunities to establish contacts with the Japanese cultural scene and to create new artistic projects. Artists respond to the history of the place, customs and crafts with a contemporary vision, interacting with the local community.

This residency is offered as part of the International Cultural Policy, in which Japan is a focus country. The Dutch embassy implements this policy in Japan with a focus on creating opportunities in Japan for artists from the Netherlands through artist-in-residencies. This residency at Villa Kamogawa and the Open Call are organised by the Van GoghHuis in Zundert. From all applications, the Van Gogh AiR curators will compile a shortlist, from which the artistic director of Villa Kamogawa will select the artist who will travel to Japan from 7 May to 4 August 2026.

The residency includes:

💰 a stipend of €2,500 (including travel and material costs);
🏯 accommodation at Villa Kamogawa
🤝 guidance from the Goethe-Institut in Kyoto.

🧑‍💻 Artists can apply by sending a short motivation letter (maximum one A4 page) and portfolio to 👉 vincent@vangoghhuis.com

⏰ Application deadline: 22 March 2026
🗓️ Selection of the artist: 30 March 2026
🗓️ Work period: 7 May to 4 August 2026

ℹ️ Info 👉 Villa Kamogawa – Goethe-Institut Japan

❓Questions: Eva Geene, curator Van Gogh AiR 👉 egeene@vangoghhuis.com”

Open Call — In Broad Strokes: Absurdism —– USVA (Groningen)

This open call text is from USVA:

“Do you make absurdist art? Or do you know someone who does? We are looking for absurd creations and performances to be displayed at our event, In Broad Strokes: Absurdism. Artists of any discipline are welcome to apply. From literary to theatrical, from culinary to architectural.

⏰ Interested or have a question? Send an e-mail to Usva.pm@rug.nl before March 20th!

🗓️ The event itself is April 1st, 8:30 p.m.”

Open Call — Dijk van een Wijf ('A Woman's Dyke') — Sedyk near Oosterbierum

This open call text is from Sense of Place:

“On 16 May, Sense of Place will officially open the artwork Dijk van een Wijf (‘A Woman’s Dyke’) by Nienke Brokke on the Sedyk near Oosterbierum.

The opening will not be a traditional ribbon-cutting ceremony or stage event, but a joint walk to the artwork. During this walk, visitors will listen to a contribution made especially for this location by an artist via headphones.
We are looking for an artist from the northern Netherlands for this project.

The assignment

Create an audio work of approximately 10–15 minutes that accompanies people during the walk to Dijk van een Wijf.
This could be, for example: spoken word, poetry, music, a sound composition, a personal story or a combination of these.

We are looking for work that relates to this place in its own way: the landscape, the dyke, biodiversity, care, strength, history and future. It may enhance the experience of walking, leave room for silence and make the landscape audible in a new way.
Practical information

The contribution will be delivered as an audio file and played through headphones during the opening.

💰 A creator’s fee is available for the selected creator. If necessary, we can provide support with recording or technology.

How to apply

⏰ Would you like to participate? Send a proposal to 👉 wendy@sense-of-place.eu before 27 March.

We ask you to provide:

• a brief outline of your idea (max. 1 A4 page)
• a short CV
• a portfolio or examples of previous work

We will make a selection and final choice based on this information.

We offer you a unique platform, an audience from all over the Netherlands, a presentation during the official opening of the artwork, and visibility within the Sense of Place network and around Dijk van een Wijf. The opening will also be documented.

🧑‍💻 If you have any questions, please contact Leonie Castelein via 👉 leonie@sense-of-place.eu.”

ℹ️ More information about Dijk van een Wijf can be found at 👉 Dijk van een Wijf Experience- Sense of Place

Open Call — Pilot 26 — het resort (Groningen)

Pilot is a practical learning programme for postgraduate and self-taught artists who want to develop their professional practice. In workshops, meetings and excursions, you will work on strengthening your artistic position, formulating your ideas and navigating the art field – on your own terms.

