Organizer Information
South Specific 2028 is part of the broader European Capital of Culture České Budějovice 2028 programme — a major EU-supported cultural initiative that highlights artistic innovation, community engagement, and international cooperation across multidisciplinary cultural sectors. The festival itself is produced by the South Bohemian Theatre in collaboration with the city of České Budějovice and the overarching ECoC 2028 team, aiming to bring high-quality artistic experiences to public spaces throughout South Bohemia.Title & Description
INTERNATIONAL OPEN CALL – South Specific Festival 2028 South Specific Festival invites artistic teams — international or multinational co-productions — to submit proposals for new immersive and site-specific live and audiovisual art projects. The selected works will premiere and be showcased as part of the official South Specific Festival programme in 2028. These projects are expected to engage audiences by transforming unique locations across the South Bohemian region into performance environments that challenge traditional theatrical settings and embrace place-based cultural storytelling.Categories
This call is multidisciplinary, including:- Theatre
- Dance
- Music
- New Circus
- Performing Arts
- Audiovisual Art
- Visual Installations
- Happenings
- New Technologies & Multimedia Performance
-
Hybrid Performance Formats (site-specific & immersive works)
Eligibility
- Professional artistic teams or individual artists (including recent arts school graduates).
- International applicants from anywhere in the world.
- Czech Republic–based applicants only if part of an international co-production team (must include at least one foreign partner).
- Applicants must be able to deliver a newly developed immersive or site-specific work for festival presentation.
Program Benefits & Awards
Selected projects receive:- Co-production grant paid by the festival, ranging from CZK 100,000 (~€4,000) to CZK 1,000,000 (~€40,000) to support creation and implementation.
- Festival Premiere & Exposure: inclusion in the South Specific 2028 programme with additional performance opportunities (reruns) during the festival.
- Regional engagement: performances situated across diverse urban and natural environments in South Bohemia, anchored by the festival hub in České Budějovice.
- Networking, visibility & cultural exchange with other international artists and cultural organisations aligned with a major European Capital of Culture event.
Application Fee
NoneApplication Requirements
- Project Proposal and Description
- Completed Application Form
- Project Budget (using the official budget template provided) Optional
- Letter of Intent from at least one foreign partner
- Project mood board
- Photos, promotional and documentation materials
- Links to work samples (videos, recordings, portfolios)
- Any additional material helping contextualise the project and artist profile (Maximum 5 files, 10 MB per attachment).
How to Apply?
Online ApplicationKey Dates
- Application Deadline: 26 February 2026
- Shortlist / Results Announcement: 30 March 2026
- Festival Presentation Period: May–September 2028 (festival season)
Location
České Budějovice, South Bohemia, Czech Republic.Additional Details
- Projects must be newly created for this call — not previously realised works.
- Artistic concepts should be site-specific or immersive in nature, tailored to the selected environment (urban, natural, industrial, heritage site, etc.).
- Czech teams must include at least one international partner; international teams may apply independently.
- The open call may be subject to amendments; updates will appear on the official call page and in the official conditions document.
- Site proposals should include clear descriptions of spatial and technical requirements, safety considerations, and audience engagement strategies where possible.