Organizer Information
This open call is issued by Mime Fabriek, an artist-led studio based in Amsterdam Nieuw-West, in collaboration with Boogiebos, an independent experimental residency space located in Belgium. Mime Fabriek functions as a platform for experimentation in performing arts, hosting performances, workshops, and residencies since 2020. Rather than operating as a traditional production house, the initiative is run by independent artists focused on process-based creation, artistic exchange, and interdisciplinary collaboration within Performance and physical theatre practices.
Title & Description
“Fuck around and find out” – 2-Week Experimental Performance Residency Netherlands 2026
This two-week international residency invites performing artists to engage in a collaborative and process-driven research environment across Belgium and the Netherlands. The program is designed for artists working in Performance, physical theatre, mime, and dance who are interested in exploring unresolved artistic ideas rather than presenting finished works.
The central concept of the residency is to activate “the idea that keeps whispering” — encouraging participants to develop unfinished, fragile, or experimental concepts rather than polished productions. Artists are paired to challenge and inspire each other’s creative processes, forming temporary collaborative constellations that evolve through shared inquiry.
The residency unfolds in two phases:
- A rural, immersive research period at Boogiebos (Belgium)
- A studio-based development phase at Mime Fabriek in Amsterdam, culminating in a public sharing of outcomes
The emphasis is on experimentation, artistic risk-taking, and embodied research within a supportive peer-driven structure.
Categories
- Performance
- Choreography
- Dance
- Interdisciplinary Arts
- Physical Theatre
- Site-specific
- Research-based Art Practice
- Collaborative Project
Eligibility
The call is open internationally to:
- Performing artists, dancers, mimers, and physical theatre makers
- Emerging and mid-career practitioners
- Artists working with embodied or experimental performance practices
- Applicants interested in collaborative and process-led creation
Two types of participants are encouraged:
- Artists with a clear idea or concept to explore
- Artists are open to entering and supporting another artist’s process
No production outcome or finished work is required or expected.
Program Benefits & Awards
- A fully facilitated 2-week Residency
- Dedicated studio space in Belgium and Amsterdam
- Artistic pairing and curated collaboration by the organisers
- Immersive rural working environment at Boogiebos
- Studio access at Mime Fabriek in Amsterdam
- Final public presentation of research outcomes
- Informal artistic guidance and hosting support
This is a non-commercial residency focused on experimentation and exchange rather than production outcomes.
Application Fee
None
Application Requirements
- Completed application form (online)
- Artistic CV or biography
- Short description of artistic practice or current research focus
- Statement of interest describing ideas or collaborative openness
- Portfolio or documentation of previous performance work (if available)
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 30 May 2026
- Residency Period (Boogiebos, Belgium): 20–24 July 2026
- Residency Period (Amsterdam, Netherlands): 27–31 July 2026
- Public Presentation: 2 August 2026
- Notification Date: Not Specified
Location
- Boogiebos, Belgium
- Amsterdam, Netherlands
Additional Details
- The residency is curated, and artists will be paired by the organizers based on their application materials
- Focus is on process, collaboration, and experimentation rather than finished works
- No production fee or artist fee is provided, but accommodation and care during the residency are included
- The program encourages risk-taking, artistic dialogue, and informal peer learning structures
- Participants should be comfortable working in both rural and urban environments during the residency period