Organizer Information:
ZKM | Center for Art and Media Karlsruhe (Hertzlab) in collaboration with the Robert Rauschenberg Foundation. Since its founding, ZKM has embraced a forward-looking approach to technology and media art.
Title & Description:
Applications are open for the Rauschenberg Residencies 2026/27.
Offering three artistic research residencies, this program provides artists working at the intersection of performative art and creative technology with a unique opportunity to draw inspiration from Robert Rauschenberg's dedication to E.A.T. – Experiments in Art and Technology. The residency embraces both technological openness (from Arduino to Lidar) and formal openness (dance, performance, spoken or musical theater, physical theater, mixed/hybrid formats) to create compelling "Digital Theater."
Category:
Digital Theater, Performative Art, & Creative Technology.
Eligibility:
- Who: Artists working at the intersection of performative art and creative technology.
- Team Applications: Team applications are permitted in principle; however, ZKM will NOT cover any additional accommodation or travel costs beyond what is provided for a single individual.
- Health Insurance: You MUST have valid health insurance or international health insurance for Germany at the start of the residency.
- Visas: ZKM can assist with visa applications by providing letters of invitation, but the artist is strictly responsible for paying all visa-related costs.
Program Benefits & Awards:
- Scholarship: €4,000 scholarship.
- Travel & Materials: A €1,000 subsidy for travel expenses and up to €2,500 for material costs.
- Accommodation: Housing in a ZKM artist flatshare apartment.
- Workspace & Support: On-site studios and rehearsal rooms (sound studios, wet lab, VR lab, co-working space), plus mentoring and support. Access to the ZKM Archive (including the E.A.T. archive).
- Showcase: A final rehearsal week culminating in a public showcase presentation in the Kubus (a versatile venue with ~100 seats).
Application Requirements:
Submissions must be combined into a single PDF file containing:
- Portfolio: Relevant digital theater works or interactive performative works using technology from the last 5 years.
- Concept / Strict Constraint: A description of the project detailing the content, technological approach, schedule, and a brief cost plan. This document must be a maximum of 2 DIN A4 pages.
How to Apply?
Send your complete application in a single PDF file via email to Silke Sutter at: image@zkm.de.
Key Dates:
- Application Deadline: Sunday, April 12, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. CET.
- Residency Period: October 1, 2026 – December 18, 2026 (3 months).
- Rehearsal Week & Showcase: January 7 – 15, 2027 (Public showcase on Friday, January 15, 2027).
Location:
ZKM | Center for Art and Media Karlsruhe, Germany.
Contact Information:
Submission Email: image@zkm.de
Website: https://zkm.de/en/open-call-rauschenberg-residencies-202627