Organizer Information
This collaborative digital program is jointly organized by Stiftung Künstler*dorf Schöppingen and kaethe:k Kunsthaus. Künstler*dorf Schöppingen provides artists with dedicated spaces for concentration and structural networking, while kaethe:k Kunsthaus focuses on merging artistic excellence with structural inclusion by supporting professional contemporary artists with disabilities. This digital residency is supported by the Ministry of Culture and Science of North Rhine-Westphalia through the Medienfonds of medienwerk.nrw.
Title & Description
Modes of Access — Digital Residencies 2026.
This international program explores "Modes of Access" as both a technological and political framework. In computing, access governs who can reach data or systems; in culture, it determines who sets the rules of participation. Grounded firmly in the tenets of Disability Justice and Crip Time, the residency treats access not as a legal burden, but as a shared creative methodology. The program serves as a flexible, remote laboratory for artists whose practices critique platform architectures, dismantle ableist systems, and investigate how digital media can multiply, rather than standardize, human participation.
Categories
Digital Art, Media Art, Sound Art / Music, Video / Moving Image, Internet / Software Art, and Interdisciplinary Research.
Eligibility
- Professional Profile: Open to individual professional artists and collectives working extensively with digital technologies (video, sound, computing, software, or network systems).
- Geographic Constraint: Applicants must reside more than 1,500 km away from Schöppingen, Germany.
- Mobility / Structural Barriers: Specifically designed for artists unable to travel due to long-term disabilities, chronic illnesses, neurodivergence, high-demand care responsibilities, or severe passport and visa restrictions.
Program Benefits and Awards
- Artist Stipend: A fixed fee of €2,500 per residency (individual or collective).
- Production Funding: A dedicated €500 materials budget.
- Access Capital: Additional individualized structural access support funds.
- Mentorship Cohort: Accompaniment by curatorial lead Paulina Seyfried and Agustina Andreoletti (mentor for digital cultures).
- Visibility Engine: Features on an open-source digital platform that remains publicly archived, plus entry into the Künstler*dorf alumni network and NRW media arts circles.
Fees
- Application Fee: None (Free to submit).
Application Requirements (Must be Submitted in English)
Applications must use the official editable document template, filled out in the designated fields, and emailed as a single document. The package includes:
- Personal Information: Legal name, contact details, and online portfolio handles.
- Project Description: A text (Maximum 1 page) mapping out your proposed work of media art, its conceptual link to "Modes of Access," and intended digital outputs.
- 12-Week Timeline: A chart (Maximum 1 page) structuring your planned workflow, including scheduling considerations, required breaks, or cyclical pacing needs.
- Previous Work Portfolio (Optional): Documentation of up to three relevant past media projects (Maximum 5 pages in total; embedded images or persistent links accepted).
- Access Rider (Optional): A dedicated text outlining your specific communication preferences, break frequencies, software/hardware requirements, or time-zone constraints to tailor the partnership.
How to Apply?
Download the official submission form package, fill out the sections within the page constraints, save the file with your name, and email it directly to submissions@stiftung-kuenstlerdorf.de. Download the official Modes of Access Application Form Here.
Key Dates
- Application Window: May 18 – June 27, 2026.
- Laureate Notification: July 2026.
- Residency Timeline: 12 weeks running from August to October 2026.
- Public Restitution: Public online panels and a closing virtual event scheduled for November 2026.
Location
Online / Virtual (Remote execution from your home location).
Additional Details
During the 12-week block, fellows are expected to participate in scheduled online team check-ins, joint tandem matches with kaethe:k practitioners, and internal digital colloquia. The selection jury comprises three representatives from AVU/Künstler*dorf and two appointed media experts from the Cité networks, evaluating submissions on thematic resonance, collaborative capability, and artistic ambition. For baseline pre-submission queries, contact info@stiftung-kuenstlerdorf.de.