Open calls
On this page, you will find an overview of art commissions, grants, work periods and art events in Groningen, The Netherlands and abroad.
Open call — residency program Ploughing Digital Landscapes — WILLOW Online Art Space
WILLOW Online Art Space launches its new residency program Ploughing Digital Landscapes in September-October 2025. We invite two artists (or one artist duo) to develop an online interactive artistic experience that envision alternative ways of being and relating with the more-than-human world.
What if we could (re)learn how to live with more than human beings through play and digital interaction? What if the online space became the theatre for alternative modes of relating with the living world? Relationships built on reciprocity, mutual learning, and respect? What if the aim was not to preserve but to rewild?
Wat je kunt verwachten:
- 👂Lectures from experts on subjects such as the ecological impact of the digital, and Indigenous and eco-/techno-feminist theory.
- 🏡
- One week staying at Ecovillage Land van Aine (Ter Apel): participating in communal life, learning about permaculture, having time and space to work, write, reflect and research. Dinner and accommodation are taken care of.
- 🎨 Two weeks working at WERC studio (Groningen): three working sessions, expertise and skills in various digital art forms, access to the studio and equipment, guidance in prototyping and making.
- 🧑💻 Guidance and support from our 3D developer in the creation and the implementation of the digital works on the online exhibition space.
- 🌐 Presentation of new work in the virtual art exhibition Ploughing Digital Landscapes at the end of the residency.
- 📙 Opportunity to publish research developed during the process on the WILLOW website.
- 💰 Expected artist fee of €1645 (ex. VAT). Travel expenses will also be covered. Funding applications have gone out to assure this fee, but are not confirmed yet.
Who is it for
There is room for two artists, who might collaborate.
We invite artists who:
- Are based in the Netherlands
- Are at early stages of your career. You can be studying or have recently graduated from a relevant BA or MA, OR have a minimum of 2 years of experience as a practising artist.
- Are interested in researching intersections of (digital) technology and ecology.
- Have affinity and experience with digital media, preferably in 3D programs such as Blender.
- Have the skills to animate their 3D models.
- Are interested in learning about Unity (where the virtual exhibition space is built). Knowledge of Unity is a welcome addition but not a requirement.
- Other welcome additions are experience with other programs for video making, and audiovisual installations.
Structure and planning
🗓️ Residency Period: 22 September-24 October
- Week 1 (2 sessions on 22 and 26 Sept) – Preparing the soil: Kick-off session (Groningen), guest lecture, setting up the research, Q&A session (Groningen/online).
- Week 2 (1 week: 29 Sept-3 Oct) – Planting the seeds: Stay on regenerative Ecovillage Land van Aine (Ter Apel), learning from the ground.
- Week 3-4 (3 sessions on 8, 13, 17 Oct + 2 weeks of access to studio 8-17 Oct) – Growing: working at WERC studio (Groningen), experimenting, making.
- Week 5 (2 sessions between 20 and 24 Oct) – Prepare for harvest: working on interaction, getting works ready for implementation in the 3D exhibition space.
🗓️ Virtual Exhibition Period: 1 – 28 November
Harvest: showcasing the works developing during the residency and publishing process as research on the website.
⏰ The deadline to apply is on April 29, 2025.
ℹ️🧑💻 To apply and for more information, go to 👉 Willow Online Art Space — What’s on Plouging Digital Landscape
Open call — Group Exhibition 23-29 May — RESO (Groningen)
Basak Eylül Çakmak and Zsófi Rónai, two international students at the RUG who are currently enrolled in the Curatorial Program of the Master in Art History, will soon graduate, but they are going to do something special just before that:
💬 “We wanted to leave something meaningful behind before we finish our studies in June, and that is how the idea for the group exhibition Lost in Translation/Embracing the Untranslatable came about; to celebrate our multicultural society and challenge universal readability.”
🔎 For this exhibition they are now looking for artists; This is the text of their open call:
“Between one tongue and another, something is always left behind. A feeling, a breath, a hesitation. A word that almost was. Embracing the Untranslatable: Lost in Translation is a space for what slips through-what resists clarity, embraces contradiction, and survives in gesture, silence, or pulse. It is an invitation to dwell in the unresolved, to honor the half-said, and to express the inexpressible—not despite language’s limits, but because of them.
If your art lingers in silence;
If it speaks in gestures, fragments, or pauses;
If it resists translation, or thrives in miscommunication;
If it asks to be felt rather than fully understood;
We’d love to hear from you!
We welcome submissions in visual art, installation, sound, film, performance, and interactive media.”
