Organizer Information
Larnaka 2030 is a cultural organisation and European Capital of Culture candidate initiative focused on participatory cultural development, artistic collaboration, and long-term community engagement in Cyprus and the wider Mediterranean region. Through interdisciplinary projects, public programming, and international partnerships, the organization promotes socially engaged artistic practices that connect local communities with global cultural networks.
The MedSEA project is implemented through a consortium of organizations working across art, social practice, and cultural cooperation, including Al Badil, Liv.in.g, and Busart. Together, the partners focus on artistic capacity building, public space interventions, cultural sustainability, and collaborative artistic methodologies across the Mediterranean.
MedSEA – Socially Engaged Arts in the Mediterranean Area is co-funded by the Creative Europe Programme and aims to support emerging artists and cultural professionals who are interested in community-based artistic practices and participatory cultural processes.
Title & Description
MedSEA: Open Call for Artists and Cultural Professionals Working with Communities Across the Mediterranean
MedSEA – Socially Engaged Arts in the Mediterranean Area launches an international open call for emerging artists and cultural professionals interested in socially engaged and participatory artistic practices. The programme is designed for practitioners who work at the intersection of art, communities, territory, and social transformation.
Rather than functioning as a traditional artist residency focused solely on production, MedSEA is conceived as a collaborative and process-oriented programme in which participants actively engage with local communities and cultural contexts. The selected participants will take part in a structured experience combining training sessions, mentorship, artistic residencies, and fieldwork in two Mediterranean cities: Larnaka in Cyprus and Sfax in Tunisia.
The programme focuses on co-creation methodologies, sustainability in cultural work, and the development of artistic interventions rooted in real social environments. Participants will collaborate with local communities, cultural actors, and project partners to develop site-responsive and socially engaged artistic projects.
The programme unfolds in several phases, beginning with online preparation activities including webinars, workshops, and capacity-building sessions dedicated to community-based artistic practices and cultural project design. Following the preparation phase, participants will attend two four-week residencies where they will carry out collaborative artistic research and community-oriented fieldwork.
The projects developed during the residencies will be presented publicly during two established festivals:
- Mahallart Festival
- Hors-Lits Festival
MedSEA emphasizes long-term relationship building, intercultural dialogue, and artistic collaboration across Mediterranean territories. The initiative seeks to generate sustainable artistic knowledge and professional networks that continue beyond the residency itself.
Categories
- Visual Arts
- Performing Arts
- Socially Engaged Art
- Community-Based Art
- Interdisciplinary Practices
- Public Space Interventions
- Participatory Art
- Cultural Mediation
- Collaborative Art Practices
- Site-Specific Projects
- Experimental and Cross-Disciplinary Practices
Eligibility
- Emerging artists
- Cultural professionals
- Interdisciplinary practitioners
- Community-based art practitioners
- Be at least 18 years old
- Legally reside in countries eligible under the Creative Europe Programme
- Demonstrate interest or experience in socially engaged or participatory artistic practices
- Be available to participate in the full programme timeline, including online preparation activities and both residency phases
The programme welcomes applicants from diverse artistic and cultural backgrounds and encourages interdisciplinary collaboration.
Program Benefits & Awards
- Full participation in the MedSEA programme
- International artistic residency opportunities
- Travel coverage
- Accommodation during residency periods
- Artistic fee/support
- Mentorship and professional guidance
- Participation in workshops and training activities
- Access to an international network of artists and cultural organisations
- Opportunities to collaborate directly with local communities
- Public presentation opportunities during established Mediterranean festivals
- International visibility and professional development experience
A total of 12 participants will be selected for the programme.
Application Fee
None
Application Requirements
- Personal information
- Professional profile
- CV or biography
- Portfolio or examples of previous work
- Description of artistic or cultural practice
- Information regarding experience or interest in community-based or participatory practices
- Motivation for joining the programme
Additional information may be requested through the official application form.
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 5 June 2026
- Residency Periods:
- Larnaka, Cyprus: 5 October – 1 November 2026
- Sfax, Tunisia: 5 April – 2 May 2027
Location
- Larnaka, Cyprus
- Sfax, Tunisia:
Additional Details
MedSEA is particularly relevant for artists and cultural professionals interested in:
- Community engagement
- Socially engaged artistic methodologies
- Cultural sustainability
- Mediterranean cultural cooperation
- Participatory and collaborative art processes
- Cross-border artistic exchange
The project prioritizes process-oriented artistic development rather than purely object-based outcomes. Participants are expected to engage actively with local communities and contribute to collaborative environments that foster dialogue, exchange, and social interaction.
The programme offers an important opportunity for emerging practitioners seeking international experience within socially engaged arts and cultural cooperation frameworks supported by European cultural institutions.