The programme revolves around peer-to-peer learning, collectivity and sharing experiences. You will meet artists and art institutions, work on project proposals, artist statements and your online presence, among other things, and reflect on your practice together.

The programme takes place biweekly between May and July and concludes with a site-specific project week. During this week, you will develop an intervention in the (semi-)public space together with other participants, under the guidance of an artist. The week ends with a public presentation.

🧑‍💻 Online Q&A
On Monday 9 March, from 4 to 5 p.m., we will be organising an online consultation hour during which you can ask questions. A previous participant will share their experience. The working language is English. You can register via the registration form.

🗓️📍 Dates and locations:

• 6–7 May (Groningen)
• 22–23 May (Amsterdam)
• 2–3 June (Groningen)
• 19–21 June (Antwerp + Brussels)
• 30 June – 1 July (Groningen)
• 6–10 July (Groningen, project week)

🕛 Participants are expected to attend the entire programme.
💰 Travel expenses and accommodation will be reimbursed if necessary.

What we offer

• Free learning programme with workshops, sessions and meetings with artists and institutions.
• Reimbursement of travel expenses and accommodation when necessary.
• Guided project week in public space.
• Fee of €500 for participation in the project week.

What we ask

• Availability for the entire programme
• Residence in the United Kingdom and willingness to travel
• Active participation and openness to feedback
• Respectful work in public spaces during the project week

Selection
After a pre-selection, ten artists will be invited for a short video interview. Ultimately, we will select six participants (two from Groningen and four from the rest of The Netherlands).

🗓️ Important dates

• 22 March — application deadline
• 8 April — pre-selection
• 13 April — interviews
• 14 April — final selection

Criteria

• Graduated from a Dutch art academy in 2023, 2024 or 2025, or self-taught since 2022
• Registered with the Chamber of Commerce and able to invoice
• Resident in the Netherlands
• Motivated to further develop your professional art practice

Apply
⏰ Applications can be submitted until 22 March, 11:59 p.m., or earlier if the maximum of 100 applications is reached.

ℹ️ For all information, go to 👉 het resort ― pilot programme-26

Open Call — Buitenkans — Noorderzon

This open call text is from Noorderzon Festival of Performing Arts & Society:

“AN INVITATION TO CREATE NEW WORK IN THE PUBLIC SPACE AND A PLAYGROUND FOR EMERGING MAKERS TO TEST TRY AND SURPRISE AT NOORDERZON 2026

Buitenkans is a development trajectory for artists who want to experiment, test new ideas, sharpen their artistic language and engage with a broad, curious and unfiltered audience. 

Noorderzon invites you to create new work in the public space and to explore what performance can be in the open, unpredictable environment of the city during Noorderzon Festival 2026.

WE ARE LOOKING FOR

Makers based in Groningen, Drenthe and Friesland that

• Are in the early stages of your artistic path — or mid-career and feeling the urge to shift, stretch or reinvent your practice
• Feel artistic urgency. You’re curious about what happens when your work meets a spontaneous, unfiltered audience
• Are willing to experiment, take risks, and be guided within the unpredictable dynamics of public space

We welcome artists from all disciplines — as long as the work has a performative heart

WE ARE NOT LOOKING FOR PERFECT PLANS.
WE ARE LOOKING FOR COURAGE. CURIOSITY. PLAY. SURPRISE. FRICTION.

WE OFFER YOU

• Guidance & support: coaching from local and international experts
• Budget & stage: A project fee and production budget with multiple presentation moments during Noorderzon Festival 2026
• Visibility & audience: Promotion through Noorderzon’s channels and direct contact with a diverse festival audience of 140,000+ visitors

TO APPLY – SEND US THE FOLLOWING TO BUITENKANS@NOORDERZON.NL

• A motivation (max. 1 page): why you want to work in the public space, and why now
• A short description of your idea or research focus (max. 2 pages)
• A brief CV or overview of your artistic practice
• Optional: links or material documenting earlier work

OPEN CALL CLOSES 15 MARCH

TIMELINE

• February–April 2026: Open call, selection and orientation conversations

• 15 March: Closing open call

• 1 till 15 April: interviews

• April–July 2026: Development and production”

🧑‍💻 You can find this open call on the Noorderzon website here 👉 Open Call – Buitenkans

Open Call — exhibition ‘Sacred Earth’ — Synagoge Groningen

Synagogue Groningen invites artists from all disciplines and backgrounds to participate in the exhibition Sacred Earth.

