Organizer Information
CreArt Network is a long-term European cooperation project dedicated to supporting emerging and mid-career artists through residencies, exhibitions, educational initiatives, and international cultural exchange programs. The platform connects a wide range of European cities and cultural institutions in order to foster artistic mobility, collaborative creation, and socially engaged cultural practices. The current residency is organized within the framework of CreArt 3.0 and the broader “Creative Minds” initiative connected to the preparation of European Capital of Culture 2028.
The residency is hosted in České Budějovice, a Czech city actively developing cultural and educational programs that integrate contemporary art with public participation and community well-being. Through this initiative, the organizers aim to position art not only as a form of creative expression, but also as a practical social tool capable of improving educational environments, emotional resilience, and youth engagement.
Title & Description
CreArt 3.0 OPEN CALL: Art for Well-being in Schools Residency in České Budějovice (CZ)
The “Art for Well-being in Schools” residency is a five-week international artistic residency focused on participatory and socially engaged art practices within an educational environment. Rather than functioning as a traditional studio-based residency, this opportunity invites one selected artist to work directly with a group of more than twenty students inside a local school in České Budějovice during Autumn 2026.
The selected artist will act as both a creative practitioner and mentor, guiding students through a collaborative artistic process centered on the theme of “well-being.” The residency emphasizes creativity as a method for supporting psychosocial health, communication skills, critical thinking, and collaborative learning among young participants. Artists are expected to lead students through all stages of artistic development, including brainstorming, ideation, design thinking, experimentation, and the physical realization of a site-specific artwork.
The final outcome of the residency will be a permanent or semi-permanent installation created collectively with students and integrated into the school environment. The project will conclude with a public presentation and open studio event involving students, educators, families, and members of the local community.
This residency is particularly suitable for artists working with community-based methodologies, educational art practices, participatory creation, and interdisciplinary socially engaged projects.
Categories
- Visual Arts
- Community Art
- Participatory Art
- Social Practice Art
- Installation Art
- Public Art
- Educational Art Projects
- Interdisciplinary Practices
- Collaborative Art
- Youth and Community Engagement Projects
Eligibility
The open call is available to one artist under the age of 40 who is born, residing, or domiciled in one of the cities or partner organizations participating in the CreArt 3.0 network.
Eligible applicants include artists connected to:
- Kaunas (Lithuania)
- Liepaja (Latvia)
- Skopje (North Macedonia)
- Aveiro (Portugal)
- Valladolid (Spain)
- Venice (Italy)
- Clermont-Ferrand (France)
- Rouen (France)
- České Budějovice (Czech Republic)
- Oulu (Finland)
- Regensburg (Germany)
- Lublin (Poland)
- Members of the Croatian Association of Visual Artists (HDLU)
- Ukrainian artists, through collaboration with Dialog from Lviv
Applicants should demonstrate:
- Experience in participatory or community-based artistic practices
- Interest in education and youth engagement
- Ability to work collaboratively in a school environment
- Availability for the full uninterrupted residency period
- Strong communication and mentoring skills
Program Benefits & Awards
The selected artist will receive substantial financial and logistical support throughout the residency period. The program includes:
- Artist Fee: 50,000 CZK (approximately 2,000 EUR)
- Material Budget: 40,000 CZK (approximately 1,600 EUR)
- Travel Support: Up to 20,000 CZK (approximately 800 EUR)
- Per Diems: 10,000 CZK (approximately 400 EUR)
- Fully funded accommodation in a residential center
- Access to a dedicated artist studio
- Curatorial mentorship and professional guidance
- Local facilitation and language support when working with students
- Opportunity to develop an impactful public-facing educational artwork
- International exposure through the CreArt network and European cultural initiatives
Application Fee
None
Application Requirements
- Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Portfolio highlighting previous participatory, educational, or community-based projects
- Motivation Letter explaining:
- Artistic approach to participatory practices
- Experience working with youth or educational contexts
- Vision for addressing the theme of well-being in a school environment
Applications should present clear evidence of collaborative methodologies and socially engaged artistic experience.
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 29 May 2026
- Artist Selection Announcement: 15 June 2026
- Residency Period: September 21 – October 25, 2026
- Final Public Showcase: End of October 2026
Location
České Budějovice, Czech Republic.
Additional Details
This residency strongly prioritizes social impact, collaborative learning, and youth empowerment over individual studio production. Artists should be comfortable working in educational settings and adapting their practice to participatory processes involving students from diverse backgrounds.
The project forms part of broader European cultural initiatives connected to the preparation of České Budějovice as a future European Capital of Culture in 2028. As such, the selected artist will contribute not only to a local school environment but also to an evolving international conversation around creativity, education, mental well-being, and socially responsible artistic practice.
The organizers emphasize the importance of long-term community value and encourage proposals that foster inclusion, dialogue, emotional awareness, and collective ownership of the artistic outcome.