Organizer Information
Medialab Matadero (formerly Medialab Prado) is a citizen laboratory run by Madrid City Council, created in 2000 and originally housed at the Conde Duque Cultural Centre under the name MedialabMadrid. In 2007 it moved to Plaza de las Letras and was renamed Medialab-Prado, and it later relocated to Matadero Madrid, the city's former slaughterhouse and cattle market, which has operated as a centre for contemporary creation since 2006. Medialab functions as a community laboratory for the production of open cultural projects, organizing its activity around working groups, open calls, collaborative research, and learning communities, with an emphasis on free and open-source tools and free-license publishing. Within this framework, Medialab runs the annual Situated Research Residency program, now in its fifth edition.
Title & Description
Open Call for Situated Research Residency 2027
Medialab Matadero is opening the fifth edition of its annual Situated Research Residency program, through which it will select 3 research and creation projects exploring the relationships between contemporary art, design, science, technology, and society, approached with a critical, experimental, and collaborative outlook. The call seeks proposals that sit at the margins or intersections of disciplines, methodologies, and forms of knowledge, inspired by the principle of "learning by doing," aiming to foster new ways of researching, prototyping, documenting, sharing knowledge, or mobilizing communities around relevant issues. The residency blends research and creation without requiring a finished project as an outcome; a central goal is the production of public knowledge, both within Medialab's and Matadero's professional ecosystems and within the city of Madrid.
Theme
Submitted projects must connect explicitly and coherently with one or more themes from Medialab Matadero's recent programs: LAB 1 Sentient Media, LAB 2 The Metabolic Sublime, LAB 3 Synthetic Minds, LAB 4 Weird/Strange Futures, and LAB 5 The Mechanics of Truth. Proposals should explore possible intersections between art, design, science, and technology so that their results or methods contribute creatively to addressing major contemporary challenges within the framework of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (2030 Agenda).
Categories
- Research
- New Media
- Design
- Technology
- Interdisciplinary Arts
- Media Arts
Eligibility
- Open to individuals or collectives researching in design, art, architecture, urbanism, economics, film, photography, journalism, digital media, environmental science, philosophy, engineering, social studies, political science, programming, materials science, activism, or any other field consistent with the call's stated goals
- Both expert and emerging profiles are welcomed; each applicant's particular trajectory will be valued
- Proposals must explicitly and meaningfully align with one or more of Medialab Matadero's recent thematic programs (see Theme)
- Resident projects must build links with Medialab Matadero's other activities, including documentation work and scheduled public learning, outreach, and feedback activities
- The residency is in-person and cannot be carried out remotely; residents do not need to be in Madrid for the entire period, but long stays — especially between March and June — are recommended
- Application and residency may be carried out in Spanish or English
Program Benefits & Awards
- Stipend of €10,000 (before tax)
- Access to Medialab Matadero's material infrastructure, including the Fablab, technical materials, and an individual workspace
- Support from Medialab's technical and administrative team throughout the residency
- Accompaniment from Medialab's curatorial team through all phases of research and creation, including local and international support, theoretical reflection, and concrete feedback
- Logistical and financial support for public activities the resident schedules (seminars, workshops, conversations with professionals, etc.)
- Conceptual, logistical, and material support for the production of final outputs (a manual or set of instructions; documentary formats such as a report, feature, essay, or audio/audiovisual documentary; or artistic documentation of collective learning)
Application Fee
None
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 27 September 2026
- Optional Q&A Session (recorded): 8 September 2026
- Residency Period: January – July 2027
Location
Medialab Matadero, Madrid, Spain
Additional Details
- Maximum number of proposals selected: 3
- Selection and full application requirements are governed by the call's legal terms document; applicants are directed to read this document carefully, particularly for details on the financial and legal conditions
- Questions about the application process or legal/financial conditions can be directed to info.m@medialab-matadero.es
- This is not a production grant: while public activity and final materials are expected, a finished project is not required as the residency's outcome