🧑💻 To submit your work, please email:
📧 Basak Eylül Çakmak: basakeylulcakmak@gmail.com
📧 Zsófi Rónai: ronai.zsofi06@gmail.com
With the following:
- 📝 A short description and the title of your artwork
- 📐 Artwork dimensions
- 📸 Photos or video links
- 🌐 Your artist bio or website
⏰ Deadline for this open call: Friday April 25
🧠 Good to know:
- 💰 The project is organized by students and fully funded by Basak and Zsófi, so unfortunately there is no room for an artist fee.
- 🗓️ The exhibition will take place from May 23 to 29 in RESO (Ulgersmaweg 47 / Groningen).
- 🌐 NB: This open call can only be found online on the Kunstpunt website. Kunstpunt does not organize this open call. Would you like more information? Please send an email to Basak or Zsófi.
Open call — ‘pilot’ of the resort: for starting & self-taught artists (formerly: midseason) — Groningen / The Hague / Amsterdam / Antwerp / Brussels
The resort is launching: pilot (formerly: midseason). It is a practical learning trajectory for starting artists, recent graduates (2022-2024) and self-taught artists (2021+). The program offers tools for an independent art practice through workshops, excursions and meetings. During the program you will gain hands-on experience in how to position yourself on your own terms and become more aware of who you are as an artist. You will develop your professional position, expand your network and learn to present yourself. The program ends with a site-specific project week in which you investigate how and where your work can be shown in a (semi-)public space.
Good to know:
💰 Participation in the program is free and you will receive a fee for participating in the project week. In addition, you will receive travel expenses.
🗓️📍 These are the dates and locations:
🔸24+25 May (Groningen)
🔸30+31 May (The Hague+Amsterdam)
🔸12+13 June (Groningen)
🔸19+20+21 June (Antwerp+Brussels)
🔸3 to 11 July (Groningen)
6️⃣ A total of six artists will be selected, three of whom are based in Groningen and three outside of Groningen.
⏰ Deadline for applications: 14 April 2025, 11:59 p.m.
ℹ️ For more information and to apply, visit 👉 Het resort ― pilotprogram-25
❓Do you have any questions? Then send an email to Jorien Ketelaar, producer: jorien@hetresort.nl
🧑💻 Or take part in the online Q&A on Monday 7 April from 3:00 – 4:00 p.m., where you can ask all your questions. The language will be English. You can register for this Q&A via this registration form: online Q&A ❋ pilot program. You will receive the link for the meeting earlier on the day itself.
Open Call — exhibition Ostfriesland Biennale — Ludgerikirche Norden (Ostfriesland / Duitsland)
The second edition of the Ostfriesland Biennale will take place from 6 June to 7 September 2025. On this occasion, an exhibition for artists from the region will be organised as a supplementary programme. Artists can now apply for a group exhibition that will be on display in the Ludgerikirche Norden from 7 June to 3 August 2025. Like the Ostfriesland Biennale, the theme of the exhibition is “Landscape”.
The Open Call is aimed at all professional artists with a degree from an art academy or comparable university who live and work in Ostfriesland, the province of Groningen and surrounding regions.
You can apply with a PDF document (max. 5 MB) with one or two images of completed works that you wish to submit for the group exhibition. The works must be on the theme of “landscape” and belong to the genres of painting, graphics, photography or sculpture. The application must also contain a short description of the work, precise details of the work (title, technique, dimensions, year of creation) and a short description of your artistic activities (maximum one DIN A4 page).
🧑💻 You can send the documents to: kultur@ostfriesischelandschaft.de
⏰ Deadline for this open call: Friday, April 25
🗓️ The works will be selected by a jury of experts by May 1, 2025
ℹ️ Want to know more? 👉 Ostfriesland Biennale – German-Dutch contemporary art festival
Artist in residence — EWE Stiftung Art Lab 2025 / Ostfriesland Biënnale 2025 — Gut Altenkamp (Emsland)
In the context of the Ostfriesland Biennale 2025, the EWE Foundation is offering talented artists a special opportunity: a stay at the inspiring artist residency Gut Altenkamp in Emsland. This grant puts exceptional artistic visions in the spotlight and promotes art in rural areas.
🗓️ It is for a period of 4 weeks from an agreed date, between 1 July and 30 September 2025;
💰 The prize money for the grant is 5,000 euros;
🧑💻 You can apply by sending an email to ewe-stiftung@ewe.de;
⏰ Deadline: Wednesday 30 April
ℹ️ For all information, go to 👉 EWE Stiftung Art Lab – Kunststipendium auf Gut Altenkamp – EWE | STIFTUNG Aktuelle News
Artist in residence — EWE Stiftung Art Lab 2025 / Ostfriesland Biënnale 2025 — Gut Altenkamp (Emsland)
In the context of the Ostfriesland Biennale 2025, the EWE Foundation is offering talented artists a special opportunity: a stay at the inspiring artist residency Gut Altenkamp in Emsland. This grant puts exceptional artistic visions in the spotlight and promotes art in rural areas.
