Organizer Information
The Tabakalera is a major cultural institution in Spain, based in Donostia‑San Sebastián, dedicated to supporting contemporary artistic creation, critical research, and cultural exchange across disciplines. Tabakalera operates as an international centre for culture, offering residencies, exhibitions, festivals, public programs, and collaborative partnerships that connect artists, researchers, and cultural professionals globally.
For the 2026 season, Tabakalera has teamed up with Chillida Leku, an art and sculpture park originally created by Basque sculptor Eduardo Chillida and managed in collaboration with Hauser & Wirth San Sebastián, to present a distinctive residency focused on artistic responses to landscape, space, and context. This collaboration aims to support deep creative investigation and the production of new work embedded in the intersection of art, environment, and spatial experience.
Title & Description
Tabakalera-Chillida Leku Art and Landscape Residency 2026
This open call invites artists of any nationality to apply for the Art and Landscape Residency 2026, a collaborative international program between Tabakalera and Chillida Leku. The residency is designed for artists who want to explore the relationship between art, landscape, context, and environment through creative investigation and production.
The program provides artists with time, space, and resources to develop a research‑based project that engages with landscape as both subject and medium, extending artistic inquiry beyond traditional studio practice. Artists are encouraged to critically engage with the history, ecology, and cultural context of the Basque landscape while drawing connections to broader global conversations in contemporary art. The residency culminates in opportunities for dialogue, public sharing of work, and exchange with the institutions’ communities.
Categories
- Visual Arts
- Site‑specific
- Research
- Interdisciplinary Arts
- Landscape Art
Eligibility
- Open to artists of any nationality.
- Individuals who wish to develop research‑led art projects connecting landscape, space, and creative practice.
- Applicants from early, mid‑career, and established stages are encouraged to apply.
- No restrictions on academic background or prior institutional affiliation.
Program Benefits & Awards
- A dedicated residency placement split between Chillida Leku and Tabakalera facilities, offering space and context for artistic development.
- A subsidised period away from regular commitments to focus on artistic research and project development.
- Mentorship and engagement with staff from both institutions.
- Access to the artistic, cultural, and natural contexts of the Basque region.
- Networking and visibility through site activities connected to Tabakalera and Chillida Leku communities.
- Travel (up to 500 EUR for those outside San Sebastian)
- Accommodation
- Medical insurance (for non-Europeans)
- Work studio
- Access to sound and image editing resources
- Living expenses of 1,300 EUR per month (excluding taxes and withholdings)
- Up to 1,500 EUR (excluding taxes and withholdings) for production expenses
- Curatorial support
Application Fee
None
Application Requirements
- A portfolio of recent work demonstrating artistic practice and experience.
- A project proposal outlining the concept, approach, and relevance to art and landscape.
- A CV or artist biography.
- Additional materials as indicated in the official open call bases (e.g., visual documentation, references).
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 13 April 2026
- Residency Period: Approximately 8 weeks — 26 October to 20 December 2026
- Notification of Selection: Typically communicated after the call closes (applicants should check official timelines).
Location
Donostia‑San Sebastián / Basque Country, Spain
Additional Details
- Only one artist proposal will be selected for this 2026 edition.
- Projects should integrate artistic research with site and landscape engagement rather than purely studio‑based work.
- The residency encourages cross‑disciplinary reflection, experiment, and dialogue within both institutional and natural environments.