Short Description
Rupert (Vilnius) and Sonic Acts (Amsterdam) are pleased to announce the open call for the second edition of ALTERLIFE – a joint production and research residency that invites interdisciplinary artists and collectives to develop bold, process-driven work in response to the escalating climate emergency and the conditions it exposes.
The name of this combined residency and production programme is adapted from feminist scholar M Murphy’s concept of ‘alterlife’ – a term that captures how life, human and non-human, has been chemically and structurally altered by centuries of colonial and capitalist systems. This year, the curatorial teams of Rupert and Sonic Acts welcome proposals that go beyond highlighting the environmental impact of the climate emergency, and instead interrogate the cultural, political and historical forces shaping our collective future. As Murphy says, ‘embodiment does not provide a respite or escape from history, from infrastructures, from relations of power.’
In this spirit, ALTERLIFE encourages a process-led artistic approach informed by speculative thought and critical inquiry. Taking inspiration from Saidiya Hartman’s method of critical fabulation – experimental storytelling that reclaims obscured histories and proposes alternative realities – artists are invited to imagine new ways of being, relating and creating. Once again, we ask: while confronting the compound crises we face, how can Murphy’s concept of ‘alterlife’ offer a new approach to life?
Eligibility
This residency welcomes all EU-based (see footnote) artists to submit their proposals. We encourage individual artists or duos who take a multidisciplinary approach, particularly practices that incorporate sound and video.
The selection committee includes two members of the curatorial team of Sonic Acts (Mirna Belina, Angeliki Tzortzakaki), two from Rupert (Viktorija Šiaulytė, JL Murtaugh), and additional independent jury members, to be confirmed.
Submission Requirements
We invite artists to submit a CV, portfolio (up to 5 works, maximum 10 pages and 10 MB), project description for the production of new work (up to 600 words), and a feasible sample production budget for both presentations (€2,000 for Rupert in Vilnius and €5,000 for Sonic Acts in Amsterdam).
How to Apply
Online Application
Program Benefits & Awards
- Residencies: A combined 3-month residency, with fully-funded stays at Rupert (April–May 2026) and Sonic Acts (Nov 2026), including accommodation and workspace. * Please scroll down for more information per residency.
- Stipend & travel: €3,800 total for the combined residency, and up to €400 travel support for each location.
- Production budget and support: Funding includes a total of €7,000 for both presentations (€2,000 for Rupert in Vilnius and €5,000 for Sonic Acts in Amsterdam), along with guidance and support for the development and production of a new artwork.
- Visibility: Project featured on the Sonic Acts and Rupert websites or publications.
- Professional support: Feedback sessions, help with funding applications, and production assistance.
- Mentorship: Support from local artists and curators in each city.
- Exhibition: Research presentation as part of public programming in Vilnius and Amsterdam (2026). Final work shown at Rupert (2026/2027) and Sonic Acts Biennial (2028).
What we expect
This residency supports the development of a new artwork over a three-month period, split between Vilnius and Amsterdam, and culminates in the production of a new commission – with iterations to be presented at Rupert and at the Sonic Acts Biennial in 2028. Artists will have access to the research, production, and curatorial resources of both organisations, with time dedicated to both exploration and making.
During the residency, artists are expected to share their research and work-in-progress through a public presentation in each location. This may take the form of a lecture, performance, sound or field walk, screening, or other format suited to the artist’s practice.
We invite proposals that respond to the overarching theme of the residency, and that place strong emphasis on public engagement and final presentation. We are particularly interested in installation-based work that may incorporate video, sound, performance, or other hybrid forms. Artists should demonstrate a clear vision for how their practice will unfold across both locations and culminate in a final project.
Entry Fee
None
Location
Netherlands
Timeline
- Application Deadline: 17 August 2025
Website Link: https://sonicacts.com/agenda/opencall-alterlife
