Organizer Information

The Art Residency Disappearing Landscape is an international initiative implemented under the European project OASis. The residency is jointly organized by the Association for Nature Conservation – Machaon International, the independent youth cultural initiative Kolaj 22, and the Ukrainian-Slovak HUB. These alternative creative spaces and environmental organizations unite to connect environmental activism with youth culture, music, and alternative civic spaces, creating critical discourse outside traditional institutional formats.

Title & Description

Art Residency 2026: Disappearing Landscape.

This residency is a unique program designed to explore how contemporary art and independent culture can reflect on and communicate the rapid ecological degradation of the Carpathian landscape. Under the pressures of uncontrolled construction, tourism infrastructure expansion, and commercialization, the High Tatras region faces a loss of wildlife habitats, fragmentation of migration corridors, and the drying of rivers. The residency serves as a platform to engage young audiences in nature conservation through experimental creative mediums.

WORKFLOW FORMATS & COMMUNITY EXPECTATIONS

Selected participants are expected to align their onsite actions with the following operational mandates:

  • Residency Formats: International artists must be physically present from August 14 to 22, 2026. Artists and creative groups based in Slovakia may negotiate a flexible participation format with the organizers.
  • Core Expectations: Laureates must engage directly with the environmental focus of the residency, collaborate openly with other participants, participate in at least one community activity, and create a public artistic outcome connected to the theme.
  • Community Engagement Nodes: Projects must integrate public activities such as workshops, artist talks, open studios, guided walks, and performances. Artists are encouraged to collaborate with refugees and communities linked to the Ukrainian-Slovak HUB, volunteers from Kolaj 22, or local youth.
  • Kolaj 22 Renewal Focus: Following the destruction of Kolaj 22’s former space by fire in 2025, the 2026 program welcomes audiovisual works for alternative music events, and sculpture or land art connected specifically to the former Kolaj 22 space to explore resilience and rebuilding.

Categories

  • Visual Arts,
  • Photography,
  • New Media / Film & Video,
  • Music / Sound Art,
  • and Sculpture / Land Art.

Eligibility

Open to visual artists, musicians, filmmakers, photographers, collectives, and small creative teams globally. For the 2026 cohort, the organizers aim to support exactly 4 artists or music groups based in Slovakia and 6 international artists.

PROGRAM OFFERS & FINANCIAL PROVISIONS

Selected artists receive an itemized package of organizational, logistical, and financial support:

  • Accommodations & Board: Free lodging and daily meals provided entirely by the organizers throughout the residency period.
  • On-Site Infrastructure: Full access to workspaces, partner venues, public presentation opportunities, networks, and guided excursions in the High Tatras region.
  • Artist Fee: A stipend of €1,300 per selected project (the maximum baseline amount whether realized by an individual or a collective/group). Note: Chosen artists are responsible for paying their own taxes in their country of residence.
  • Production Support: Up to 正式 €300 allocated to cover materials and production costs directly out of the project budget.
  • Travel Stipend: Up to €300 in travel support earmarked exclusively for international artists.

Application Requirements & Submission Email Protocol:

Applications must be compiled in English and submitted via email to zapovedniks@gmail.com in a single PDF format. Submissions must adhere to a strict subject line template: DISAPPEARING LANDSCAPE 2026 – Application – Your Name. The application file requires:

  1. Project Proposal: Detailing the theme, format, and public presentation plan, capped at a maximum of 700 words.
  2. Professional Background: A short biography or updated Curriculum Vitae (CV) alongside links to your online portfolio or website.
  3. Visual Media Material: Exactly five (5) photographs, drawings, or illustrative images mapping out the proposed project.
  4. Technical & Logistics Sheet: A short overview outlining your technical needs and production timeline.

    Key Dates

    • Application Submission Deadline: June 21, 2026 (Note: The text contains conflicting dates of June 7 and June 21; the furthest extended deadline governs system intake).
    • Selected Participant Notification: June 30, 2026
    • Physical Residency Run (On-Site): August 14 – August 22, 2026

    Location

    Slovakia, High Tatras & Poprad region.

    Additional Details

    The projects are reviewed by a panel representing Machaon International, Kolaj 22, and the Ukrainian-Slovak HUB. Submissions are scored using five criteria: artistic quality and originality, relevance to the residency themes, feasibility, community engagement potential, and environmental and social sensitivity.

    Website Link: https://www.machaon.eu/en/news/disappearing-landscape-2026-open-call