Organizer Information
V2_ Lab for the Unstable Media is a long-established Dutch cultural institution based in Rotterdam, operating at the intersection of media art, digital culture, and critical discourse on technology and society. Founded over 40 years ago, V2_ has developed from a grassroots experimental initiative into a structurally embedded yet independently operated platform for artistic research, production, and presentation.
Historically rooted in Den Bosch and later relocated to Rotterdam in 1994, V2_ has consistently positioned itself as a “laboratory” rather than a traditional exhibition venue. Its mission emphasizes experimentation with unstable media forms, hybrid artistic practices, and interdisciplinary exchange between artists, theorists, curators, technologists, and cultural practitioners. The institution is also known for fostering critical reflection on the socio-political implications of technological development, including digital infrastructures, network culture, and emerging media ecologies.
A central part of V2_’s identity is its archival and discursive infrastructure, which supports long-term research into media art histories and DIY cultural institutions. The Alex Adriaansens Residency is established in memory of co-founder Alex Adriaansens, who played a key role in shaping V2_ as a pioneering space for experimental curatorial practices and community-oriented cultural production.
Title & Description
Call for Proposals: Alex Adriaansens Residency 2026
The Alex Adriaansens Residency 2026 is a three-month research-based residency designed for emerging curators, cultural organizers, and practitioners working in media art and related interdisciplinary fields. The program provides selected participants with the opportunity to develop independent research grounded in critical inquiry into the role of cultural institutions, curatorial practices, and community-based artistic infrastructures.
The residency encourages reflection on how independent art spaces operate today as experimental environments for new artistic forms, and how they can function as social, political, and cultural “playgrounds” for innovation and dialogue. Applicants are invited to explore themes such as the evolution of DIY cultural institutions since the 1980s, the relationship between art and activism, and the ways curatorial strategies can expand or challenge institutional boundaries.
Residents will have access to V2_’s archival resources and may engage with staff members for optional guidance and feedback sessions. The residency culminates in a public presentation in Rotterdam, which may take the form of an event, expert meeting, lecture, or alternative format proposed by the resident.
Categories
- Curatorial Practice
- Media Art
- Digital Culture
- Cultural Organisation / Community Practice
- Interdisciplinary Arts
- Visual Art (expanded field)
- Film and Moving Image
- Performance and Experimental Practices
- Cultural Theory and Research
Eligibility
- Open internationally
- Emerging curators, cultural initiators, and organizers at an early career stage
- Practitioners working in media art, digital culture, or related interdisciplinary fields
- Applicants from visual arts, film, performance, theatre, music, and cultural education backgrounds are welcome
- Individuals, duos, or small teams (note: grant is shared in group applications)
- No strict thematic restriction; research focus is self-defined
Program Benefits & Awards
- Residency grant: €7,500 total stipend
- Three-month residency period in Rotterdam
- Access to V2_ archive and institutional resources
- Optional mentorship and feedback sessions with V2_ team members and archivists
- Public presentation of research outcomes in Rotterdam
- Integration opportunities within V2_’s broader program network
- Flexible presentation formats (event, talk, essay, or alternative proposal)
Application Fee
None
Application Requirements
- Motivation letter (max. 2 pages)
- Curriculum Vitae (max. 1 page)
- A clearly formulated research question (max. 1 page)
- Submission via the official application form (Google Form)
- Optional: additional supporting materials if relevant to practice
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 1 June 2026
- Residency Period: 1 September 2026 – 1 December 2026 (approx. three months)
Location
Rotterdam, Netherlands
Additional Details
- Selection is made by a jury composed of members of the V2_ team
- Residency is self-directed, meaning participants structure their own research process
- The program emphasises independent inquiry rather than production output
- Focus areas include institutional critique, curatorial experimentation, and the historical trajectories of DIY cultural spaces
- The final presentation format is flexible and can be co-developed with the institution
- Strong emphasis on research-based practice and archival engagement