The theme revolves around the question of how we, as humans, cultures or philosophies, view nature. Images of nature from religious, spiritual and secular traditions determine how we perceive, appreciate, use, protect or control nature. Nature can be creation, the bearer of something greater, a teacher, a community of living beings or a functional space. Sacred Earth can manifest itself in mythical landscapes, but also in back gardens, balcony plants or the grass of the Noorderplantsoen.

Artists are invited to explore and depict these perspectives. The exhibition aims to encourage visitors to reflect on their view of nature and its connection to ecological issues and the future of the earth.

✅ These are the conditions:

• All disciplines are welcome: from visual arts to performance;
• Synagoge Groningen welcomes artists from all cultural and religious backgrounds;
• The work must fit within the context of a synagogue and invite dialogue and reflection.
• The work may be a maximum of 125 cm wide x 100 cm long (and possibly 100 cm deep); multiple small works are also possible;
• This is an unpaid exhibition, but you may use it as a sales exhibition (as long as it remains on display until the end of the exhibition period).

🗓️ Exhibition dates: mid-June 2026 (specific date to be announced later) to Sunday 11 October 2026.

📧 Send your proposal (max. 1 A4 + portfolio/photos/link) to curator Lola van der Made 👉  conservator@synagogegroningen.nl

⏰ Deadline for submissions: 1 April 2026

ℹ️ For all information, go to 👉 Open call: Heilige Aarde / Sacred Earth

Open Call — MA Performance Practices — Home of Performance Practices / ArtEZ (Arnhem)

This open call text is from HOME OF PERFORMANCE PRACTICES:

“The Open Call for the MA Performance Practices is now LIVE. We invite aspiring artist-researchers into a community at the forefront of rigorous artistic and intellectual enquiry.

At the HOME OF PERFORMANCE PRACTICES, we move beyond traditional boundaries and disciplines. Whether your background is in dance, theatre, performance art, film-making or even a completely different field, we provide the environment to evolve your work into a powerful strategy for change.

How to join the programme:

🌐 Visit the link 👉 OPEN CALL FOR AUDITION | MA PERFORMANCE PRACTICES;
🧑‍💻 ⁠Prepare your CV, Motivation Letter, and Portfolio;
⏰ ⁠Submit through our portal by March 27th.”

Offered — workspace at De Loskade — Suikerunieterrein (Groningen)

Are you an artist, maker, or creative entrepreneur looking for a place to work, meet, and experiment?

At De Loskade, you’ll find a unique workspace in the heart of an experimental pop-up neighborhood on the Suikerunie site. De Loskade is a temporary neighbourhood experimenting with the future of living and working, featuring circular and fully recyclable homes and studios where new materials, energy concepts, and ways of living and working together are being tested.

In several of these circularly designed homes, we offer permanent workspaces for artists and creatives. A quiet, bright space, part of a small community that enjoys brainstorming and collaborating.

💼 Fixed workspace from €250 per month

Includes everything you need to create, build, and grow:

• ✔ Super-fast Wi-Fi
• ✔ Sit/stand desk & ergonomic chair
• ✔ Shared lunch and meeting room
• ✔ Access to networking & community events
• ✔ Inspiring neighbors: from artists and designers to innovative startups

🎁 New to the scene? We’re happy to help. Ask us about discount options for newcomers.

