Organizer Information
Akademie Schloss Solitude is a premier German cultural institution based in Stuttgart, offering interdisciplinary fellowships to artists, researchers, and curators from around the world. Founded in 1990, it supports experimental, socially engaged, and research-driven artistic practices across disciplines. For this program, Akademie Schloss Solitude collaborates with the Coordination Office for Remembrance Culture of the City of Stuttgart, alongside partners including the House of History Stuttgart, the Baden-Württemberg State Agency for Civic Education, and the Stuttgart Working Group on Forced Labor. Together, they aim to explore historical memory through art, creating dialogue between past and present.
Title & Description
Zwangsarbeit/en – Work Force/d Residencies (2026–2027)
The call invites visual artists and practitioners of Art in Public Space to engage critically with sites of National Socialist forced labor in Stuttgart. Two six-month Residencies are offered between July 2026 and June 2027. Residents will produce site-specific artistic works that illuminate the historical and social significance of forced labor sites, making them legible to contemporary audiences.
The residencies encourage the creation of permanent, temporary, performative, or participatory works, combined with public events aimed at fostering engagement with local communities. Artists are expected to interrogate historical narratives, investigate the continued resonance of forced labor experiences in families and society, and explore connections to contemporary forms of coerced, precarious, or dependent labor. The residency emphasizes the role of art as mediation, memory culture, and social reflection.
Categories
Visual Arts, Art in Public Space, Installation, Performance, Multimedia
Eligibility
- International and national artists, including those based in the Stuttgart area
- Full-time practicing artists in Visual Arts or Art in Public Space
- No age restrictions
- Applications from collectives are not accepted
- Artists must be willing to engage with historical research, community mediation, and participatory formats at forced labor sites in Stuttgart
Program Benefits & Awards
- Six-month residency in Stuttgart, optionally split into two periods
- Furnished live/work studio at Akademie Schloss Solitude
- Monthly stipend: €1,300
- One-time reimbursement for travel expenses to and from Stuttgart
- Project funding: €5,000 per fellowship for research and production
- Health insurance coverage for non-EU participants
- Access to workshops (wood, metal, video editing/VR) and libraries
- Networking and professional exchange with an international, multidisciplinary fellowship community
- Participation in Akademie-organized events and workshops
- Support for local and regional professional networking
- Public engagement with at least two events during the residency targeting diverse audiences
Application Fee
None
Application Requirements
- Artistic concept (max. 3 pages) addressing at least one forced labor site, including intended artistic format and community engagement strategy
- Portfolio of prior work (max. 10 pages, including links if relevant)
- Curriculum vitae (CV)
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 16 March 2026
- Residency Period: July 2026 – June 2027
- Notification: Dates not explicitly specified, typically several weeks after the deadline
Location
Stuttgart, Germany
Additional Details
- Artistic works must respect site integrity and historical sensitivity
- Community involvement and mediation with local residents is required
- Collaboration with partner institutions for events and outreach is encouraged
- This program is designed to foster critical reflection on historical and contemporary labor issues through socially engaged art