Open Call: The Data and the Sovereign Residencies

Projekt Atol (Slovenia); Goethe-Institut (Germany); Izolyatsia (Ukraine); MeetFactory (Czech Republic) and Tallinn Art Hall (Estonia) are jointly calling for European art practitioners to apply for one of eight production residencies taking place in Ljubljana, Prague, Tallinn and online.

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What is the residency about?

Computation and automation are reshaping global political dynamics, challenging established sovereignties and necessitating a fundamental shift in our understanding of politics. The rise of algorithmic influence on our decisions based on rapidly evolving AI technologies prompts questions about preserving personal and national sovereignties in a post-surveillance information society, and the role of art in reflecting this shift.

Establishing technological sovereignty becomes essential for preserving democracy, countering the trend of individuals being treated as mere users and commodities by the extractivist tech industry, while autocratic tendencies disguised as protection of the sovereign state are one the rise.

We believe artistic projects can foster awareness and drive shifts in the relationship between technology and power. We invite artists to engage with information technologies as integral to society rather than as mere tools.

This residency encourages applicants to explore sovereignty in relation to contemporary information technologies and to envision how these concepts can be expanded. Future applications must be as versatile as the contexts in which they emerge. Rather than seeking a single answer, we welcome diverse perspectives and solutions.

During the residency, participants will develop artworks that engage with the project’s core questions. Existing projects may also be further developed within this framework. The outcomes will be presented at the hosting institutions and may be included in a final exhibition at Galerie Rudolfinum in Prague.

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Who do we want to reach?

The residency provides artists working in the field of contemporary art from the Central and Eastern European, and Southern Caucasian region with the opportunity to live and work in Ljubljana, Tallinn or Prague for a period of two to three months, or to accomplish the residency online. Project proposals developed in relation and conversation with the local realities of each of the locations will be prioritised. 

Eligibility: According to the mission of the DATAS project geographical focus, applicants should be originated from (place of birth), residing on long-term in, and / or having the nationality of one of the following countries:

Albania, Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Hungary, Kosovo, Latvia, Lithuania, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Ukraine.

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What do we offer?

The residents will receive support from the curator of the final exhibition throughout their residency and will be connected with the experts mentioned in the following section.

The residents will have access to the institutional infrastructures and each residency will result in a pop-up presentation and a final show in Prague. For the two- or three-month stay each location offers the residents particular resources and opportunities:

Projekt Atol, Ljubljana: Residents will be provided with a private studio, along with separate accommodation. Expenses for round-trip travel from their place of residence to Ljubljana will be covered. ATOL’s residency space offers workshops for electronics (soldering and basic fab-lab) wood and metal. The space furthermore provides computer, network, sound, light and AV equipment, rendering machine, as well as technical support. In particular the artist can explore the challenges with AI and network infrastructures. Residents will have the opportunity to hold workshops, sessions and/or seminars related to the overall themes of the project at the artist-run space osmo/za. There are multiple networking opportunities, curatorial and research support, as well as support for regional travel.

IZOLYATSIA (online residency): IZOLYATSIA, the Ukrainian Foundation for Cultural Initiatives, will host online virtual residencies.

Virtual programmes are developing capacities and supporting artists in digital media, specifically digital photography/video, XR, digital illustration and animation, sound art, data art, creative coding and creative experiments (performances) with data.

The virtual residency programme does not require residency or physical presence at the location; residents may work from their studios or homes, provided they have a reliable internet connection and sufficient time to participate in weekly meetings, group and individual consultations with curators and experts, and work on their projects.

The organisation will provide a two-month virtual residency programme for two artists, a comfortable and productive environment, collaboration with a curator: project feedback, flexible scheduling, curating processes for knowledge and tool/service acquisition, and preparation for the final presentation, connecting the artist with experts, peer-to-peer exchanges, a shared resource library, a virtual workspace, and presentation of artists and their practices online.

