Organizer Information
This residency is hosted by TaDA Textile and Design Alliance, a cultural funding and exchange programme established in 2020 by Swiss cantons including Appenzell Ausserrhoden, St.Gallen, and Thurgau. Since 2026, it has operated as an independent association dedicated to fostering experimental dialogue between contemporary creative practice and Switzerland’s textile industry.
The programme collaborates closely with textile companies, research institutions, and cultural partners across Eastern Switzerland and Liechtenstein, including organizations such as Textilmuseum St.Gallen and various industrial partners. Its core mission is to support innovation at the intersection of design, material research, and artistic experimentation.
Title & Description
TaDA Residency 2027 – Textile and Design Alliance Artist-in-Residence Programme
The TaDA Residency 2027 is an international Residency programme inviting artists, designers, architects, writers, and interdisciplinary practitioners to engage with Switzerland’s contemporary textile production landscape.
The programme focuses on experimental and research-driven approaches to Textile Art, encouraging participants to collaborate directly with Swiss textile companies and research institutions. Residents are given the opportunity to explore material innovation, sustainability, and industrial processes while developing new artistic or design-based projects.
Selected participants will spend residency periods in Arbon and Eastern Switzerland, working closely with industry partners and curators to produce new work that bridges artistic research and applied textile production. The residency emphasizes hands-on experimentation, knowledge exchange, and the development of scalable creative concepts.
Final outcomes are presented publicly through exhibitions and events organized by TaDA and its partner network.
Categories
- Residency
- Textile Art
- Design
- Architecture
- Literature
- Performance
- Interdisciplinary Arts
- Research
- Installation (contextual practice-based outcomes)
Eligibility
- Open to international artists and creative professionals
- Suitable for practitioners in design, architecture, visual arts, literature, and performing arts
- Applicants must demonstrate a strong interest in textile production and material culture
- Experimental and research-oriented approaches are strongly encouraged
- Basic technical understanding of textile processes is an advantage
- Project proposals must include collaboration with TaDA partner companies
- Strong English or German language skills required
Program Benefits & Awards
- Fully supported Residency in Arbon, Switzerland
- Private room in shared accommodation near Lake Constance
- Access to shared workspace in a former textile factory (Saurer AG site)
- Travel cost coverage
- Contribution to living expenses
- Direct collaboration with Swiss textile companies and research institutions
- Access to technical infrastructure and industrial expertise
- Individual mentorship from textile designer Martin Leuthold and TaDA experts
- Public presentation opportunities for developed work
- Professional network expansion across industry and cultural sectors
Application Fee
None
Application Requirements
- CV
- Portfolio (focus on last five years, with emphasis on textile-related work)
- Project outline (max 2 A4 pages) including images, sketches, or visual references
- Clear explanation of collaboration with TaDA partner companies
- Recommendation letter (max 1 page) from a relevant professional or academic reference
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 12 August 2026
- Residency Periods:
- April – June 2027
- September – November 2027
- Selection Announcement: Early November 2026
Location
Arbon and Eastern Switzerland
Additional Details
The programme is structured as a collaborative platform between artists and Swiss textile industry partners. It emphasizes experimental production, sustainability, and cross-sector innovation.
Residents work directly with companies such as textile manufacturers, research labs, and design institutions, gaining access to industrial-scale processes not typically available in conventional Residency programmes.
Projects are expected to be research-oriented, scalable, and materially innovative. Final outcomes are publicly presented through exhibitions and cultural events organized by TaDA and its partners.
The jury includes international experts from design, science, curation, and textile production, ensuring a multidisciplinary selection process.