Organizer Information
This residency is developed within the framework of Next Stage+, an international incubation initiative supported by the Creative Europe Program of the European Union. The program is designed to strengthen emerging and established cultural professionals by providing structured opportunities for artistic development, transnational exchange, and capacity-building within the cultural and performing arts sector.
The residency is organized by the production platform Johnson & Bergsmark, a Stockholm- and Hörken-based production office led by practitioners working across performing arts production, curation, and pedagogical contexts. The organization focuses on experimental and research-driven approaches to cultural production, with an emphasis on collaborative methodologies and cross-border artistic dialogue.
The residency takes place at Butiken, a former rural shop converted into a hybrid workspace combining administrative offices and a small-scale studio environment for artistic experimentation.
Title & Description
Residency for Producers – Next Stage+ Group Residency at Butiken
This open call invites freelance performing arts producers from Hungary, Greece, Germany, and Ukraine to participate in a short-term group residency focused on expanding and critically reflecting on the role of the producer in contemporary performing arts practice.
The residency is structured as a collaborative research environment where selected participants will not only work individually on their own professional questions but also engage in collective reflection, peer exchange, and facilitated discussions. Rather than focusing on production outputs, the residency emphasizes process, inquiry, and the development of producing methodologies.
Participants are invited to articulate their own questions, challenges, and areas of development within their practice. These proposals will directly inform the structure of the residency schedule, ensuring a responsive and participant-driven program design. The residency includes both dedicated individual working time and shared group sessions, workshops, and discussions.
The core aim is to create a temporary working community of producers who critically examine their professional role, exchange strategies across different national and institutional contexts, and develop new perspectives on cultural production infrastructures.
Categories
- Performing Arts
- Cultural Production / Arts Management
- Research-based Practice
- Interdisciplinary Cultural Work
- Curatorial and Producing Practices
Eligibility
- Open to freelance producers working within the performing arts sector
- Applicants must be based in Hungary, Greece, Germany, or Ukraine
- International applicants within the eligible countries are encouraged
- No explicit age restriction stated
- Suitable for mid-career and emerging cultural professionals with active producing experience
- Applicants should be able to articulate independent research questions related to their producing practice
Program Benefits & Awards
- A residency fee of 600 EUR
- Per diem of 30 EUR per day
- Full coverage of travel costs, including international travel to/from Stockholm and onward travel to Hörken
- Accommodation during the residency period
- Possible additional night in Stockholm (16 September 2026) if required for logistics
- Structured group residency program combining:
- Individual working time
- Group discussions and peer exchange
- Workshops and facilitated sessions
- Practice-based reflection on producing methodologies
The residency is designed as a professional development opportunity rather than a production grant, prioritizing exchange, learning, and critical reflection
Application Fee
No application fee is required. Participation in the application process is free of charge.
Application Requirements
Applicants must submit their application via the online form and include:
- A CV outlining relevant professional experience
- A cover letter (maximum 1 A4 page) including:
- Description of professional practice
- Motivation for applying to this residency
- Specific questions or research themes to be explored during the residency
- All materials must be uploaded directly through the application form
- Applications submitted outside the form will not be considered
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 30 June 2026
- Notification of Results: 17 July 2026
- Residency Period:
- Arrival: 13 September 2026 (travel to Stockholm and Hörken)
- Residency: 14–16 September 2026
- Departure: 17 September 2026 from Stockholm
Location
Hörken, Ljusnarsberg, Sweden
Additional Details
This residency is part of Next Stage+, a European capacity-building program supporting cultural professionals through mentorship, mobility, and collaborative research formats. The program emphasizes structural development within the cultural sector, focusing on the often-invisible labor of production.
The residency intentionally limits participation to three selected producers, ensuring a small-scale, intensive environment for exchange and dialogue. The format is flexible and responsive, with scheduling shaped by participants’ stated needs.