🗓️ It is for a period of 4 weeks from an agreed date, between 1 July and 30 September 2025;
💰 The prize money for the grant is 5,000 euros;
🧑💻 You can apply by sending an email to ewe-stiftung@ewe.de;
⏰ Deadline: Wednesday 30 April
ℹ️ For all information, go to 👉 EWE Stiftung Art Lab – Kunststipendium auf Gut Altenkamp – EWE | STIFTUNG Aktuelle News
Open Call — Stop&Breathe — De Sedykster Kunstschuur (Tzummarum (Frisia))
In the dynamic landscape between the Wadden Sea and land, salt marshes and clay, in the middle of the UNESCO World Heritage Wadden Sea, lies De Sedykster Kunstschuur. A place to strengthen your creative skills. Its history and future invite you to research and experiment.
De Sedykster Kunstschuur wants to open its grounds for a special outdoor exhibition, and is now calling on artists, image makers and installation makers to show work that connects with the landscape. There is also room in the barn for art and images that relate to the theme.
The exhibition opens on Saturday 12 July and Sunday 13 July 2025 during the Slikwerk Atelierroute and will continue until 17 August 2025. The Slikwerk Atelierroute is a well-visited art route that connects more than 25 artists and studios in the area around the Oudebildtdijk (Northwest Friesland).
Is this Open Call something for you?
- You are an (interdisciplinary) artist, photographer, installation maker or conceptual artist – self-taught or professional – and seriously engaged in your work.
- Your work moves at the intersection of nature and art and relates to sea, land and horizon.
- Artists who collaborate with another artist, image maker or a non-commercial party are also cordially invited.
Good to know:
🗓️ Exhibition period: July 12 to August 17, 2025
💸 Costs: €25 as a contribution to the costs. No commission on sales.
🧑💻 You can participate in this open call by sending a short motivation, images and a link to your work to info@sedyksterkunstschuur.nl.
⏰ Deadline of this open call: April 13, 2025
Would you like to experience the place first? Feel free to drop by:
🗓️ Sunday April 6 | 1:00 – 4:30 p.m.
📍 De Sedykster Kunstschuur | Sedyk 17 | 8851 RM Tzummarum
Or contact us for a visit: info@sedyksterkunstschuur.nl or 06-1422 5446: Signal, sms, call.
ℹ️ For all information, go to 👉 Open Call Stop & Breathe | Sedyksterkunstschuur
Open Call — Kaalstaart 2025 — Amersfoort 🛥️ Zwolle 🛥️ Groningen 🛥️ Dokkum
The latest edition of Kaalstaart, a festival for beta art, is in the making. This floating festival will take place in April and will visit four cities: Amersfoort, Zwolle, Groningen and Dokkum. Artists who want to participate can register now.
Kaalstaart about this open call:
“Kaalstaart is a festival organised by artists. Together we ensure a great weekend and a good stage. Inspiring for each other and the audience. What does Kaalstaart have to offer artists:
- A stage for artists and the audience focused on art, technology and science;
- A diverse mix of exhibition spaces on board a number of inland vessels and on the quay;
- Documentation in the form of photos of the works, a review and video report;
- PR on Mastodon, Facebook, Instagram and the Kaalstaart website, among others;
- An artist dinner on the Friday evening before the festival;
- 💰 A subsidy has been requested to be able to provide travel or presentation compensation. If we succeed, we will share the available resources among all participating artists;
- And of course an unforgettable Kaalstaart!
The rules
- Your work fits within the theme ‘science art’;
- Your submission preferably does something with the input of the scientists;
- Your submission has not been seen at Kaalstaart before;
- You are present (as much as possible) during opening hours for interaction with the public;
- Kaalstaart is an event for experiment and exhibition, not for selling your work.”
⏰ There is no hard deadline for this open call, but registration before April would be most appreciated.
ℹ️🧑💻 For more information and the registration form, go to 👉 Kaalstaart
Open call — Seed Grant — Stichting Stokroos
Visual artists, designers, painters and craftsmen can now (27 January 2025) apply for a Seed contribution from Stichting Stokroos.
The contribution is intended for unusual maker practices: unconventional ideas and an original use of techniques, materials and crafts are paramount.
The budgets that are made available are:
💰 €5,000 for an individual;
💰 €7,500 for a collaboration.
💰 Total budget: €120,000 per half year
The Hanzenfonds of the Cultuurfonds contributes to the budget. Stichting Stokroos divides this contribution over plans in which craft training and deepening play a role.
⏰ There is no deadline for applying for a contribution, but responding quickly pays off: gone is gone.
🧑💻 You can start your (trial) application here
ℹ️ For all information and conditions, go to 👉Seed – Stokroos
❓ Do you have any questions?
