Rotating AiRs Open call

Rotating AiRs is looking for artists working at the intersection of colonialism and climate change to take part in an international residency programme

Rotating AiRs is a transnational platform that connects European artists to different geographies, and reflects on the intersections of colonialism and climate change through a global residency programme culminating in an exhibition. As these topics demand an approach that exceeds national borders, this multi-phased residency and exhibition enables artists to investigate the interrelations of colonialism and climate change from a transnational perspective. 

Each artist will engage in a global rotating residency starting with a month-long visit to either Lubumbashi, Yogyakarta or Mexico City,  followed by further stages of their creative process in the European port cities: Hoorn, Antwerp and Barcelona. This transnational approach ensures the environmental effects of colonialism are seen both from within Europe and from an external perspective, where deep-rooted inequalities remain tangible daily. The trajectory consists of a first month in one of the non-European cities and then two months in each of the European cities, culminating into an exhibition in the last city of the Rotating AiR. 

Different phases for different processes

The first part of the residency involves a one-month period of inspiration and research in either Mexico City, Lubumbashi or Yogyakarta. After that, you will spend two months at three different European institutions and go through different phases of research, pre-production and production. During this time,  you will work towards an exhibition in one of the three European cities: either Antwerp (Kunsthal Extra City), Barcelona (La Capella) or Hoorn (Hotel Maria Kapel). Each residency consists of one month inspiration + two months pre-production + two months production + two months exhibition. Since the residency includes site-specific research and a specific theme (the intersections of colonialism and climate change), your application must state clearly which Rotating AiR you are applying for. Why did you choose this specific route, taking into account the starting and ending locations?

Conditions

Every artist-in-residence programme includes an artist fee of €16.800 and a production budget of €3.000 for creating the work. Transport and accommodation are provided by the organisations on your route. 

Who can apply?

Rotating AiRs welcomes visual artists who are curious about working transnationally and who wish to critically reflect on how historical colonial structures continue to shape environmental realities today. This open call is intended for artists whose practice engages with the intersections of colonialism and climate change, and who are interested in approaching these themes through artistic research, dialogue and exchange.

We are looking for artists who are open to engaging with different cultural and geographical contexts, and who are willing to develop their work through site-specific research and encounters with local communities and perspectives. A connection to, or a strong interest in, one of the starting locations of the residency (Mexico City, Lubumbashi, or Yogyakarta) and ending locations (Hoorn, Antwerp, or Barcelona) is considered valuable.

The programme encourages artists who seek to expand their practice by engaging with multiple perspectives and by experimenting with new approaches. We value artists who enjoy working in open dialogue and critical reflection, and are comfortable navigating diverse environments and cultural contexts. As this residency unfolds over an extended period of time across several countries, we are looking for artists who are willing to commit to this transnational trajectory and who see it as an opportunity to take a new step within their artistic practice.

How to apply?

Respond via the form below:

Who is in the jury?

The jury comprises of the professionals running the participating institutions: David Armengol (Director, La Capella, Barcelona) Enric Farrés Duran (Artist & curator La Capella & head of visual art department Escola Massana,  Barcelona) Caroline Dumalin (Artistic director, MORPHO, Antwerp) Tom Viaene (Lecturer, St Lucas School of Arts, Antwerp), Inez Piso-Tuncay (Director, HMK, Hoorn), Ayunda Stel (Junior curator, Hotel Maria Kapel, Hoorn), Gaelle Van Lede (Director of Artistic & Strategic Initiatives, Picha Art Center, Lubumbashi) Jean-Sylvain Tshilumba Mukendi (Project & Artistic Coordinator, Picha Art Center, Lubumbashi), Maria Isserlis (Curator, Aki Aora, Mexico City), Sally Montes (Director, Aki Aora, Mexico City), Dito Yuwono (Co-Director, Cemeti Institute for Art and Society, Yogyakarta), Mira Asriningtyas (Co-Director, Cemeti Institute for Art and Society, Yogyakarta)

Deadlines

Important dates to mark your calendar in case you are interested in applying!

• Online info session: 8 April 2026
  15:00 CET / 08:00 Mexico City / 15:00 Lubumbashi / 21:00 Yogyakarta

• Deadline open call: 1 May 2026

  Before 00:00 (midnight) CET / 16:00 Mexico City / 00:00 (midnight) Lubumbashi / 05:00 (2 May) Yogyakarta

• Keep you agendas marked for the interview (in case of selection final phase): Tuesday 9 June 2026‍ ‍

• Final announcement of chosen artists : 1 July 2026

Who are the collaborating institutions in this project?

Aki Aora, Casa Snowapple, Cemeti Art Institute, Picha Art Centre, La Capella, Hotel Maria Kapel,MORPHO & Kunsthal Extra City

More questions?

In case you have more questions you can ask them when you apply in the application form or join the online info session. Please read our FAQ carefully, we will regularly update it after the online info session.