MeetFactory, Prague: Co-hosted by Goethe Institute Prague and MeetFactory, residents will be provided with a private studio on the residential floor of MeetFactory and separate accommodation. Expenses for round-trip travel from their place of residence to MeetFactory will be covered. Residents will participate in the program, which includes regular weekly meetings with the AiR MeetFactory team and fellow international residents, as well as opportunities to attend openings and other events in Prague. MeetFactory offers residents access to a workshop with technical equipment, including woodworking and metalworking tools, under professional supervision. Residents can rent technical equipment necessary for the realization and presentation of their projects. In the final month of the residency, artists will present their projects at the public Open Studios event, scheduled for October 23rd. In addition they may also organize individual workshops, sessions, and/or seminars that align with the broader themes of the project. MeetFactory is a multidisciplinary space, it contains a theatre and concert hall, two galleries, and 11 artist studios. Residents are welcome to attend all our events free of charge and engage in the activities within this lively environment.

Tallinn Art Hall: Residents will have the opportunity to organize and participate in workshops, sessions, and seminars that align with the project's overall themes. They can connect with Estonia’s vibrant startup community, expand their networks, and collaborate with artists and researchers. Additionally, Tallinn Art Hall offers regional travel support, dedicated spaces for workshops and seminars, and valuable research assistance. Residents will also be provided with a private studio and separate accommodation. Round-trip travel expenses from their place of residence will be covered, along with a monthly stipend and a production fee.

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Expert Support

Selected applicants will have the opportunity to collaborate with theoreticians, artists, and scientists chosen by the project’s committee, including Victoria Ivanova, Bogna Konior, RYBN.ORG, Vladan Joler and Tiziana Terranova. Additional experts will be announced upon acceptance. Each artist will be paired with an expert in a discipline or field relevant to their proposal.

Within our project, experts play a multifaceted role. Their input shall not be limited to mere technical guidance but extends to sparking dialogues, igniting debates, and thought-provoking discussions. They become catalysts for the development of artworks that contribute to the broader discourse on art, technology, and societal transformation. They are not just advisors; they are collaborators who help shape the artistic journey and amplify the impact of our residency project.

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How are you financially supported?

Each residency is fully funded and includes travel, accommodation, a stipend and production costs.

Monthly stipend: 1000 EUR net.

Production costs will be covered up to 3000 EUR. 

In case of artist groups, the stipend and production costs will be split among the group.

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How do you apply?

Applications have to include the following documents:

• Your contact information (name, address, e-mail, phone, website)

• Letter of intent (max. 5000 characters) or short introduction video (min. 5 min) explaining why you are applying and what would you like to focus on during the residence 

• Brief informative curriculum vitae (max. 1 page) and portfolio (max. 10 MB)

• Which residency location you are applying for (first and second choice)

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Residency period:

Projekt Atol: 2 months between August-December 2025

MeetFactory: August-October 2025

Tallinn Art Hall: August-September and October-November 2025

Izolyatsia: 2 months between August-October 2025

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Application process

Applications are accepted only in English until 15 April 2025, 3 pm CET.

Only applications submitted through the grant application portal are eligible: https://portal.gap.goethe.de/en-US/

Applicants might need to be available for a video call or email questions before the final decision about their selection is made.

Applicants will be notified latest until 9 May 2025.

Two candidates will be selected for the residency at each organisation.

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Eligibility criteria

• You are at least 18 years old at the submission of the application

• You originate from (place of birth), reside on long-term in, and / or have the nationality of one of the following countries: Albania, Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Hungary, Kosovo, Latvia, Lithuania, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Ukraine.

Award criteria

• Originality, relevance, and artistic quality of your proposal

• How your proposal responds to the themes of digital sovereignty and the societal impact of technology

• Your previous works and their potential to contribute to the project’s objectives

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Jury

The jury for selecting the artists consists of representatives of the organisations (Projekt Atol; Goethe-Institut Prag; Izolyatsia; MeetFactory, Galerie Rudolfinum, and Tallinn Art Hall) and Lívia Nolasco-Rózsás, curator of the project. 

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For questions regarding the open call please contact each organisation under the following email addresses: 

info@projekt-atol.si

info@izolyatsia.org

madli@kunstihoone.ee

opencall@meetfactory.cz  

For technical questions please contact: datas@goethe.de

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Co-funded by the European Union as part of the Creative Europe framework. 

Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or EACEA. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

DATAS (2025-26) is an assembly convened to amplify unheard voices from Central and Eastern Europe, and Southern Caucasus, reflecting on the relationship between the self, technology, and power. Produced in partnership between Goethe-Institut (Germany), Izolyatsia (Ukraine), MeetFactory (Czech Republic), Projekt Atol (Slovenia) and Tallinn Art Hall (Estonia).