Ars Biologica ArtXScience Residency Open Call 2027–2028

Overview

Ars Biologica is a living laboratory for shared ecological futures—an experimental space where art and science meet to explore ways of caring for the world we live in. The ArtXScience residency is part of the České Budějovice European Capital of Culture 2028 programme. Two residency positions offer artists, designers, creatives, and artist collectives the opportunity to integrate scientific research into artistic practices, working with scientists from the Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences. The residency calls for a spatial ArtXScience artwork (going beyond screen-based work) alongside a public engagement format involving the local community, with outcomes presented at the Ars Biologica Festival in spring 2028.

Scientific Focus Areas

Residents will work with one of two scientific directions: soil microorganisms and their role in climate and ecosystem balance (Institute of Soil Biology and Biogeochemistry), or freshwater microbial ecosystems and water quality (Institute of Hydrobiology's Department of Aquatic Microbial Ecology).

Eligibility

• Open to artists, designers, creatives, and artist collectives of all nationalities
• Must be 18 years or older
• Must be eligible to work and travel in the EU
• Must have prior experience in interdisciplinary collaborations, ArtXScience productions, and community engagement
• Must have more than 5 years of professional creative practice with a documented portfolio sufficient for artistic assessment

Program Benefits & Awards

• Total funding of 24,000 EUR, comprising: 6,000 EUR artist fee, up to 15,000 EUR production budget (proposal required), up to 3,000 EUR for transportation, travel, accommodation, and subsistence
• Accommodation for the one-month stay in České Budějovice is covered separately
• Exchange with leading experts in climate-resilient agriculture and scientific communication
• Project development and production support from the Ars Biologica and Ars Electronica teams
• International exposure through the Ars Biologica Festival, including an exhibition
• Video and photo documentation of public engagement activities and the artwork
• Possible engagement with the Ars Electronica Festival
• IP of the artwork remains with the artist, with credit required; community outcomes are licensed CC BY-ND

Key Dates

• Application Deadline: 28 September 2026
• Winners notified: November 2026
• Kick-off/onboarding meeting: early 2027 (Jan–Feb)
• Online/on-site exchange meetings: mid 2027 (Mar–Oct), closing with a written proposal (Oct/Nov 2027)
• Artwork production: early 2028
• Ars Biologica Festival (installation, exhibition, public engagement, de-install): spring 2028

Residency Stays

• First stay: up to 1 month, February/March 2027
• Optional second stay: up to 1 month, August/September 2027
• Third stay: up to 1 month, March 2028, for the Ars Biologica Festival

Location

České Budějovice, Czech Republic (onsite residency), with additional trips required to Ars Electronica in Linz, Austria.

Application

Online application with no entry fee. Jury includes representatives from České Budějovice ECoC 2028, the Biology Centre CAS (both institutes), the Uroboros ABIS Program, and Ars Electronica. Selection criteria: originality, local community impact, quality of portfolio, and eligibility/feasibility.

Credit & Requirements

Credit line required: 'This project was developed in the framework of the Ars Biologica project enabled by České Budějovice – European Capital of Culture 2028 in partnership with Ars Electronica and Biology Center CAS.' Selected artists are expected to share updates on social media and provide images of the residency process.