Practical information

• 📍 Suikerlaan 3 – Suikerterrein Groningen
• 🚲 Only 2 km from the city center
• 🚗 Easily accessible via the ring road
• 📧 deloskade@fijnwonen.nl
• 📱 06 5765 4297
• 🌐 www.deloskade.nl

Open Call — artspace bremerhaven art festival — Bremerhaven (Germany)

The interdisciplinary art festival artspace bremerhaven once again opens its doors to art and culture from a wide range of disciplines in the trendy Alten Bürger neighborhood. During the festival, streets, workshops, galleries, stairwells, studios, apartments, commercial spaces, and vacant buildings are transformed into exhibition venues and action spaces.

artspace bremerhaven brings together regional, national, and international artists who use unusual locations to present contemporary art, new ideas, and experimental forms. The aim is to create new art spaces and redefine public space from an artistic perspective.

The festival, now in its eighth year, invites visitors on a journey of discovery through interdisciplinary art moments. It presents a diverse spectrum of artistic perspectives that emphasize crossing boundaries, breaking conventions, and innovative approaches.

🗓️ The festival will take place on August 22nd and 23rd, 2026.

🧑‍🎨 Individual artists and collectives are eligible to apply.

💰 In addition to a fee, all selected artists and collectives will receive compensation for materials, as well as accommodation and travel expenses. The festival welcomes international applications. Please note that the maximum travel allowance is €1,000.

⏰ The application deadline is March 15th, 2026.

ℹ️ For all application criteria and the application form, please visit 👉 artspace-bremerhaven.de/mitmachen-take-part/

Open Call — Self-taught Designer —– Creative Industries Fund NL

Are you a designer or creator with an emerging practice in design, architecture and/or digital culture, and have you not completed an art degree at higher professional education or university level? With the Open Call for Self-taught Designers, the Creative Industries Fund NL offers self-taught and vocational education-trained creators the opportunity to deepen and professionalise their artistic practice.

🧑‍💻 Through this call, you can apply for a live pitch day, where you will present how you want to develop your practice in terms of content and professionalism in the coming year.

💰 An independent committee will ultimately select ten makers who will be allowed to develop a development plan and will be eligible for a development grant of €25,000.

The call is aimed at starting designers and makers (active for a maximum of four years) with an individual or collective practice in design, architecture, digital culture or crossovers between these fields. This includes fashion design, animation, graphic novels, game design, street art, art direction, styling or urban practices. Creators who use design and imagery to reflect on themes such as climate, heritage, technology or underrepresented stories are also invited to respond.

💰 The development grant can be used for:

• artistic development (e.g. through mentorship);
• coaching;
• attending workshops;
• research;
• experimentation;
• creating and presenting new work.

🗓️ The development year runs from 1 September 2026 to 1 November 2027 and ties in with the content of the Stimuleringsfonds’ Talent Development programme.

Selection procedure

A maximum of two creators per province will be invited to the pitch day; the date of submission will be decisive: the first two complete and valid applications per province will receive an invitation to a live pitch day. A total of 24 pitches will take place.

The committee will assess:

• artistic and reflective ability;
• the proposed direction of development;
• the way in which creators share their work and forge new connections.

Important dates

• 🧑‍💻 Submission: 10 February 2026 (3:00 p.m.) – 25 February 2026 (4:00 p.m.) (opens again in 2027)
  🌐 Via 👉  stimuleringsfonds.nl/en/grants/open-call-self-taught-designer

• 🗓️ Pitch days: 13 and 15 April 2026
• ⏰ Development plan deadline: 24 June 2026

❓ Not sure if you are eligible? Please contact us at:
📧 zelflerendontwerper@stimuleringsfonds.nl
☎️ 010-43 61 600

ℹ️ For all information about this open call, go to:
👉 stimuleringsfonds.nl/en/grants/open-call-self-taught-designer

ℹ️ All conditions can be found here:
👉 SCI_Open-Call-Self-taught-Designer-2025-2026.pdf

Open call — Seed Contribution — Stokroos Foundation

💰 This fall, the Stokroos Foundation has 15 grants of €5,000 available for emerging designers, designers, and craftspeople. Are you a (landscape) architect, graphic designer, illustrator, fashion, jewelry, or textile designer, product designer, animator, printer, mold maker, ceramicist, or goldsmith? Then apply!

