Organizer Information
Trenčín, a historic city on the Váh River in Slovakia, holds the title of European Capital of Culture 2026 alongside Oulu, Finland — an initiative of the European Union, launched in 1985, that recognizes cities for their cultural richness and diversity. Trenčín was selected for the title in December 2021 under the winning bid "Cultivating Curiosity," having been chosen over Nitra and Žilina. The Trenčín 2026 programme is centred on the theme of Curiosity and is financially supported by the City of Trenčín, the Trenčín Self-Governing Region, and the Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic, with the European Union as project partner. Its year-long programme integrates artistic expression into public space and urban life across the city and region, including its castles and riverside areas. TrenAir is the residency strand of this wider Trenčín 2026 programme, following on from a previous edition of the open call.
Title & Description
TrenAir Residency Program
TrenAir is an international artist residency programme run as part of Trenčín's European Capital of Culture 2026 activities. It invites artists based outside Slovakia to spend time in Trenčín, engage with the city and its transformation, and develop new work during a one-month stay this autumn. The programme is framed as a space for artistic mobility, research, and exchange, connecting resident artists with the city, its surroundings, and its ongoing cultural redevelopment. Each residency concludes with a public outcome in the form of a workshop, presentation, or exhibition. Four fully equipped studios are available to residents for their creative work.
Theme
The residencies are thematically connected to the four programme lines of Trenčín 2026:
- Curiosity as cultural memory, identity, and public space
- Curiosity as ecological responsibility
- Curiosity as equality, solidarity, and care
- Curiosity as an impulse for new stories
Categories
- Residency
- Visual Arts
- Architecture
- Literature
- Sound/Music
- Video/Film
- Culture
- Interdisciplinary Arts
Eligibility
- Open to professional artists working in visual arts, architecture, urbanism, place-making, literature, music, or film/video
- Applicants must have permanent residence outside the Slovak Republic
- Participation is limited to residents of European Union member states; applications from non-EU residents cannot be considered
Program Benefits & Awards
- Stipend of 1,300 EUR per selected resident, covering per diems, material expenses, and travel costs
- Additional individually discussed support available for projects with higher production costs or long-distance travel
- Accommodation provided at the TrenAir Residency House (Žabinská 5, approximately a 20-minute walk from Trenčín city centre)
- Use of one of four fully equipped studios
- Public presentation opportunity (workshop, presentation, or exhibition) connected to the residency
Application Fee
None
Application Requirements
- Short residency proposal
- CV
- Portfolio
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 31 July 2026
- Residency Period: One month, taking place in September, October, or November 2026
Location
Trenčín, Slovakia
Additional Details
Contact person for the open call: Michaela Bottková, email: michaela.bottkova@trencin2026.eu, phone: 0917344555.