Open call, AiR SVĚTOVA, Prague

Image Image Caption SVĚTOVA 1 Authors SVĚTOVA 1 Open call, AiR SVĚTOVA, Prague Theme: (How) can imagination through art help solve current crises? Monday 9 March 2026 12:00 AiR SVĚTOVA 1 2026 will provide a one-month creative and research residency program for one emerging visual artist at the beginning of their career, during which they can focus on developing a new artistic project. The residency is intended to enable intensive work in the inspiring environment of the SVĚTOVA 1 gallery, support emerging artists with new perspectives in contemporary art, and provide feedback from the members of the expert committee. The aim is for the outcomes of the residency (a public lecture, workshop, and exhibition) to enrich the gallery's program and engage the local community by opening the space for more connections and young new artists. This residency is focused on visual art, but is open to discover different approaches to what is perceived as visual art.SVĚTOVA 1 is a nonprofit artist-run space focusing on emerging, queer, and social matters. Their exhibitions and public programs reflect their mission of achieving full expression, maintaining sustainable processes, and acting as a refuge for those in need. – run by artists for artists.Application Deadline: 23.3.26Open Call Results Announcement: 7.4.26Duration of the residency: 1.11.26 — 6.12.26Workshop: 28.11.26Artist-talk: 5.12.26Exhibition: 4.12.26 — 2.1.27*Residents of these countries can apply: Albania, Austria, Armenia, Belgium, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kosovo, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Tunisia, Ukraine.Residency includes:Accommodation in residential space in SVĚTOVA 1.Shared studio space during the residency includes a separate bedroom with provided bed and a closet and a private shower. The kitchenette provides a microwave, kettle and an electrical portable stove.Curatorial support during the residency by the S1 program team.Financial support in the form of Production budget (approx. 820 EUR).Covered one round trip from the artist's place of residence to Prague, Czechia and back. Opportunity to share the practice of the resident to the public (workshop, artist-talk, exhibition)Group feedback at the end of the residency with the expert committeePlease note: the studio space is located inside of the gallery space and office where our team works from from 12-18pm Tue-Sat . There is no laundry machine in the gallery, but there is a laundromat within a 5 minute walk away.What you need to apply: CV + portfolioMay include realized artworks and/or non-realized projects. Please submit a portfolio in a single PDF either in English (max. 15 pages, under 10 MB in total) including 5–10 selected works or projects. Cover letter/ introduction video2 standard pages (1800 - 3600 characters) description of the project you want to focus on. They are also looking for the reflection of your motivation and statements and a reflection on how this residency could benefit your journey. 5-10 images for planned projects are welcomed, but not mandatory. If you choose to submit an introduction video, please keep it under 5 minutes. Please provide links to your video works (Vimeo, YouTube, or similar platforms). Make sure the links are accessible without download requests or passwords (or include the password if needed).How to applyFill in an application form Upload the files to the formMake sure your files are accessible, PDFs are preferredApplicants must meet the following requirements:To be proficient in English The Open Call is offered to an emerging artistWill not be enrolled in any educational program during the residencyBe available for the entire duration of the residency (1.11.26 — 6.12.26) Alignment with community values and rules of S1By applying for the residency, the interested party agrees with further presentation of work and/or results of the residency through a workshop, artistic lecture, and exhibition.Conditions of attendance The applicant is required to submit an application for the “Culture Moves Europe” funding programme in collaboration with the curatorial S1 team.Please note that if the grant application is not approved, S1 will provide an artist fee of CZK 30,000 (approx. 1238 euro), along with reimbursement of round-trip travel expenses to and from Prague.Resident selection (before the start of the program):The resident will be selected by an expert committee based on application review, an online interview in the case of necessity, and alignment with the vision of SVĚTOVA 1. Before the start of the residency, an introductory meeting (in person or online) will be held to clarify the objectives, introduce the artist to the gallery team, and discuss logistics (accommodation, studio).Theme: (How) can imagination through art help solve current crises? The current social order is characterized by a concurrency of many local and global crises – ecological, humanitarian, political, economic, or mental health crisis. At the same time, we are witnessing the rise of the far-right and the associated forms of racism, ableism, and queerphobia. A return to the supposedly "normal state" is not possible – not only because there has never been a universal norm, but also because many of today's crises are a direct consequence of this "old" world order. This can lead us to strive to live, think, and create differently. The main question of the open call in this regard is: (How) can imagination through art help solve the current crises? They welcome different approaches, media, and theses within the open call. They are looking for art that engages in any way with the theme of imagination in the context of solving current crises – whether negatively, positively, objectively, subjectively, nai