What’s important?

✅ You must have been working in the field for at least 3 and no more than 8 years;

✅ An application must include a portfolio, CV, a concise plan, and a budget;

✅ A proposal must address an in-depth development plan (research, experiment, or production, for example, of a prototype). It cannot include plans related to an exhibition, publication, or residency;

✅ The assessment will take into account the focus and ingenuity of your portfolio, the urgency of your plan, and the geographical distribution of the awards as a whole.

⏰ There’s no deadline, but don’t wait too long. The application form will close as soon as it looks like the budget will be fully used. This will prevent disappointment and prevent you from submitting an unnecessary application. Applications will be open again in 2026.

ℹ️ For more information and the application form, go to 👉Seed-bijdrage – Stokroos

❓ Do you have any questions?
📧 Email mail@stokroos.nl.

Open call — Impulsregeling ('Impulse Scheme') — Kunstraad Groningen

The Impulsregeling (‘Impulse Scheme’) of Kunstraad Groningen is intended for Groningen artists who want to boost their artistic development.

↗️ It’s an accessible scheme, specifically designed to give you, as an artist/creator, a boost in your artistic development. You can be a budding artist looking to take the first step in building a cultural career, but the scheme is also intended for more experienced artists who want to develop something new.

✅ The most important criterion for choosing the activity is that it will boost your artistic development in the long term. The activity must take place within six months of the scheme’s closing date.

💰 The Kunstraad Groningen’s contribution amounts to a maximum of 100% of the total costs, up to a maximum of €2,500 (including VAT, if applicable).

💰 The annual subsidy ceiling is set at €75,000 for the period 2025-2028. This amount will be distributed over four grant rounds per year:

⏰ The deadline for the next round of the Impulse Scheme is June 1, 2026

ℹ️ For all information and registration, go to 👉 Subsidieregelingen – Kunstraad Groningen

Open call — Artist in Residence AnnAtopiA — Het Goordonk (Noord-Brabant)

Professional artists, poets and writers can apply for a working period in AnnAtopiA AiR.
​It is possible to work as an artist in residence in the Boshut and to stay in the Boshuis.

Disciplines
All visual and performing arts, creative writing

🗓️ Residence
Minimum of one week

📍 Locatie
AnnAtopiA
Het Goordonk 15
5111 GG Baarle-Nassau

💸 Cost
The cost for the stay of 1 week are €250 (Excl. costs for living). In consultation there is a special rate for students, starting artist and the less wealthy.

Admission guidelines
– professional art education / CV / portfolio
– motivation and global work plan

Description of the program
– introductory meeting
– filling in and signing the user agreement
– discuss motivation and work plan
– discussing and recording conversations about work process coaching, press moments and the like.
– closure with reflection report

Desired result of stay
– positive contribution to the development of artistry
– at least one work in the discipline (s) of the artist

📧 You can send your motivation, plan, portfolio and CV to AirAnnAtopiA@gmail.com
✉️ Or send it directly to:

      Stichting AnnAtopiA
      Vondelinghof 2
4908 DV Oosterhout, The Netherlands

ℹ️ Request more information for the different options via: AirAnnAtopiA@gmail.com

Open Call — Pakje Kunst — MOW / Museum Westerwolde

Since September 24, 2023, there has been a Pakje Kunst vending machine in the museum shop at the MOW. Pakje Kunst presents works of art the size of a pack of cigarettes in an old mechanical cigarette vending machine. A box costs only €6,- and you can find every form of art in it. The proceeds go almost entirely to the participating artists.

For the machine, MOW is always looking for artists from Westerwolde, Oldambt, Pekela, Veendam and Stadskanaal who enjoy surprising, confusing, moving or slightly irritating people with works of art the size of a pack of cigarettes.

For more information, visit Pakje kunst | Het MOW
You can register via info@hetmow.nl