Organizer Information
Tiny Spaces Deep Connections (TiSp) is a 2-year research and residency initiative funded by Creative Europe, in partnership with three European organisations: INWOLE (Germany), Communitism (Greece), and TaikaBox (Finland).
Their mission is to re-envision a more sustainable model for international artist residencies: instead of traditional fly-in/fly-out residencies, TiSp promotes slow travel (train, ferry, bus) and encourages artists to integrate the journey itself into their creative process.
Title & Description
Tiny Spaces Deep Connections – Artist Residency Open Call
Tiny Spaces Deep Connections invites artists and creatives to apply for residencies that combine sustainable mobility, site-specific creation, and process-led practice. Selected participants will travel slowly (no planes allowed) by train, ferry, or bus, turning their journey into part of their studio: train carriages and cabins become working spaces.
At their final destinations — tiny, repurposed “studio” spaces in Athens (Greece), Potsdam/Berlin (Germany), or Varjakka/Oulu (Finland) — they will continue their work in recycled or reclaimed structures.
During the residency, artists are encouraged to engage with local communities and cultural networks, and their work (both from travel and on-site) will be archived on a digital platform.
The program culminates in a symposium and exhibition in August 2026 in Oulu, part of Oulu 2026, the European Capital of Culture.
Categories
- Visual Arts
- Performing Arts
- Mixed Media / Interdisciplinary Art
- Site-Specific Art
- Process-Based and Mobile Artistic Practice
Eligibility
- Artists and creatives resident in the EU or Creative Europe countries.
- Practitioners of all media: visual arts, sound, performance, digital, design, writing, and more.
- Individuals more than collectives: collectives may apply, but due to budget constraints, typically only one representative will travel.
- Applicants should be open to slow travel: the use of trains, buses, or ferries is required.
Program Benefits & Awards
- Artist fee/stipend: According to On the Move, artists receive €4,000 gross for a one-month residency, including travel time.
- Travel costs covered: The program pays for slow travel expenses (train, ferry, bus).
- Sustainable working environments: Studio spaces in tiny, repurposed structures (e.g., recycled buildings) in Germany, Greece, and Finland.
- Mentorship & community: Participants get support from TiSp partner organisations and connect with other artists.
- Digital & physical exhibition: Work produced during travel and residency is archived on a digital platform and will be part of a symposium/exhibition in Oulu (August 2026).
Application Fee
No Entry Fee
Application Requirements
- Online application form (in English) via the Tiny Spaces website.
- Project proposal/statement: Describing how the candidate envisions integrating the journey into their creative work.
- CV / Artistic Biography. (Standard for residency calls; implied by the nature of the call.)
- Work samples: Likely required to demonstrate previous work, media, or practice (based on similar residency calls).
- Sustainability reflection: Given the focus on sustainable creation and travel, the proposal should reflect how the artist will engage with these values (this is inferred from the call’s emphasis).
How to Apply
Online Application
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 31 December 2025
- Residency Periods:
- May–June 2026 (Greece)
- June 2026 (Germany)
- July–August 2026 (Finland)
- Symposium / Exhibition: 21–22 August 2026 in Oulu & Varjakka, Finland.
Location
- Residency Sites:
- Athens, Greece
- Potsdam, Berlin, Germany
- Varjakka, Oulu, Finland
- Final Symposium/Exhibition: Oulu (Finland) in August 2026.
Additional Details
- Sustainability is core: Artists are strongly encouraged to use recyclable materials in their work and reflect on ecological practices.
- Digital twin: Each tiny space has a “digital twin” on the Tiny Spaces website, allowing for virtual representation and extended accessibility.
- Slow travel requirement: Flying is not allowed — the program explicitly prohibits air travel, encouraging trains, buses, or ferries.
- Community engagement: The project values connecting with local communities and cultural spaces along the travel route (including Trans Europe Halles network stops).
- Inclusion: According to Communism’s announcement, special attention is given to BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ applicants.
- Legacy: After the residencies, all artistic work will be archived, and a final symposium will reflect on practices and outcomes.
Website Link: https://tinyspaces.eu/open-call/
