OPEN CALL: Turning the Tide 2025 International Artist Residencies in Stockholm

Are you an artist based in Vienna (Austria) or Gdansk (Poland), who is passionate about addressing the climate crisis through creative practice?
Do you believe in the power of art to bring people together, inspire dialogue, and raise awareness about environmental justice in waterfront communities?

Residency Dates: September 19 – October 17, 2025
Application Deadline: July 31st

We invite you to apply for Turning the Tide (TTT) – a transdisciplinary residency programme combining art, activism, and community participation to collectively imagine more sustainable futures.

About Turning the Tide (TTT)

Turning the Tide (TTT) is a collaborative European project that mobilizes artistic intervention and civic participation to explore how climate change is affecting waterfront communities – and how art can catalyse resilience, reflection, and action. Through residencies, local labs, and public presentations, TTT brings together artists, communities, researchers, activists and urban planners to respond to the climate emergency using art as a critical and connective force.

This initiative is led by Intercult (Sweden) in partnership with Artit (Greece), Wiener Bildungsakademie (Austria), Dear Hunter (Netherlands), Urban Culture Institute (Poland), with collaboration from Fablevision (Scotland) and the River//Cities network.

About the Residency in Stockholm, Sweden

The 2025 international residency will take place in Stockholm, Sweden’s capital and one of Europe’s most water-connected cities. The residency is focused on Slussen, a historically and environmentally significant area currently undergoing massive redevelopment in response to rising sea levels and urban resilience planning. 

Read more about the challenges in Stockholm and focus of this residency here.

Residency Dates: September 19 – October 17, 2025
Final Presentation: October 15-17, 2025, during the Stockholm International Lab

Two selected artists – one from each participating country (Austria and Poland) – will spend 28 days in Stockholm, engaging deeply with Slussen and its surrounding communities through a process of cultural mapping, participatory research, and co-creation.

Residency Goals & Artist Expectations

During their time in Stockholm, selected artists will:

• Conduct site-based research into the social, ecological, and infrastructural changes in Slussen and central Stockholm.
  
• Engage with local residents, stakeholders, and public institutions to understand the environmental, historical, and urban dynamics of the area.
  
• Develop collaborative, socially-engaged artistic work that reflects the residency’s themes of climate justice and collective resilience in waterfront cities.
  
• Present their work during the Stockholm International Lab (October 15–17, 2025), attended by community members, cultural professionals, and project partners.
  
• Submit a digital form of their final work for inclusion in the TTT Digital Exhibition, which will archive and share residency outcomes with international audiences.
  

Artists will also participate in pre-residency and post-residency online meetings to connect with partners, share ideas, and reflect on the process, as well as engage in local labs in their respective home countries to extend the dialogue and foster further collaboration.

What We Offer

Selected artists will receive:

• Artist Fee: A gross amount of €2600*, to cover the costs of stay and artist compensation during the residency. The final amount paid to the artist will be subject to deductions based on the national tax regulations of the country in which the artist resides, as well as the national law of the organising body.
  
• Production Budget: Up to €600 (upon approval) to support the creation of the final artwork including preparation and delivery of the piece ready for the digital exhibition.
  
• Travel & Accommodation: All travel to and from Stockholm and full accommodation during the residency are covered.
  
• Presentation Opportunities:
  
  • Public showcase at the Stockholm International Lab.
    
  • Inclusion in the TTT Digital Exhibition, hosted on the project’s website and digital platforms.
    
• Professional & Creative Support:
  
  • Mentoring and coordination from local and international partners.
    
  • Access to community contacts and materials.
    
  • Media exposure via TTT’s and partners’ communication channels.
    
• Networking & Development:
  
  • Opportunities for exchange with fellow international artists.
    
  • Participation in local workshops, site visits, and dialogue events.
    
  • Sharing and deepening understanding of socially-engaged artistic methodologies in the context of environmental transformation.
    

* The available fee plus production budget for the residency will include the output for the end of the residency presentation and the creation of the work for the digital exhibition. 

Who Should Apply

We are looking for emerging or mid-career artists based in Vienna and Gdansk working in any artistic discipline, including (but not limited to):

• Visual arts
  
• Performance
  
• Participatory or social practice
  
• Sound art
  
• Installation
  
• Interdisciplinary or research-based work
  

You should be:

• Deeply interested in environmental themes and the climate crisis, especially in relation to waterfront communities and urban transformation.
  
• Experienced in community engagement, co-creation, or participatory processes.
  
• Comfortable working independently and collaboratively, across cultures and disciplines.
  
• Fluent in English (the working language of the residency).
  
• Willing to actively participate in local, national and international project activities, including online meetings and follow-up events.
  

Previous experience with residencies or climate-focused projects is a plus, but not required.

How to Apply

Please submit your application via the relevant Google Form for your country by July 31st, 2025:

• Poland (Gdansk) – Apply here
  
  

Applicants will be notified about the outcome by the second week of August.

Join Us in Turning the Tide

This residency is more than an opportunity — it’s a collective effort to shape new ways of living with water, land, and one another.
As we face growing environmental challenges, the role of artists in imagining new futures has never been more vital. Join us in Stockholm and become part of a movement where art, activism, and community converge to turn the tide.