☎️ Call Stichting Stokroos during the telephone consultation hours, every Monday from noon – 1.00 p.m.: +31 (0)6 – 811 077 21
📧 Or send a message to mail@stokroos.nl.
Open Call – Op Woeste Gronden – Fruithof Frederiksoord
🔍 Op Woeste Gronden is looking for professional artists from Drenthe, Friesland and Groningen for an event in July and August 2025 at the Fruithof in Frederiksoord, Drenthe.
On the central terrain of the Fruithof, an 8-hectare park with over 800 fruit trees, there is a canopy (pagoda) of six canopies. There is space under the canopies for art by as many artists.
Each canopy has a ground surface of 6 × 6 meters. Under each canopy there is a low plateau of a maximum of 4 × 4 meters, on which the images, compositions or installations are exhibited. The works are therefore not inside, but outside, despite the protection of the canopies and the yet to be added shell of wind cloth around the entire pagoda.
ℹ️ Are you interested or curious?
📧 Mail to info@opwoestegronden.nl and you will receive more information about the concept, what the terrain looks like, the pagoda and the floor plan.
🧠 Good to know:
- There is no deadline for this open call;
- You can also find this open call via 👉 Open call | Op Woeste Gronden
- Op Woeste Gronden endorses the Fair Practice Code and has therefore included the Fair Pay principle in the budget.
Open Call — International FiKVA Prize for Painters 2025 — online
Figuratieve Kunst Vandaag (Antwerp) about this open call:
“The FiKVA Foundation proudly presents the 3rd International FiKVA Prize for Representative & Figurative Painters – a unique opportunity for artists worldwide to gain international recognition, share their talent worldwide and win great cash prizes. The entire competition is online – so there is no need to send or hand over your work!
💰 Submit your best paintings from the past two years, and you could win cash prizes of up to €5,000, high-quality art supplies and a 6-month gallery representation or an online exhibition!
The International FiKVA Prize for Painters is open to all artists aged 18 and over. The FiKVA Prize accepts all styles of realistic painting – modern and classical realism, imaginative realism, hyperrealism, photorealism, luminism, surrealism, etc. – as long as the artwork is realistic and not stylized or abstract. If your work captures the essence of the world and reflects your unique artistic voice, we want to see it!”
Key dates:
⏰ Open call deadline: April 15, 2025, 11:59 p.m.
🗓️ Top 100 announcement: May 1, 2025
🗓️ Winners announcement: May 15, 2025
🗓️ Online Exhibition launch (Top 35): May 20, 2025
ℹ️ For all information, go to 👉 OPEN-CALL-FiKVA-2025-English.pdf
Open call — Artist in Residence AnnAtopiA — Het Goordonk (North Brabant)
Professional artists, poets and writers can apply for a working period in AnnAtopiA AiR.
It is possible to work as an artist in residence in the Boshut and to stay in the Boshuis.
Disciplines
All visual and performing arts, creative writing
🗓️ Residence
Minimum of one week
📍 Locatie
AnnAtopiA
Het Goordonk 15
5111 GG Baarle-Nassau
💸 Cost
The cost for the stay of 1 week are €250 (Excl. costs for living). In consultation there is a special rate for students, starting artist and the less wealthy.
Admission guidelines
– professional art education / CV / portfolio
– motivation and global work plan
Description of the program
– introductory meeting
– filling in and signing the user agreement
– discuss motivation and work plan
– discussing and recording conversations about work process coaching, press moments and the like.
– closure with reflection report
Desired result of stay
– positive contribution to the development of artistry
– at least one work in the discipline (s) of the artist
📧 You can send your motivation, plan, portfolio and CV to AirAnnAtopiA@gmail.com
✉️ Or send it directly to:
Stichting AnnAtopiA
Vondelinghof 2
4908 DV Oosterhout, The Netherlands
ℹ️ Request more information for the different options via: AirAnnAtopiA@gmail.com
Open Call – Pakje Kunst – MOW / Museum Westerwolde
Sinds 24 september 2023 staat er in het MOW een Pakje Kunst-automaat in de museumwinkel. Pakje Kunst presenteert kunstwerkjes ter grootte van een pakje sigaretten in een oude mechanisch sigarettenautomaat. Een doosje kost slechts € 6,- en je kunt er elke kunstvorm in tegenkomen. De opbrengst gaat vrijwel helemaal naar de deelnemende kunstenaars.
Voor de automaat is MOW altijd op zoek naar kunstenmakers uit Westerwolde, Oldambt, Pekela, Veendam en Stadskanaal die het leuk vinden om mensen te verrassen, verwarren, ontroeren of licht te irriteren met kunstwerkjes ter grootte van een pakje sigaretten.
Voor meer informatie vind je via Pakje kunst | Het MOW
Aanmelden kan via info@hetmow.nl