Organizer Information
The open call is initiated by the research consortium Emergence at All Scales (EAAS), a large-scale scientific collaboration funded by the Dutch Research Council (NWO). EAAS brings together researchers from mathematics, physics, astronomy, chemistry, and related disciplines to investigate how complex systems and structures emerge across different scales—from quantum physics and spacetime to collective behavior in social and material systems.
The call is developed in collaboration with The Science & Cocktails Foundation, Stichting Paradiso, and NWA Route Kunst. Together, these partners aim to create a strong interface between scientific research and artistic practice through public-facing cultural production.
The resulting works will premiere at the Emergence Festival 2027 in Amsterdam.
Title & Description
Emergence Art+Science Fellowships – Open Call for New Commissions for Emergence Festival 2027
This fellowship invites artists, makers, and collectives to develop new works inspired by the concept of emergence: the idea that complex systems, patterns, and behaviors arise from simple interactions or underlying rules. The thematic scope spans questions such as how collective behavior forms, how matter organizes itself, and how large-scale structures emerge from microscopic processes in physics, chemistry, biology, and social systems.
Selected artists will work in dialogue with EAAS researchers to translate scientific ideas, methods, data, and theoretical questions into accessible public-facing artistic experiences. The emphasis is not on illustrating science, but on creating independent artistic interpretations that open up scientific thinking for broad audiences.
Works may respond to specific EAAS research projects or engage more generally with the theme of emergence. The final works will be premiered at the Emergence Festival in June 2027 and are encouraged to have a life beyond the festival through touring, exhibition, or digital dissemination.
Categories
- Visual Art
- Digital Art
- Film & Video / Documentary
- Installation & Sculpture
- Exhibition Design
- Performance Art
- Theatre & Dance
- Music & Sound Art
- Hybrid and Interdisciplinary Practices
- Science-inspired Media and Experimental Formats
Eligibility
- Open to artists, collectives, and makers internationally
- Emerging, mid-career, and established practitioners may apply
- No age restrictions specified
- Strong preference for applicants who can demonstrate engagement with scientific collaboration
- Applicants must be willing to work in dialogue with EAAS-affiliated researchers during development
- Projects must be feasible for presentation at a major public festival in Amsterdam
Program Benefits & Awards
- Production budget up to €20,000 (incl. VAT) per project
- Direct collaboration opportunities with EAAS researchers
- Curatorial support from EAAS curator Marijn Bril
- Possible access to university office/meeting spaces (where feasible)
- Presentation of the final work at the Emergence Festival 2027 in Amsterdam
- Potential inclusion in EAAS’s digital education and art archive for extended visibility
Application Fee
None
Application Requirements
- Project proposal (max. 3 pages) including concept, research connection, audience, and work plan
- Budget (max. 1 page)
- CV
- Portfolio of previous work
- Evidence of contact or dialogue with EAAS researchers
- Explanation of how scientific collaboration informs the proposal
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
- Call opens: 31 March 2026
- Information session: 19 May 2026 (13:30–14:30, Tolhuistuin, Amsterdam)
- Submission Deadline: 30 June 2026
- Shortlist interviews: July – August 2026
- Project start: September 2026
- Work-in-progress presentation: March 2027 (EAAS annual meeting, Nijmegen)
- Final production ready: late May 2027
- Festival premiere: June 2027 (Emergence Festival)
Location
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Additional Details
- Projects must be designed for public accessibility and non-specialist audiences
- Strong emphasis on interdisciplinary collaboration between artists and scientists
- Technical feasibility is essential, including installation logistics, safety, and rapid setup/breakdown (preferably same-day installation cycles)
- Works should ideally have potential life beyond the festival (touring, exhibition, or educational use)
- Participation in ongoing meetings and development sessions with EAAS partners is required
- Applicants are expected to demonstrate genuine engagement with scientific collaborators, not symbolic references alone
- Diversity and inclusivity in both artistic practice and audience engagement are key priorities